Can Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford Handle the ‘Truth’?

Even though the film is due in less than three months, we’re just now getting our first look at Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford in the true story of the “Rathergate” period of CBS News when Dan Rather was unceremoniously on his way out after a 2004 report about George W. Bush’s ability to avoid service during the Vietnam War due to his family connections. The story reverberated throughout the news industry and one of the most trusted men in news faced the gauntlet as a result.

In this first pic we see a disheveled Robert Redford as Dan Rather and Cate Blanchett as Mary Mapes, the reporter who spearheaded the controversial report. Since you know I just want to get down to the awards element of this, here’s what we know; the film is based on Mapes’ book “Truth and Duty” so it’s not a stretch to think that the film could or would be told from her point of view, making her the lead and Redford’s Rather a supporting player.

Sony Pictures Classics has Truth set for an October 16th release date but what category placements will we be looking at for these two Oscar winners? Strategy will play a very important part here as Blanchett already has a lead role in the higher profile film Carol from The Weinstein Company. That comes out November 20th. Will they push her in supporting to avoid competing with Weinstein? SPC already has its lead actor candidate in Tom Hiddleston for I Saw the Light so a supporting push for Redford makes sense both strategically and based on the role. Maybe a less aggressive push for Blanchett in lead is what will end up happening, hoping that Redford is their horse in this race. They could also simply pull it from the 2015 calendar and hold it for next year. It wouldn’t be the first time; in 2013 Foxcatcher was set for a late fall release and was pulled just a month before only to show up in 2014 at Cannes, winning Best Director there, and then snag five Oscar nominations this year. I could see that happening again if they feel the season getting too crowded. Curiously, it didn’t show up at either Venice or Toronto in their announcements (things are always added to Toronto though) but there is definitely a place for it at Telluride or New York if they choose.