List by-Jarrett Leahy

With today being the 45th birthday of the uber-talented Cate Blanchett, this week’s Top 6 list is dedicated to her. Sheepishly I must admit that I have yet to see four of Ms. Blanchett’s Oscar-nominated performances, so as a form of shame, I’ve decided to use the #6 slot to simply showcase these four films, seeing that any one of them could have officially been on this list if only I had taken the time to watch them…

6. Elizabeth (1998)/Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2008)/I’m Not There (2007)/Notes on a Scandal (2006)

Oh the shame…

5. Blue Jasmine (2011) A role penned by the incomparable Woody Allen, Blanchett’s tour de force performance of a mentally troubled New York socialite earned her a second Academy Award, her first Best Lead Actress. Watching Blanchett’s Jasmine slowly deteriorate before your eyes is a gloriously distressing experience that will leave you squirming in your seat.

4. The Aviator (2004) Martin Scorsese’s biopic tribute to the eccentric genius billionaire Howard Hughes, Blanchett offers a deliciously spot-on portrayal of Hollywood Legend Katharine Hepburn, who was one of Hughes’ many love interests during his famously turbulent life. Interestingly, Blanchett won her first Academy award for playing Hepburn, who herself was a 4-time Oscar winner.

3. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) Auteur filmmaker Wes Anderson has a uniquely whimsical style that movie fans seem to either love or hate. Starring comedic titan Bill Murray, Life Aquatic, a comedy about a world famous oceanographer who swears revenge on a mythical shark who ate his beloved assistant, is one of his most polarizing efforts. Blanchett plays Jane Winslett-Richardson, a journalist who joins this madcap expedition to chronicle Zissou’s efforts to track down and destroy this murderous Jaguar Shark.

2. Lord of the Rings (2001-03) What more can be said about Lord of the Rings? It is simply one of the top fantasy adventure trilogies of all-time. Blanchett, who plays the Noldorin Elf princess Galadriel, perfectly combines a majestic elegance with the domineering presence her all-powerful role required. Truly radiant, I dare you not to get goosebumps when she’s on screen.

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) Directed by famed filmmaker David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a charmingly captivating fantasy about the fascinating life and unusual adventures of Benjamin Button, a man who inexplicably ages backwards. Blanchett, playing Benjamin’s lifelong confidante and lover, Daisy, perfectly captures the elegant look and skill of a world class ballet dancer. Thanks in large part to the sultry on-screen chemistry shared between Blanchett and Pitt, I’m happy to say that Benjamin Button is just as captivating today as it was six years ago when it was first released.-JL

Happy Birthday Cate!

Edited by-Michelle Zenor