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Cate Blanchett has been a star since the very first second we met her.
And she was, of course, just getting started.
She has been forever daring, uncompromising and perpetually, resolutely, herself.
Thats a combination thats nearly impossible to come by.
She also can nail every accent in the book.
She has already won two Oscars and been nominated for four others.
Yet even those numbers seem too low.
An argument could be made that shes the most esteemed actress of her generation.
But performance is not, and never has been, really, all of who I am.
You could have fooled us.
Heres a ranking of Blanchetts movies released in theaters.
Whats left stands alongside any film actor on the planet.
44.Borderlands(2024)
Stunt casting?
The fulfillment of an unrealized, lifelong dream of playing a dumb action hero?Just buckets of cash?
), but whatever she might have wanted out of it, we cant imagine she got it.
and while she doesnt necessarily embarrass herself,sheesh, what a colossal waste of everybodys time.
It has to be.
The performance is biting and sharp, whereas her take on Brie Evantee inDont Look Upis shallow and lazy.
We blame McKay mostly, but she deserves some of the discredit herself.
She looks fantastic, though.
Probably best that Kieslowski never saw this.
Does she nail her accent perfectly?
Of course she does.
Blanchett does a perfectly fine impression, but the effort seems pointless in this stillborn exercise.
This movie needs fewer men.
The movie is ridiculous its about rival air-traffic controllers!
but all four actors are good.
Unfortunately, Blanchett has the least screen time and the least interesting character to play.
Thank the stars, that just doesnt seem very likely from her.
28.Cinderella(2015)
The secret to Blanchetts performance in Kenneth Branaghs live-actionCinderellais the smile.
In essence, Blanchett brings a cartoon to life, and its a fun, knowingly flamboyant turn.
Its always commendable when accomplished talents push themselves, butThe Missingillustrates that, sometimes, the daring isnt rewarded.
(Well, Mrs. Zimmerman used to, anyway: Its a complicated, sad story.)
You believe her character is a witch because theres something inherently magical about her.
mostly leaves you thinking Blanchett should get away from both of these weirdos and get in business for herself.
One wonders how much livelier this film would have been if made today with these two Oscar winners.
true but isnt exactly earth-scorching in its rage.
Still: Wed love to see her in a BIG comedy someday.
Get your Philip Seymour Hoffman inAlong Came Pollyon, Cate!
The movie doesnt require much more than dress-up from her, but she wears the part well.
The performances arent an apology, but they are an acknowledgement of the toll stardom takes.
Shellys tartness is here to confirm we never feel too sorry for Cate.
who discovers that she has extrasensory abilities and reluctantly puts them to use in a murder case.
(And Soderbergh produced 2018sOceans Eight.)
This is what bulletproof cool looks like.
(But wow, she really is lit magnificently.)
(Wes [accused] me of being a method actor, she later joked.)
This is the one really great Blanchett performance that most people havent seen.
Its a perfect mimic, but theres also deep compassion in the performance.
Their scenes have a palpable chemistry that he almost looks intimidated by.
Shes still a delight … and still smarter than she appears.
(It involves sleeping with 15-year-old students, among other things.)
If anything, it was a little ahead of its time.
I think a lot of people said, Well, why should we feel anything for her?
She doesnt try overly hard to make Jasmine lovable.
Eventhe posterof this movie is powerful: Who would ever mess with this Elizabeth?
Who could ever get over her?
And unlike the ill-fated Lydia, Blanchett keeps finding new ways to top herself.
