Not only are we Oscar historians here on This Had Oscar Buzz, we are also the Illuminati of Vanderbilts. This week, we look at the directorial debut of Zodiac screenwriter James Vanderbilt Truth. Detailing 60 Minutes’ expose on President George W. Bush’s military service that ended in Dan Rather’s demise, the film starred Cate Blanchett as producer Mary Mapes and Robert Redford as Rather and died a quick death at the box office despite being a great on-paper Oscar prospect.
Also the film’s best chance at Oscar was overshadowed by herself – Blanchett (though great in Truth) also had a little movie that year called Carol that she ultimately was nominated for and earned even higher praise. But perhaps Truth was also compared against Spotlight, another true journalism story and the eventual Best Picture winner.
This week, we discuss the 2015 Oscar race at large, Redford’s late-career Oscar close calls, and how Zodiac was underappreciated in its initial release. Last call for Mailbag episode questions! Send us your questions to [email protected] and @Had_Oscar_Buzz on Twitter!
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