Joey Magidson
It’s impossible not to recognize greatness when you see Cate Blanchett on the silver screen. Two Academy Awards on her mantle speak to this, but it goes beyond the accolades. Sure, she’s considered one of the best of her era, but just watching her in literally anything gives you a sense that you’re seeing a master at work. In that sense, the Oscars are just a bonus. With a real change of pace turn in Borderlands about to be unleashed on the world, it seemed like a good time to do another of my lists, this time with Blanchett’s resume.
Below, you’ll be able to see my Blanchett list. There’s a lot of variables here, but for my money, Blue Jasmine remains her best work to date. Now, The Aviator, Carol, I’m Not There, and Tar are not far behind, which just speaks to how good she is. While I doubt Borderlands will crack this list, especially since it doesn’t appear to really be screening for critics, once I see it, I will update as needed…
Here now is my ranking of the best Cate Blanchett performances so far. Behold:
Honorable Mention: Babel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Good German, Hanna, The Missing, and Truth
10. Pushing Tin
9. Veronica Guerin
8. Elizabeth
7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6. Notes on a Scandal
5. The Aviator
4. Tar
3. I’m Not There
2. Carol
1. Blue Jasmine
What are your favorite Cate Blanchett performances? Let us know!
The only one of these I feel inclined to push back on is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which, yes, is a movie I hate with a white-hot passion, but her performance did almost nothing to cool for me.
I wouldn’t even hesitate to swap that one out for her far superior work in Truth, another movie I’m not crazy about (mainly because trying to paint the firing of Mary Mapes from CBS News as anything other than a predictable and appropriate consequence of her sloppy journalism is not a movie worth much in my eyes) but she nevertheless did a heroic job of elevating as best as she could.
Totally fair, and Truth was higher initially for me.
I’m not the biggest Elizabeth fan but the Curious Case performance over the Elizabeth is a little surprising. I don’t hate the movie with a white hot passion but I do think it’s Fincher at his worst and Blanchett’s performance didn’t do anything to save it for me.
And no mention of Bandits? I expected that to be a favorite of yours.
She is one of my favorite actors working today. My toughest decision was between 1 and 2 on my list. Two iconic performances that would probably always go to whichever I saw most recently. If I were in charge of giving out Oscar wins and nominations she’d have wins my top 2 and 8 total nominations giving her the ones she’s gotten except Golden Age and adding Bandits. And she was very close for me for Ripley, The Gift, Charlotte Gray and Oscar & Lucinda (a couple of those because of very weak years in the categories for me).
I like Benjamin Button a lot, actually, which I know is a bit surprising.
15.Charlotte Gray
14.The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
13.Veroinica Gerin
12.The Talented Mr Ripley
11.Ocean’s Eight
10.Cinderella
9.Tar
8.The Aviator
7.I’m Not There
6.Don’t Look Up
5.Missing
4.Blue Jasmine
3.Carol
2.Notes On A Scandal
1.Paradise Road
I know my list is different but that’s me! I like the small her supporting roles. She could make a career of roles like the evil step mother and the self important news anchor .I am just happy she will take them on along with her leading roles.As for my first place choice I think about ten people have seen this one my mother and I being two of them.I really thought she would be nomintated for supporting actress that year and Glenn Close for lead.
I still need to watch Truth .
Different is good!