Talk of the festival: Will Blanchett join the ranks of Meryl Streep and Frances McDormand in winning her third Oscar.

For the record, Streep has won two Best Actress (Sophie’s Choice, 1982; The Iron Lady, 2011) kudos and one Best Supporting Oscar (Kramer Vs. Kramer, 1979).

(Ingrid Bergman is the only other female performer in Oscars’ history to have won three Oscars, two Best Actress and one Supporting, spread over a period of 30 years)

As for McDormand, right now, she follows the records of Kathrine Hepburn, the only performer to have ever won four Best Actress Oscars, with three Best Actress Awards of her own: Fargo in 1996, Three Billboards in 2018, and Namaland, last year.

It should be n0ted that the 4 Oscars for Katharine Hepburn had been received over a long period of time, half a century (from 1932 to 1982).

The audience at the evening gala cheered Blanchett, giving the already acclaimed actress, and director Field, a six-minute standing ovation after the screening.

There was raucous response from the Venice audience with waves of cheers, shouts of “bravo!” and “brava” (in Italian) for both the ultra-modes Field and Blanchett.

The Tár screening began 15 minutes late (not unusual in Venice, or Italy for that matter), in part due to the screaming crowds of autograph seekers and selfie-takers who took advantage of the first Venice festival since the start of the COVID pandemic to give ordinary fans access to the red carpet.

Blanchett and the cast entered to a whoop from the festival crowds waiting outside.

Another cheer rose up, with a few cries of “bravo” when the announcer introduced her by name.

Field’s first feature in 16 years (why has he waited that long?) TÁR follows Blanchett’s character from the peak of her creative and career powers into a harrowing unraveling amid #MeToo allegations.

Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover, Mark Strong, Allan Corduner and Sylvia Flote are among the film’s distinguished supporting cast.

Blanchett is famously known for her lengthy and meticulous preparation for any role she has played. For this picture, she actress study German, and learn how to play the piano and conduct an orchestra.

My guess is that she has also watched many documentaries about conductors, especially those of Leonard Bernstein, as her modes and manners on the podium are flamboyant yet always seem creditable and authentic.

 

Photo: The Aviator

Blanchett has 6 Oscar nominations to date and two wins: for Best Supporting Actress in 2005 for The Aviator, and a Best Actress win for Blue Jasmine in 2014.

Photo: Blue Jasmine

While Blanchett is the award’s focus, the strong critical and public response to TÁR indicates that Focus Features has a strong cintender in the upcoming Oscar season, with possible nominations in multiple categories, including Best Picture, Director, and of course for Best Score, composed by Oscar winner Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker).

Our review of the film will appear later today.