Classic Woody Allenesque from start to finish, prepare to witness the unraveling of the most grandiose of American dreams. And the unraveling of a woman who has everything going for her to begin with but chooses to give it all up only to try to get it all back.
There’s an underlying current of cruelty to the way Cate Blanchett’s character is developed, and the humbling of her persona is sad to watch, but despite all her frailties, there is still something admirable about her sense of self. Which is not necessarily her strongest suit, but then again, desperation is a hard taskmaster.
Lots of dialog, contrast of characters galore, and a compelling performance by both Blanchett and Alec Baldwin make this an interesting film even though you may not come away feeling great ninety minutes later.
