In Praise of Blanchett's Curls in Truth
Manuel here. There’s plenty to enjoy in the Dan Rather scandal film, Truth, but at the top of the list is the electric performance by Cate Blanchett who is really wiping the floor with everyone else lately. She was deliciously campy in Cinderella (which we should be taking more seriously Oscar-wise). She is perfection in Carol (few directors work as well with actresses than Todd Haynes). But her work in Truth is something else altogether. I figured we should celebrate a seemingly insignificant aspect of the performance that kept me enraptured: Cate’s gorgeous locks.
So many scenes of hand-wringing that are followed by frantic hair-tussling. You can almost track the character’s state of mind by how carefully shaggy her blond curls are. Especially in comparison to Carol’s sleek and well-coiffed hair (always in its place, as composed as its heroine), Mary Mapes’s ringlets are always threatening to distract and take over the conversation.
Is it frivolous? Perhaps, but Blanchett is a performer who uses everything in her arsenal to build a character, and luscious curls are but another prop with which she created another amazing character to add to her already legendary roster.
Reader Comments (10)
That's why I love this website. Where else would you find a piece on Cate Blachett's curls?
She really has delivered Oscar wise and talent/role wise with those Next Streep comparissons.
A shame the movie is as terrible as bad hair.
I LOVE THIS. I swear my eyes were bouncing with every bounce of her hair or darting to track the tussling.
MESMERIZING HAIR.
I think the media should stop the Next Streep comparison...she's a juggernaut by herself, even outperforming Streep in more ways than one. I just watched Carol...she's perfection as you've mentioned. Love those curls too!
Curly hair aint easy and I know. I got a motherland of it lol. Love this post!!!
Three great performances in one year....a third Oscar should follow.
Her eye makeup was nothing to sneeze at, either.
Perfect Hairography.
Yes indeed! Her hair was a very welcome and unexpected distraction for the movie.