Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett in Truth

I have fond memories of films I saw here for the first time.

The action opens in April 2004, with the chummy team of Mapes and Rather-she calls him “Dad”, he treats her like a daughter, reminding her to eat when she’s stressed-receiving acclaim for the airing of their exclusive 60 Minutes segment detailing torture and prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Mapes wrote the story of how she and Rather (Robert Redford) uncovered a story that George W. Bush may have been AWOL from the United States National Guard for over a year during the Vietnam War.

Vanderbilt also pointed to the deep relationship between Rather and Mapes at CBS as a story-driver for Truth.

A lot will probably be heard within the coming months of Blanchett’s fiery efficiency as Mapes, who’s portrayed as thorny and sophisticated however pushed by ardour and idealism.

I will have more to say about the film once I’ve seen it. For now, I only want to reiterate that the Hollywood Reporter isn’t exactly up on the underlying story. It’s a knockout moment for Blanchett.

Both sides lawyer up and, when it’s clear where the momentum now lies, CBS begins distancing itself from its longtime star producer and, ultimately, its veteran news anchor.

This hot stuff provokes Mapes to put together a small team, including a former Marine (Dennis Quaid), a professor (Elisabeth Moss) and a researcher (Topher Grace). Most questions were directed his way, the crowd perhaps recognizing it’s unlikely he would be back for a film festival Q&A again any time soon. Or maybe CBS was looking for an excuse to let go of Dan Rather a year before his contract was up.

“I always loved journalism; I think it’s an incredibly noble pursuit and really wanted to do something about it and in that realm”, Vanderbilt said.

In a 2007 interview with Larry King, Rather claimed “he played largely a supervisory role” in the Bush segment, that the review panel was “a set-up”, and that “Nobody to this day has proved these documents were fraudulent…”

Asked for advice to a journalism student he noted, “Generally speaking, present company excluded, it doesn’t pay very well”.

ANDPOP’s resident movie goer, Jordan Appugliesi, will be living at theatres for the next 10 days for the 2015 Toronto Film Festival, just to bring you tips, tricks, and his thoughts on the festival’s films – and to enjoy some movies. While Mapes and Rather made mistakes, they were hung out to dry by both CBS (more concerned about profits than seeking the truth) and the rest of the media.

It may be yesterday’s news, but there’s still plenty of juice left in Truth, a crackerjack journalism yarn in which big-name actors play big-name real-life characters who became embroiled in a controversy that still raises partisan hackles.

Since his exit from CBS, Rather said he had “spent a lot of time practicing humility…and tremendous gratitude”.

Rather than dwelling on the missteps of the past, however, Rather spoke toward the future. Rather also fired a shot at then (and current) CBS honcho Les Moonves (who is not mentioned by name in the film), writing, “We did not retract the story, nor should we have. It takes ardour, and when you don’t burn with a scorching, exhausting flame to do it, then assume twice about stepping into it”.