Blue Like Jazz (2012)

Many of you won’t have heard of Blue Like Jazz, unless you've read the book first (which I haven’t) or seen the trailer and decided to give it a go (which is how I found it). If you have seen the trailer then you'd probably be expecting some fun-filled story of coming-of-age that also answers some of those big questions about being young. Well, if these are your expectations, (like they were mine), then prepare to leave unsatisfied. This film isn't really about college life and becoming a new person, its more about accepting the person you already are. Which sounds like a big old stonking stereotype, right?! Well, truth be told, this film kind of is. The trailer might give the impression that you’re going to see something hugely original and I don’t want to mislead you, you won’t, but since when is anything truly original these days? Yep, this film is full to the brim of stereotype. But that’s okay because while the story is stereotype its direction and its cast are fresh and bring something to this film which makes you want to stay and pay attention.

The story centres around Don (Marshall Allman), a college freshman who comes from a strong Southern Baptist background and is disillusioned by his life and religion. To escape this former life of religious structure and a stifling parent he moves from Texas to a college (that’s university to us English folk) in the Pacific Northwest where religion is mocked and his life undergoes a drastic 180 flip. Don decides that the best way of forgetting his affiliation to religion is to join those who mock it and protest its existence, which involves an hilarious scene where himself and the college “Pope” (random guy who dresses like the Pope every single day and is apparently one of the most popular guys at his college…Yep, seemed strange to me too) put a giant condom onto one of the towers of the local church and a banner which reads “Do not let these people reproduce”. Tad excessive perhaps? Yep. Harsh? Yep. But of course, that’s kind of their point. Which is an aspect of this film that confused me immensely – I constantly questioned why, a: Don could go from the assistant youth pastor in his local church to a willing participant of church defacement and, b: why the people of this college hated religion so much? If you’re looking for an answer to this question like I was then you will be disappointed, because one is never really provided. I could only guess that it is borne from the generation in which we live that has built up an intolerance and disillusionment to religion and its politics and hypocrisy.

To the films credit it knows when to back off a little with the religion and knock it up a gear with the comedy and "romance".

You’re probably thinking at this point that the film is a huge middle finger to the concept of religion and religious faith but this is where our protagonists love interest and biggest “all-things-religious-and-morally-just” contender turns things up a gear and offers us a different perspective. This character’s name is Penny (played by Claire Holt whom some may recognise from The Vampire Diaries) and she is a formidable presence in Don’s life who constantly questions his motives and in turn makes him consider these motives and his own beliefs throughout the film. Though this character is necessary within the plot she sometimes comes off as high-and-mighty and frankly I find it hard to believe that a character like her could possibly exist in real life. At least not a 19 year old version embarking on the first (maybe second) year of their college life. I mean this character protests the social injustices of bottled water and its effects on the Indian economy, volunteers in foreign countries during Christmas break and has a freaking statue of Jesus in her college dorm room! Doesn't exactly scream realism now does it? But I digress… My point is that this character adds a depth to the film which stops it from becoming a one-sided debate against the relevance of religion in modern society and instead offers a perspective wherein we get too see the positive effects of religion (shitty politics aside) in modern society.

It all seems pretty heavy for a 108 minute feature set within the context of a religious-free college, huh? That’s exactly what I thought which is why I couldn't escape that thought in the back of my head which screamed and protested at how stereotypical and contrived the entire story is. Its overall message is pretty positive, don’t get me wrong, but the film as a whole is just stereotype after stereotype with a dashing of contrivance (the cherry to our sundae, if you will). For example, when first integrating himself into the unfamiliar life of a rowdy 19 year old freshman Don goes and finds himself a lesbian best friend. This lesbian friend then proceeds to give our loveable protagonist an edgy new make-over (because that happens every day *eye-roll followed by world-weary sigh*) and tells him to go in the closet with “the religious stuff”. Yep, a lesbian told this guy to “go in the closet”. Well I for one couldn't help the eye roll and slight disbelief as this scene played out. This is just one example where the plot felt contrived and slightly ridiculous, and I could probably offer you more but then I feel like I would be over-emphasising my point and perhaps giving the wrong impression of this film. It’s not bad per se; in fact for the most part I enjoyed it, especially the scenes involving some alcohol-involved embarrassment or an exchange between our star-crossed duo Don and Penny. Hell the film even got an enthusiastic laugh once or twice, despite the heavy subject matter. When I wasn't enjoying Blue Like Jazz though I was being pulled between the films two forces, both of which elicited different and rather negative reactions. The scenes showing Don’s mockery of the church inspired feelings of irritation and anger at his childishness and lack of consideration, while the scenes involving Penny and her do-gooder tendencies came off as a huge and unwanted guilt-trip on the films part.

Yep, these guys are in a fake pulpit and this fake Pope is hearing fake and drunk-induced confessions. This is at a party. This is how non-religious colleges have fun...apparently. 

But I’m going to move on from my irritations at this film and instead explore the aspects which I did enjoy and which redeem it from my dislike. Namely the fresh-faced cast and stellar soundtrack. The actor portraying Don gives a convincing performance as a disillusioned teenager experiencing a severe existential crisis and at no point did his performance seem false. Which I know probably sounds hard to believe given how much I extolled this films adherence to stereotype, but just take my word for it. Allman shows extreme talent in this role and the fact that he made me want to watch despite the many instances when his character irritated me is impressive. His leading lady was equally impressive and Miss Holt made a good job of a heavy character whom I can imagine in less talented hands could of come off as annoyingly self-righteous and broad (or more so than is called for in the script anyhow). Instead Holt manages to ground this character and leaves the vague impression that there might be a fire to this character that we just aren't privy to onscreen. As for the soundtrack, I’ll keep it short and sweet – the songs are cool and add a contemporary feel to the film which is very necessary given the subject matter. When things in the film get a bit too doom-and-gloom on comes a song and suddenly things don’t seem quite so hopeless. The contemporariness of the soundtrack also emphasises the intended audience of this flick (not that it really needs emphasised given the films setting and central protagonists) and keeps our interest, as well as making us feel more comfortable (on a subconscious level) with thinking about religion and its place within our young lives. 

About that title, Blue Like Jazz. Its noted early on within the film that “Life is like jazz, it has no resolution…” but I think what this film teaches us is that if there is anything in this world that has no resolution it is religion. It cannot and never will be resolved because it is a personal journey. I know, I know – I’m deep… (In case it isn't obvious I’m being self-facetious). 

To cut a long story short…
Would I recommend this film? It would only appeal to a minority of people and the films stereotypical handling of a heavy subject matter are off-putting features of this film, but if you’re open to the idea of pondering religion and getting a chuckle or two from the deal then yeah, I would recommend it. 
A film ramblers star rating? 

That’s it for now folks…