Encounter with the Great and Humble Cate

Warning: Any appearance of reportorial objectivity in the following is purely accidental. When it comes to Cate Blanchett, duly paid tribute to at the Arlington Theatre last night in SBIFF’s annual “Outstanding Performance” slot, there’s no question in my mind that she richly deserves the Best Actress Oscar for her stunning role in the year’s greatest film, Tár. As troubled, brilliant, and power-maddened conductor Lydia Tár, Blanchett turned in her best performance yet, in an already illustrious body of work.

End of fanboy love note.

Doing the interviewer honors, Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg did a fine and comprehensive job of spanning the breadth and plumbing the personal perspectives of the ever-charming Blanchett. Early in the interview, she interjected, with a laugh, “This is a deep dive. Do you want me to lay down?”