As a classically trained violinist, I find this movie not only a study of power, but also a critical commentary of the very environment I come from. It's a perfect reflection of how this community works and grasps the personalities in a realistic way.
Despite her many great performances, I'd say without hesitation that Cate Blanchett gave the performance of a lifetime. I think actors and cinéastes will be studying it for decades.
@@cc-vn7qpuhhh completely transformed herself? To the point where if you didn’t know you’d be convinced she was impersonating a real person but it’s entirely fictional. The way her character carries herself in any given situation with different people, meticulous minute details for each of them demonstrating the character’s calculations and manipulations, it’s a masterclass. Not to mention the numerous long takes that last for tens of minutes sometimes, it’s a genius performance she has to balance a million things in her mind to achieve this, that’s also not even mentioning the demands of the science behind music and conducting
I watched this movie this afternoon, in an empty theater, by my self. All the other movies playing at the multiplex were bustling, but not this one. However, this is the movie that will be watched, studied, analyzed, and talked about and written about for decades to come.
When I walked out of it, I felt exhausted, cold, and empty, but the more I thought about it, it's beautifully complex, smart, captivating, intense. I loved it.
That’s how I felt watching The Favourite. I thought it ended abruptly & unfinished, I was wanting more, but as I connected the dots it all made sense. Can’t imagine it ending any other way now.
When it ended I started it over and watched it again. It is wonderfully understated. CB can do no wrong. This movie and Saint Maud are my favorite recent films.
This movie broke me! Too many movies try to tackle social commentaries, but come off shallow or insincere. I love how Tar makes us care about Lydia in the first act, makes us respect her, perhaps even love her, and then slowly peels away all of it bit by bit until the ending. I found the ending to be devastating and sympathetic, yet I love how another audience member would likely feel joyful catharsis at Lydia's downfall and where she ends up. The film wants audiences to walk away with either both or all reactions. The Juliard scene is so incredible because I personally agreed with Lydia's perspective, though I also love how the student isn't wrong to feel the way he dod, nor, do I think was Lydia wrong for calling him out on it. What they were saying wasn't wrong, but how they were saying it, in the end, how they resorted to just attacking each others character when opinions ran out was vicerally real. -- the biggest irony about the Juliard scene too is I can already predict an edited version of it will end up on twitter when the film goes wide and the real world situation play out exactly as it did in the film. This is a brilliant movie. It has a lot of questions about humanity, accountability, legacy, tradition, and ego. I hope more people see it and have discussions about it. Though I can't help but feel like it'll become controversial or get simplified as 'the cancel culture movie.' 10 minutes before the film ended the guy behind me in the theatre answered his phone and loudly exclaimed "Sorry I can't talk right now, I'm in a BAD MOVIE!" He obviously didn't like it, and I can't help but feel like the subject matter of the film was the cause of his distain for it -- but who really knows. Great review as always!!
Amazing to find such a well written and thoughtful reply in a RUclips comments section. Thank you for making the world a better place and redeeming my faith in humanity a little bit. Cheers!
What a great commentary here in this comment as well, thanks for sharing. The ambiguity in this movie creates so many powerful conflicting emotions and is so much closer to what real life is like that many of these superficial force fed movies that come about
I disliked her from the beginning, when it was clear that both her New Yorker interview and her anti-woke virtue signalling with the bipoc student were entirely performative. The hand on the knee was the gesture of a mad woman who operates under the delusion of control. She was the biggest narcissist, the bigger snowflake in that conflict, however easy it might be to dislike the student.
You hit on one of my favorite aspects of this film... Todd Field doesn't dumb down his dialogue or storytelling for the audience. Nothing infuriates me more when a film talks down to its audience.
Yes. That’s why I love David Lynch, Martin McDonagh & Yorgos Lanthimos films. Unfortunately not many others do, which tells you a lot about our critical thinking skills as a society as a whole.
Your review is one of the best!!!!! Thank you❤ In my country, Japan, TAR came in theaters very late in this May - June, and I have just seen it only once but loved it so much that I am going to see it again…and more again, I think. This film is such a thrilling masterpiece of art, from the director's enigmatic intent and insanely well written script, camera works, to all the details literally, visually, dramatically, musically,….so on. Each frame was a breathtakingly beautiful picture full of meanings!!! And Cate Blanchett!!!!! I have always admired her but once again I fell in love and in awe with her art which made the whole of this movie so REAL and captivating!! The fact the Academy(the Power and Authority) gave no Oscars to this film this year (which is a shame in my opinion) makes me think even more what kind of society we are transiting in and TAR gives us an invitation to question about it in such a wise and artistic way, as you say, without imposing us the answers. We need more of this kind of cinematography.
Great review. Such a in depth one I must say. Todd is such a great filmmaker, he really researched classical music world. Screenplay is amazing. You are never bored, all due to magnificence of Ms Blanchett. Such a masterful performance that will reverberate in cinematic history for being one of the greatest. She definitely deserves an Oscar for this.No one comes close imo male or female this year. PS: Your video quality is excellent, along with delivery. Instant sub.
Yeah, this is hands down my favorite film of the year, and I fully expect Cate Blanchett to win another Oscar. The scene where she tears down that student - woof! 😭😭😭 Like you, I can’t wait to see it again.
I loved how she ripped into that annoying arrogance that has become the staple for a generation that's been indoctrinated with navel gazing instead of critical thinking. Sublime comebacks she had. His exit (of course) was like, 'don't let the door hit you in the ass as you run away!' Lol
Yes that was a great scene! It exposed the huge generational gap today between older and younger people. Lesbians who used to be considered a "minority" thirty years ago...but the young ones today don't consider that enough! She is privileged in the eyes of the youth today...unless you tick-a-box of other things nowadays like "a disabled autistic, POC, lesbian". Intersectionality will kill the Civil Rights Movement for sure!
I can tell you from painful personal experience, this could be called 'Philip Glass played by a woman' - except that he has enough power that he'll never stop. The constant lies, the brutal aggression disguised as being thoughtful, the email-bombs destroying people's careers to cover up personal crap which has nothing to do with music, and the sycophants who go along with it. He tried to destroy my career as Lydia did practically verbatim to the emails shown in the film. I'd glad now that I didn't ___ myself, altough I tried at one point. I finally had to leave my own country to keep working, and although it will never be the same after what he did, I'm happier now. After an experience like that you almost forget that there are other possibilities. If you've ever been blacklisted by a powerful person, it sucks, but know that you can eventually move past it, after some hard knocks.
I just saw Tar! The spellbinding is REAL and Cate's performance is the reason behind it! And can we give Todd Field his flowers for his gorgeous direction? YES!
Really can’t wait to see this. It’s definitely my most anticipated movie on my watchlist. Just waiting for the right price as I’ve already spent so much on movies this year.
New subscriber here and I am totally in your camp. This film has replaced another in my Top Ten best films. In my late 60's now and a film lover my entire life, I experienced what I consider to be a masterpiece in this project. So fresh, so complex and surprising that it made me cry with joy right in the middle. I think the joy came as part of feeling relief at something so new and the story unwinding before my eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed your perspective and presentation in this review. Thank you.
It's just come to the UK and I watched it last night and haven't stopped talking about it!! I completely know where you are coming from with how happy you felt to be watching a movie that's genuinely excellent. I felt the same way. Can't wait to see it again
I wouldn’t be mad if Cate won her third Oscar because her performance in Tar is absolutely devastating. I’m still rooting for Michelle Yeoh, just because on how much I love the movie and want to see a performance from a genre film to actually win for once! The Oscars have not been kind to action, comedy, or sci-fi movies and that’s just isn’t right!
I finally watched the film today and absolutely loved it. I pretty much agree with everything you said. I felt the end was a little bit rushed though, specially when you consider how much time and thought was given to all of the previous scenes in the film. That being said I do have one very specific question for you: as a classical music major, how well do you think they pulled off the classical music elements of the film? I'm merely someone who's been to a few classical music concerts but I have no knowledge beyond that. Beautifully put review, as always!
Tar is a superb work of art. One of the very few films that, after viewing, compelled me to see it a second time. There are many nuances that are missed with just one viewing. Also, as a photographer, I was blown away by the perfection of its color tonality. A true masterpiece!
I am a cinephile and there are only two movies that I have re-watched during two consecutive days : " Waking life" written and directed by Richard Linklater and more recently " Tár". Tár is such a complex, rich, thought provoking, and well acted movie that I know even after my second watching I will revisit it in the future. I certainly love your review of this extraordinary movie. Thanks
_Waking Life_ is fucking brilliant and I applaud your taste. It's up there with those movies where I think: "Who the fuck greenlit _this?"_ Like the music videos of Tool or _Black Bear_ (2020)
I agree. It's been said "philosophy is learning how to die"; not sure I agree, but "Waking Life" exquisitely takes up that notion with a spellbinding tour of philosophical questions and outlooks concentrated in a singularly grave moment in the protagonist's life, living up to its title pun (like Tar does), but with the agenda of getting the audience to think and stop sleepwalking. Magical movie.
This is an excellent review. You get right to the point about what TAR is all about without spoiling it. It's about POWER. And I grow weary of critics who say it's about cancel culture because that's just one of a few issues raised by this film, not it's major point. Thank you so much.
@@ImpressionBlend It's an amazing film and Cate's performance is beyond the beyond. Lydia Tar comes to life in her hands and I can't stop thinking about her or the movie. Just incredible.
@@WoodsyLadyM while watching a film I often think, "who else would have been a good choice for it?" I couldn't think of any actress but Kate Winslet. I'm just so happy this turned out so well, even using the real Gopnik.
Had no idea you were a classical music major! Perhaps you've already told it, but I'd love to hear more of that story! This film was extraordinary. I, a gay classical music aficionado with a penchant for psychological character studies, also felt like the film was made for me. When it was over I was honestly speechless and couldn't even put words to formulate my thoughts. I think it's a masterclass in subtle storytelling and objectivism. I'm surprised how much sympathy I wound up having for Lydia by the end of the film, even though the film never pushes me in either direction. Cate's performance revelatory, even for her. THE JUILLIARD SCENE where seamlessly speaks and acts while playing piano IN THE STYLES OF DIFFERENT PIANISTS??? 2 hours and 40 minutes flew the hell by. I seriously cannot wait to see this film, in theaters, again. It's so rich and dense and absorbing. It also kind of reminded me of The Piano Teacher, my favorite Haneke film. The way the formality and tradition of the fine arts world contrasts with the depravity and brokenness of the main character. Also loved Nina Hoss, Noemie Merlant, and Sophie Kauer, and after just one viewing, I'm certain that rewatching it and paying close attention to those character's performances will reveal a lot. I think they're all very deserving of acclaim as well. I still can't even process it; this was just word vomit... It's certainly not a film that everyone will enjoy, but if it's made for you, it's MADE for you.
Thank you for this video. You are spot on. I just saw Tar this weekend, and I was absolutely stunned. I'm sorry I waited so long because I want to see it again, and then again, before it leaves the theater. I'm going back to see it again after work this week. Hands down not only my favorite film in recent memory but also sure to be one of my all-time favorites.
okay thank you for this review, I usually watch beyond the trailer with Grace Randolph and she bashes this movie so much that I had my doubts if its worth watching, I do love Cate Blanchett so glad I watched it
@@ImpressionBlend I finally saw it today. March! Oh well, at least I saw it on the silver screen. Oh, and I loved it as much as you did. Another excellent review. I need to see this again (and again).
Just back from seeing it. It was fabulous. And she was even better. (And I'm so glad they used Mahler 5!) And I feel like this film was made just for me, too. Just the classical music talk and the rehearsal scenes alone were more than enough gratification for me! But the film offered immersion in music and then so much more! How rich it was!
Flipped a coin to choose between seeing German director Edward Berger's "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Tar." All Quiet won and it turned out exquisite, but now, I'll have to go see Tar also.
When Tar explains that Bach song to Max, she says “he knows that it’s always the question that involves the listener.” The movie knew this, too. It didn’t give us viewers all the answers - it asked complex questions which engaged us to think about nuanced problems (like whether you can separate the art from the artist). I personally thought it was a thrilling, thought-provoking drama.
Same here. I loved Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All At Once and originally wanted her to win the Oscar but now i think Cate's performance is even more fantastic and deserving of the Oscar. It sucks because I wish both could win.
Just being nominated for anything in 2022 is a tremendous honor. It was a great year for film. Definitely a better performance than half the Oscar winners of the last half century.
That got me thinking. I’d like to see Sandra Bullock try more roles like this. Bird box & Gravity were some of my favorite films of hers. But a role like this could solidify her career.
I'm glad I found this review because I thought this movie was a pile of shit and I wondered what people who like this movie ever saw in it's meandering and uneventful 2.5 hour runtime. I still hate it but I'm glad to have a more clear view of the other side
Such a stellar review! I was going to watch this anyway because of Cate, but now I'll be even more intrigued to see how it tackles the topics you've mentioned. And thank you for clarifying the trailer situation, because it was giving me serious "Thelma" (2017) vibes and now I see they're nothing alike.
I loved the part of this video where you talk about how it doesn't take a stance because it would rather have a nuanced convo about it rather than tell you how to feel. unfortunately I've seen lots of people (usually men) talk about how this movie is anti-woke, otr anti-cancel culture, or ripping apart cancel "woke mob" culture... lol they heard one thing they agreed with and weren't interested in hearing the conversation at all. this movie is so clearly not taking that stance lol
Yessss!! I was so upset seeing that talk, they completely ignore the invitation to think about power and it’s structures and have leapt on the idea that this film is saying woke liberals are the enemy lollll
Todd Field has brilliantly used that clip as an act of misdirection - to reel in viewers with an “anti-woke” agenda and then pull the carpet from beneath their feet when they see the whole movie.
Great review, I agree with everything this reviewer says. It certainly should be seen more than once, even if the three times I've seen have meant leaving the cinema shattered and emotional, thanks to the script and, especially, to Cate Blanchett's magnificent and astonishing performance. I've become so obsessed with both the wonderful dialogue and Cate that I found myself silently mouthing her lines all the way through. Got an odd look from someone sitting a couple of seats away.😆😆❤️
Great review! I enjoyed listening to it. I don't agree however that TÁR is not interested in gender politics. I think it is very much about gender. As I see it, Todd Field did not settle to make a movie about a lesbian sexual predator in the sense that Tár isn't really interested in showing us the specificities of a case such as this when the perpetrator is a gay woman. His approach is much more "universal", he wants to make us think about power and sexual predation in general, which, outside of the context of the film, have been overwhelmingly the privilege and the doing of men. I read his choice of focusing on a woman as a way to examine the phenomenon of male power and violence but from a safe distance. Also, it is impossible, I think, to talk about power without talking about masculinity. To be where she is, Lydia Tár literally had to adopt the behavior of white men (the white men who still very much dominate the classical music institutions she has sought validation from her whole life). She presents as very masculine, calls herself Petra's "father", but mostly this is made clear in her "separate the artist from the man" tirade, her reverence to "male geniuses" vs. contemporary (female) composers such as Anna Thorvaldsdottir, her bullying of the queer student, or when she lies through her teeth in the opening interview saying that her gender was never a problem in her career, which is of course b*llsh*t! Ask any contemporary female conductors. Nathalie Stutzmann, who is one of the very few female conductors who, like Lydia Tár, have worked both in Europe and the US, says that when she was young, conducting (male) professors were ANGRY when she - a woman - sat in their classes! She had to wait to become a world-class famous contralto and in her forties before daring again to pursue her dream of conducting. Lydia Tár saying her gender never was an obstacle is not Todd Field putting gender-politics aside, on the contrary, it is the movie's protagonist refusing to openly question the status quo and the misogyny of the classical music world to further her own power within this world. Anyway, this is just my take. Thanks for providing a space to discuss this :)
Having seen it yesterday, I went back and looked at the trailers and teasers - which you've used in your essay - and I was stunned to discover that there were shots (some of them the surreal ones) that were nowhere to be seen in the finished film (the formal ballroom, which seems to feature her mentor Andres, Krista and the snake, all the bizarre graphics). I can't think of another movie that had so much in the advertising, which might have lured people into the theatre, that ultimately wasn't there.
There are tons of trailers created with shots one will not see in the final product. Trailers are supposed to take the viewer on a sweeping journey to tease the audience in - not reveal all 3 acts. But for the past 30 years the shift happened to reveal all because the industry began to dumb down the audience based on demographics of ticket sales - boys 14 to 25! We are beginning to see more of the old school tease again with films of great storytelling. Perhaps a patience in art since the pandemic? I don't know but it's a welcome shift for this viewer.
@@joeybrite7088 Oh, I absolutely agree with your sentiment. It's just that a friend of mine saw the movie, liked it pretty much, but said it didn't "blow her away." And I agree in a sense - it has a slow-burn kind of increasing vise-grip intensity - but if you watch that trailer, with all that extra surreal material, edited blazingly fast, you might think you were in for an "Uncut Gems"-level experience, INTENDED to "blow you away." And so I can imagine how impatient my friend was after the first ten or fifteen minutes of this movie. (Not ME!)
I live in Western Australia and have to wait until next year to see Tar…😢 I have had the privilege to see Cate on stage and believe her to be the greatest living ACTOR ❤❤ in the world
Yes!! Tár is fantastic! I’ve seen this movie three times already in theaters (which is not something I’ve ever done before), and I’m honestly contemplating a fourth watch. I feel similarly that this movie was calling my name from the get-go. One thing I’m curious about is whether or not we’ll be getting a director’s cut, because some of those trailer moments looked brilliant
Thanks for this review. I was looking for one for a while and for some reason yours didn't find me until today. I knew that once I stopped looking it would find me, but I didn't know so soon. And lol, yes, I did google to see if the characters were fictional or not. I also felt like the other reviews I saw were reducing this movie to cancel culture and that answer was very unsatisfying because it's obvious more was going on. On the other hand, maybe I should have actually watched their entire review, but that title "cancel culture" really turned me away.
It’s nothing less than a scandal, she didn’t get the Oscar. In my opinion it was a political decision for the Asian community and tragically Cate B. is the sacrifice. I feel sorry for her but I hope she’s got the inner feeling of a really great job she did .
Brilliant review. Felt your entusiasm on this one. It seems a must watch indeed. Also Cate is the best actress alive. Did one of my favorites of all: CAROL 🧡
Let’s hope this inspires other great actresses to take on a bold character like this. I think there are some really fantastic actresses that just haven’t found the right movie to carry out their full potential yet.
I am very happy that i discovered your channel ! Such a breath of fresh air! It feels that you succed to cover all without spoiling the watching experience. I would love to see your take on The Banshees of Inisherin . Please continue your work.
I’d love to watch an in-depth analysis of this movie. There are just so many details I still don’t understand. For example, why did she steal that red pen from the player she fired, where exactly was that new cellist living? These are small details but I think they should have some meaning
She has misophonia so gets highly irritated by sounds like the pen clicking... so she isn't really stealing it, more like hiding it from the assistant so he doesn't pick it up and play with it when she's here. As for the cellist, one theory could be that she (Olga) knew that Lydia is the kind to engage in relationships in younger females, and purposefully gives her the wrong address so that she doesn't know where she lives.
This is the best review of “ Tar “ it covers all the movies aspects and what wants to Say , I had to watch Tar twice. , the first time I was stunned by the performance of Queen ‘ Blanchett “ so I missed lots of the dialogue, the second time I was amazed by the director work and the questions the movie is having for the audience to think about , and yes Cate Blanchett deserves her third Oscar for the pice of art
Great analysis, TAR is my favourite movie of the year and sometimes I don't find the right words to explain why. From now on, I will just share your video with people.
Love the reviews, keep it up! A reflection i have is that every time i watch your latest video it always strikes me how it kind of sounds like you are talking into a can. Im sure you have a quality mic so maybe it can be tweaked with some eq setting.
Like Bach, the movie doesn't give the answers. The most important is the question. I loved this movie so much. It's already one of my favorites of all time.
Your presentation astonished me with its depth, subtlety, and layered poetic sensibility. Your previous stuff is also high quality, but this particular review thing jumped out to me as exceptionally striking and resonant. I will definitely find my way to this film.
it is brilliant, and todd field is a genius. I could give a flying flip about classical music, and I consider the filmic arts at the bottom of the arts, but this film is a masterpiece.
I'm definitely seeing this tomorrow. Thanks for the review! You were a music major. What was your instrument? I'm a music lover and am curious. Former Chicagoan too. Miss deep dish!
Thank you for this informed and intelligent review. It has helped me appreciate the movie more and understand I missed a lot. Here are my shallow comments. I saw it yesterday and was wondering throughout, where is the sound track?...where is the background music to liven things up? Has there ever been a movie about classical music, conductors and orchestras devoid of background music? It did accentuate the dark palette. I was glad the Russian cellist didn't fall for her during the trip to New York for the launch of "Tar on Tar." But I was sorry when that sleazy proto-conductor with the hair turned up. Cate Blanchette created a character so strong, so flawed, that you don't love her; you don't hate her. OK, you have my go-ahed: give Cate Blanchett a third Oscar.
I have been savoring the thought of seeing this film since I first heard about it. So, I'm holding off on watching your review until I see it on Monday.
The Juilliard scene is a brilliant bait and switch, an ingenious act of misdirection. it suckers in people with a agenda then chews them up and spits them out.
I'm not sure it's so straight-forward. The scene certainly foreshadows the central premise of the film, but I think to interpret it as a bait and switch really does a disservice to the beautiful ambiguity of the film. As Tàr says about Bach, the film knows that the question is more interesting than the answer. Tàr isn't a totally corrupt, evil person, but she is capable of the immoral and unethical actions which her position enables. She pays for her old mentor's driver as a thankless act of kindness and is a caring parent. She is a geniunely great musician, but her entire persona and brand is an invention. The exact nature of the relationship with Krista is also left open. It seems pretty clear that there was a sexual component, but was she a genuinely unbalanced and dangerously volatile person who Tàr was justified in declining to recommend? This would still be morally bad, of course, but a much more understandable and forgivable situation than outright black-balling. Equally, while she was clearly attracted to the new cellist, she ultimately didn't make any of the expected advances. Although Tàr clearly set up the concerto solo as a favor, she was also evidently a cellist of superior talent and very deserving of the opportunity in any event. So was it morally acceptable or not? Tàr has the complexity and moral ambiguity of a real human being. I really didn't take away from the film, "The student was right; the art can't be ever separated from the artist and everything vaguely problematic should be cancelled". It was for me, rather, a meditation on the subject without a definitive answer. But I could be wrong about that, of course.
I disagree that Tar wants to show us different POVs, it only shows us Lydia’s POV, we never even see the girl Krista who committed suicide…just saying, great movie though
I finally got to see this film today it just came out here in New Zealand. Cate Blanchett was amazing great acting great screenplay great direction. Great look at power dynamics and cancel culture. One of the best films of the Oscar season.
I’m finding it increasingly difficult, to separate the art from the artist. It used to not bother me too much, but the absolute hatred and disrespect with which, opinions, or disagreements are presented, takes a toll, over time. I do try, but…
I find that if I already have a sense of nostalgia with something I can’t just remove that because of the artist, but anything new that comes out I’m happy to ignore and not watch/read/consume it. Others can, but I don’t need to see a new Polanski, for example. Also depends on how big a part they played. An author or director I can’t separate, but sometimes I will make exceptions for disgraced actors in larger casts. But if their transgressions were really bad and widely known BEFORE the project happened and everyone still chose to work with them then I don’t need to see it
That's a good point - things you already love are easier to separate because you fell in love with them before you knew actor/director was not a great person. I also generally find it easier with movies than other pieces of art, just because there are SO MANY people involved in making a film - it's never only ONE person's project. Finally, if the person is dead - it doesn't bother me nearly as much as someone still living, who I would end up supporting with my money if I were to buy a ticket/blu-ray/whatever.
This is an incredible analysis of the film, I clicked the subscribe right away! I agree so much, what I loved the most is it doesn't feel preachy, it allows the audience to take their own interpretations about the story.
Thank you for this, you’re one of the very few who gets it. I felt exactly what you feel about the film. In a day and age that emphasizes on black/white answers, this is a very important work. Those who hated this film may look back 20 years later and realize how wrong they were.
I honestly did not like the movie. I personally thought the film was way too slow and way too long for my liking and I personally did not like the characters or the dialogue in the movie because I’ve found the writing way too pretentious for my liking. That being said, the only good thing about the movie was Cate Blanchett’s performance as Lydia Tar. Her performance is nothing short of spectacular and the only reason why anyone should even watch the movie because Cate’s performance is really that amazing.
What I struggled with, with this movie is that it felt shallow. I keep hearing people say, including Todd himself, that he wants this film to spark conversation, and ask questions, which makes sense, and I love films that are ambiguous and open to interpretation. However, a film should, whether it's ambiguous or not, feel like it has something to say, and that based off of our personal interpretations, we can have a discussion about it. Yes, asking questions of the audience and leaving things open for interpretation is important, but if the film itself has nothing to say, then it's empty. It's shallow. It's just questions. It's just a Rorschach painting. It's just a blob with no meaning. I loved the idea of this movie, I loved the craftsmanship from all departments, I just felt that it was an unfinished movie. It didn't go far enough, it didn't really get anywhere. It's a thesis statement that just keeps repeating itself and there is no body or conclusion. Look at David Lynch's movies. They are completely open to interpretation and almost impossible to explain logically. Yet there is never any question that David Lynch doesn't have a strong point of view and that he is saying something with his work. If you don't, you're just treading water. It's just an exercise in chasing a wild goose. You're never getting anywhere, because the film is literally just asking questions, so there is no meaning to these answers, it's you filling in the blanks that the filmmaker should have done himself.
I knew very little about the art of Ballet before i saw Black Swan and I know nothing about orchestra conducting which i am certain TAR will introduce me to - I love these sort of movies, which are so well researched and so well dramatised - the only pity is in the UK I won't see this until next year!!
This thumbnail was why I blind-bought this movie on 4k, I knew I had to give it a go. best blind buy of the year and I am glad you mentioned the comparison to Whiplash because I thought to myself, "the Terence Fletcher sequel we all deserved", haha.
I came out of that film saying over and over, it's a movie made for adults. But really it was a movie that didn't need to handhold viewers and talk down to them. I felt so energized afterwards and it seems like it's been awhile since I felt like that after watching a movie.
I did not get this one. A lot of it was subtlety that I did not pick up on. It did not make a lot of sense to me. I do not get the oscar hype for eitiher the movie or Cate Blanchett. This has been a down year for movies, but I am still waiting for one to root for.
The last few years have been awful for audiences. We are treated to "The Last Jedi", "Velma" and "She Hulk". This movie sounds like it is not in that category.
Wagner may be the one artist I find myself unable to separate from his work as he was anti-Semitic beyond anything I have seen.On the other hand, even though Elia Kazan betrayed many people in the 50's at the HUAC, his "Face in the Crowd" is brilliant and so relevant for today.
I just saw the movie and loved it! I’m a fan of Cate Blanchett. Everything about film was amazing from cast, music, cinema photography, everything. Love your review, cheers! ~Elizabeth
excellent review, you are very talented for it. the first 50min I was like ok this movie is not for everyone, I can't recommand it to friends that are not too much into music. But then everything accelerate and downfall becomes more and more intriging. I was thinking it was going to end with her suicide, I'm glad it did not, and I love the ending. Living into a foreign country and disturbed by random noises I could totally understand impersonnate her character. The acting is sublime The level of details on every pictures is amazing, couldn't stop my mind to analyse every frame and lines. This movie is stressfull, and it really puts you in a phsychologique state that totally stun you at the end. I loved it. I'll watch it again too.
As a classically trained violinist, I find this movie not only a study of power, but also a critical commentary of the very environment I come from. It's a perfect reflection of how this community works and grasps the personalities in a realistic way.
Seems like it gets very political and toxic at times..
Despite her many great performances, I'd say without hesitation that Cate Blanchett gave the performance of a lifetime. I think actors and cinéastes will be studying it for decades.
It sucks that her and Michelle Yeoh both gave generational performances this year
I wouldn’t go that far lol. What specifically did she do in this movie that is worth studying for decades?
@@lukeknopke2574 love Yeoh but I think Blanchett blew her out of the water. However, Blanchett already has her Oscar, Yeoh is long overdue for her’s
@@cc-vn7qpuhhh completely transformed herself? To the point where if you didn’t know you’d be convinced she was impersonating a real person but it’s entirely fictional. The way her character carries herself in any given situation with different people, meticulous minute details for each of them demonstrating the character’s calculations and manipulations, it’s a masterclass. Not to mention the numerous long takes that last for tens of minutes sometimes, it’s a genius performance she has to balance a million things in her mind to achieve this, that’s also not even mentioning the demands of the science behind music and conducting
Watch to Leslie Andrea risebrough far better performance in a far better film 👌
I watched this movie this afternoon, in an empty theater, by my self. All the other movies playing at the multiplex were bustling, but not this one. However, this is the movie that will be watched, studied, analyzed, and talked about and written about for decades to come.
Agree
Agreed and man isn't the experience of watching a great film alone in a theater just magical?!?!
I agree
@@darkknightfanboy3185 Yes, especially a Horror movie! LOL!
I don’t think so. It’s very pretentious it gets better as it goes along but is very slow paced at the beginning
When I walked out of it, I felt exhausted, cold, and empty, but the more I thought about it, it's beautifully complex, smart, captivating, intense. I loved it.
Really one of those films that just keeps getting better as you keep thinking about it.
That’s how I felt watching The Favourite. I thought it ended abruptly & unfinished, I was wanting more, but as I connected the dots it all made sense. Can’t imagine it ending any other way now.
When it ended I started it over and watched it again. It is wonderfully understated. CB can do no wrong. This movie and Saint Maud are my favorite recent films.
This movie broke me! Too many movies try to tackle social commentaries, but come off shallow or insincere. I love how Tar makes us care about Lydia in the first act, makes us respect her, perhaps even love her, and then slowly peels away all of it bit by bit until the ending. I found the ending to be devastating and sympathetic, yet I love how another audience member would likely feel joyful catharsis at Lydia's downfall and where she ends up. The film wants audiences to walk away with either both or all reactions.
The Juliard scene is so incredible because I personally agreed with Lydia's perspective, though I also love how the student isn't wrong to feel the way he dod, nor, do I think was Lydia wrong for calling him out on it. What they were saying wasn't wrong, but how they were saying it, in the end, how they resorted to just attacking each others character when opinions ran out was vicerally real. -- the biggest irony about the Juliard scene too is I can already predict an edited version of it will end up on twitter when the film goes wide and the real world situation play out exactly as it did in the film.
This is a brilliant movie. It has a lot of questions about humanity, accountability, legacy, tradition, and ego. I hope more people see it and have discussions about it. Though I can't help but feel like it'll become controversial or get simplified as 'the cancel culture movie.' 10 minutes before the film ended the guy behind me in the theatre answered his phone and loudly exclaimed "Sorry I can't talk right now, I'm in a BAD MOVIE!" He obviously didn't like it, and I can't help but feel like the subject matter of the film was the cause of his distain for it -- but who really knows.
Great review as always!!
Almost makes me wish I had seen it in a theater with reactions like that 😂
Amazing to find such a well written and thoughtful reply in a RUclips comments section. Thank you for making the world a better place and redeeming my faith in humanity a little bit. Cheers!
True Art. I felt all those emotions too, but most of all, I felt hope, because thankfully movies like this can still be made, and enjoyed.
What a great commentary here in this comment as well, thanks for sharing. The ambiguity in this movie creates so many powerful conflicting emotions and is so much closer to what real life is like that many of these superficial force fed movies that come about
I disliked her from the beginning, when it was clear that both her New Yorker interview and her anti-woke virtue signalling with the bipoc student were entirely performative. The hand on the knee was the gesture of a mad woman who operates under the delusion of control. She was the biggest narcissist, the bigger snowflake in that conflict, however easy it might be to dislike the student.
You hit on one of my favorite aspects of this film... Todd Field doesn't dumb down his dialogue or storytelling for the audience. Nothing infuriates me more when a film talks down to its audience.
Yes. That’s why I love David Lynch, Martin McDonagh & Yorgos Lanthimos films. Unfortunately not many others do, which tells you a lot about our critical thinking skills as a society as a whole.
I agree, love this comment.
Your review is one of the best!!!!! Thank you❤
In my country, Japan, TAR came in theaters very late in this May - June, and I have just seen it only once but loved it so much that I am going to see it again…and more again, I think.
This film is such a thrilling masterpiece of art, from the director's enigmatic intent and insanely well written script, camera works, to all the details literally, visually, dramatically, musically,….so on. Each frame was a breathtakingly beautiful picture full of meanings!!! And Cate Blanchett!!!!! I have always admired her but once again I fell in love and in awe with her art which made the whole of this movie so REAL and captivating!!
The fact the Academy(the Power and Authority) gave no Oscars to this film this year (which is a shame in my opinion) makes me think even more what kind of society we are transiting in and TAR gives us an invitation to question about it in such a wise and artistic way, as you say, without imposing us the answers. We need more of this kind of cinematography.
Great review. Such a in depth one I must say.
Todd is such a great filmmaker, he really researched classical music world. Screenplay is amazing. You are never bored, all due to magnificence of Ms Blanchett. Such a masterful performance that will reverberate in cinematic history for being one of the greatest.
She definitely deserves an Oscar for this.No one comes close imo male or female this year.
PS: Your video quality is excellent, along with delivery. Instant sub.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed the review! I agree with you on the performance - easily my favorite of the year overall.
Yeah, this is hands down my favorite film of the year, and I fully expect Cate Blanchett to win another Oscar. The scene where she tears down that student - woof! 😭😭😭 Like you, I can’t wait to see it again.
I loved how she ripped into that annoying arrogance that has become the staple for a generation that's been indoctrinated with navel gazing instead of critical thinking. Sublime comebacks she had. His exit (of course) was like, 'don't let the door hit you in the ass as you run away!' Lol
@@joeybrite7088 🤣🤣 Yes, exactly!
Yes that was a great scene!
It exposed the huge generational gap today between older and younger people.
Lesbians who used to be considered a "minority" thirty years ago...but the young ones today don't consider that enough! She is privileged in the eyes of the youth today...unless you tick-a-box of other things nowadays like "a disabled autistic, POC, lesbian".
Intersectionality will kill the Civil Rights Movement for sure!
And then reality tears her down for being an even bigger narcissist than the student.
I can tell you from painful personal experience, this could be called 'Philip Glass played by a woman' - except that he has enough power that he'll never stop. The constant lies, the brutal aggression disguised as being thoughtful, the email-bombs destroying people's careers to cover up personal crap which has nothing to do with music, and the sycophants who go along with it. He tried to destroy my career as Lydia did practically verbatim to the emails shown in the film. I'd glad now that I didn't ___ myself, altough I tried at one point. I finally had to leave my own country to keep working, and although it will never be the same after what he did, I'm happier now. After an experience like that you almost forget that there are other possibilities. If you've ever been blacklisted by a powerful person, it sucks, but know that you can eventually move past it, after some hard knocks.
That's so awful!
I just saw Tar! The spellbinding is REAL and Cate's performance is the reason behind it! And can we give Todd Field his flowers for his gorgeous direction? YES!
Really can’t wait to see this. It’s definitely my most anticipated movie on my watchlist. Just waiting for the right price as I’ve already spent so much on movies this year.
New subscriber here and I am totally in your camp. This film has replaced another in my Top Ten best films. In my late 60's now and a film lover my entire life, I experienced what I consider to be a masterpiece in this project. So fresh, so complex and surprising that it made me cry with joy right in the middle. I think the joy came as part of feeling relief at something so new and the story unwinding before my eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed your perspective and presentation in this review. Thank you.
It's just come to the UK and I watched it last night and haven't stopped talking about it!! I completely know where you are coming from with how happy you felt to be watching a movie that's genuinely excellent. I felt the same way. Can't wait to see it again
blanchett will win her third oscar. mark my words.
I'm here for it
I'm rooting for Angela Seo, but I won't be mad if it goes to Blanchett again.
@@AWM05 im rooting for Mia Goth, but that won't happen. Maybe an independent spirit award. if she doesn't get a single nomination..... i'll riot.
I wouldn’t be mad if Cate won her third Oscar because her performance in Tar is absolutely devastating. I’m still rooting for Michelle Yeoh, just because on how much I love the movie and want to see a performance from a genre film to actually win for once! The Oscars have not been kind to action, comedy, or sci-fi movies and that’s just isn’t right!
@@davy209 I want the best performance to win, but that’s not what the Oscars are known for.
I finally watched the film today and absolutely loved it. I pretty much agree with everything you said. I felt the end was a little bit rushed though, specially when you consider how much time and thought was given to all of the previous scenes in the film. That being said I do have one very specific question for you: as a classical music major, how well do you think they pulled off the classical music elements of the film? I'm merely someone who's been to a few classical music concerts but I have no knowledge beyond that.
Beautifully put review, as always!
Tar is a superb work of art. One of the very few films that, after viewing, compelled me to see it a second time. There are many nuances that are missed with just one viewing. Also, as a photographer, I was blown away by the perfection of its color tonality. A true masterpiece!
I am a cinephile and there are only two movies that I have re-watched during two consecutive days : " Waking life" written and directed by Richard Linklater and more recently " Tár". Tár is such a complex, rich, thought provoking, and well acted movie that I know even after my second watching I will revisit it in the future. I certainly love your review of this extraordinary movie. Thanks
_Waking Life_ is fucking brilliant and I applaud your taste. It's up there with those movies where I think: "Who the fuck greenlit _this?"_
Like the music videos of Tool or _Black Bear_ (2020)
I agree. It's been said "philosophy is learning how to die"; not sure I agree, but "Waking Life" exquisitely takes up that notion with a spellbinding tour of philosophical questions and outlooks concentrated in a singularly grave moment in the protagonist's life, living up to its title pun (like Tar does), but with the agenda of getting the audience to think and stop sleepwalking. Magical movie.
This is an excellent review. You get right to the point about what TAR is all about without spoiling it. It's about POWER. And I grow weary of critics who say it's about cancel culture because that's just one of a few issues raised by this film, not it's major point. Thank you so much.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the film and the review))
@@ImpressionBlend It's an amazing film and Cate's performance is beyond the beyond. Lydia Tar comes to life in her hands and I can't stop thinking about her or the movie. Just incredible.
@@WoodsyLadyM while watching a film I often think, "who else would have been a good choice for it?" I couldn't think of any actress but Kate Winslet. I'm just so happy this turned out so well, even using the real Gopnik.
Had no idea you were a classical music major! Perhaps you've already told it, but I'd love to hear more of that story!
This film was extraordinary. I, a gay classical music aficionado with a penchant for psychological character studies, also felt like the film was made for me. When it was over I was honestly speechless and couldn't even put words to formulate my thoughts. I think it's a masterclass in subtle storytelling and objectivism. I'm surprised how much sympathy I wound up having for Lydia by the end of the film, even though the film never pushes me in either direction. Cate's performance revelatory, even for her. THE JUILLIARD SCENE where seamlessly speaks and acts while playing piano IN THE STYLES OF DIFFERENT PIANISTS??? 2 hours and 40 minutes flew the hell by. I seriously cannot wait to see this film, in theaters, again. It's so rich and dense and absorbing.
It also kind of reminded me of The Piano Teacher, my favorite Haneke film. The way the formality and tradition of the fine arts world contrasts with the depravity and brokenness of the main character.
Also loved Nina Hoss, Noemie Merlant, and Sophie Kauer, and after just one viewing, I'm certain that rewatching it and paying close attention to those character's performances will reveal a lot. I think they're all very deserving of acclaim as well.
I still can't even process it; this was just word vomit... It's certainly not a film that everyone will enjoy, but if it's made for you, it's MADE for you.
Thank you for this video. You are spot on. I just saw Tar this weekend, and I was absolutely stunned. I'm sorry I waited so long because I want to see it again, and then again, before it leaves the theater. I'm going back to see it again after work this week. Hands down not only my favorite film in recent memory but also sure to be one of my all-time favorites.
Sounds great, looking forward to it. Thanks for review, Marianna)
I suspected Cate's devine origin for quite some time
Cate really out-divined herself here
I am glad, that you can't overhype me, because we both aware of her limits - there are none.
okay thank you for this review, I usually watch beyond the trailer with Grace Randolph and she bashes this movie so much that I had my doubts if its worth watching, I do love Cate Blanchett so glad I watched it
Blanchett is the best film actor working today. There's no way I'm missing this. The January UK release date is painful though. Why?!
They're going with a pretty limited release in the US so far as well, which is sad.
indeed great actress
@@ImpressionBlend I finally saw it today. March! Oh well, at least I saw it on the silver screen. Oh, and I loved it as much as you did. Another excellent review. I need to see this again (and again).
Just back from seeing it.
It was fabulous.
And she was even better.
(And I'm so glad they used Mahler 5!)
And I feel like this film was made just for me, too. Just the classical music talk and the rehearsal scenes alone were more than enough gratification for me! But the film offered immersion in music and then so much more! How rich it was!
I chose The Banshees of Inisherin over Tar this week, look like both are a must-see!
For sure! Both are among my favorite movies of the year
Flipped a coin to choose between seeing German director Edward Berger's "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Tar." All Quiet won and it turned out exquisite, but now, I'll have to go see Tar also.
"All Quiet on the Western Front" is pretty damn brutal
When Tar explains that Bach song to Max, she says “he knows that it’s always the question that involves the listener.”
The movie knew this, too. It didn’t give us viewers all the answers - it asked complex questions which engaged us to think about nuanced problems (like whether you can separate the art from the artist).
I personally thought it was a thrilling, thought-provoking drama.
When the movie was over I heard a few people chuckle and even more people exclaim “what?!” That’s a sign of a good film.
Absolutely the best review to date ❣️
Aww thank you
It kind of upsets me how phenomenal Cate blanchett is in this movie because I really wanted Michelle Yeoh to win for everything everywhere all at once
Same here. I loved Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All At Once and originally wanted her to win the Oscar but now i think Cate's performance is even more fantastic and deserving of the Oscar. It sucks because I wish both could win.
No comparison IMHO
Just being nominated for anything in 2022 is a tremendous honor. It was a great year for film. Definitely a better performance than half the Oscar winners of the last half century.
@@Missjunebugfreak time for a tie!
You got your wish lol
No one else could have played this part, she was magnificent. And the film raises a question that is about time was asked.
What is the question?
@@sheldonnelson1158 why the Public demonizes people unreasonably.
What question?
@@markofsaltburn when do people stop blaming others for telling the truth.
That got me thinking. I’d like to see Sandra Bullock try more roles like this. Bird box & Gravity were some of my favorite films of hers. But a role like this could solidify her career.
I'm glad I found this review because I thought this movie was a pile of shit and I wondered what people who like this movie ever saw in it's meandering and uneventful 2.5 hour runtime. I still hate it but I'm glad to have a more clear view of the other side
Such a stellar review! I was going to watch this anyway because of Cate, but now I'll be even more intrigued to see how it tackles the topics you've mentioned. And thank you for clarifying the trailer situation, because it was giving me serious "Thelma" (2017) vibes and now I see they're nothing alike.
Me too, I can’t stop thinking about it and want to see it again! Amazing performance by Cate Blanchett.
I loved the part of this video where you talk about how it doesn't take a stance because it would rather have a nuanced convo about it rather than tell you how to feel. unfortunately I've seen lots of people (usually men) talk about how this movie is anti-woke, otr anti-cancel culture, or ripping apart cancel "woke mob" culture... lol they heard one thing they agreed with and weren't interested in hearing the conversation at all. this movie is so clearly not taking that stance lol
Yessss!! I was so upset seeing that talk, they completely ignore the invitation to think about power and it’s structures and have leapt on the idea that this film is saying woke liberals are the enemy lollll
Todd Field has brilliantly used that clip as an act of misdirection - to reel in viewers with an “anti-woke” agenda and then pull the carpet from beneath their feet when they see the whole movie.
OMG! Congratulations on the Love Letters from Letterboxd shoutout, Marianna! I'm such a proud subscriber/patron right now :D
Thank you!! I couldn’t believe my eyes, that was crazy!
Great review, I agree with everything this reviewer says. It certainly should be seen more than once, even if the three times I've seen have meant leaving the cinema shattered and emotional, thanks to the script and, especially, to Cate Blanchett's magnificent and astonishing performance. I've become so obsessed with both the wonderful dialogue and Cate that I found myself silently mouthing her lines all the way through. Got an odd look from someone sitting a couple of seats away.😆😆❤️
Great review! I enjoyed listening to it.
I don't agree however that TÁR is not interested in gender politics. I think it is very much about gender. As I see it, Todd Field did not settle to make a movie about a lesbian sexual predator in the sense that Tár isn't really interested in showing us the specificities of a case such as this when the perpetrator is a gay woman. His approach is much more "universal", he wants to make us think about power and sexual predation in general, which, outside of the context of the film, have been overwhelmingly the privilege and the doing of men. I read his choice of focusing on a woman as a way to examine the phenomenon of male power and violence but from a safe distance.
Also, it is impossible, I think, to talk about power without talking about masculinity. To be where she is, Lydia Tár literally had to adopt the behavior of white men (the white men who still very much dominate the classical music institutions she has sought validation from her whole life). She presents as very masculine, calls herself Petra's "father", but mostly this is made clear in her "separate the artist from the man" tirade, her reverence to "male geniuses" vs. contemporary (female) composers such as Anna Thorvaldsdottir, her bullying of the queer student, or when she lies through her teeth in the opening interview saying that her gender was never a problem in her career, which is of course b*llsh*t! Ask any contemporary female conductors. Nathalie Stutzmann, who is one of the very few female conductors who, like Lydia Tár, have worked both in Europe and the US, says that when she was young, conducting (male) professors were ANGRY when she - a woman - sat in their classes! She had to wait to become a world-class famous contralto and in her forties before daring again to pursue her dream of conducting. Lydia Tár saying her gender never was an obstacle is not Todd Field putting gender-politics aside, on the contrary, it is the movie's protagonist refusing to openly question the status quo and the misogyny of the classical music world to further her own power within this world.
Anyway, this is just my take. Thanks for providing a space to discuss this :)
Having seen it yesterday, I went back and looked at the trailers and teasers - which you've used in your essay - and I was stunned to discover that there were shots (some of them the surreal ones) that were nowhere to be seen in the finished film (the formal ballroom, which seems to feature her mentor Andres, Krista and the snake, all the bizarre graphics). I can't think of another movie that had so much in the advertising, which might have lured people into the theatre, that ultimately wasn't there.
There are tons of trailers created with shots one will not see in the final product. Trailers are supposed to take the viewer on a sweeping journey to tease the audience in - not reveal all 3 acts. But for the past 30 years the shift happened to reveal all because the industry began to dumb down the audience based on demographics of ticket sales - boys 14 to 25! We are beginning to see more of the old school tease again with films of great storytelling. Perhaps a patience in art since the pandemic? I don't know but it's a welcome shift for this viewer.
@@joeybrite7088 Oh, I absolutely agree with your sentiment. It's just that a friend of mine saw the movie, liked it pretty much, but said it didn't "blow her away." And I agree in a sense - it has a slow-burn kind of increasing vise-grip intensity - but if you watch that trailer, with all that extra surreal material, edited blazingly fast, you might think you were in for an "Uncut Gems"-level experience, INTENDED to "blow you away." And so I can imagine how impatient my friend was after the first ten or fifteen minutes of this movie. (Not ME!)
Marianna you're also a queen of movie critics, as the internet says "serving hit reviews after hit reviews" hahah I'm fan!!
Aww thank you so much, you're too kind))
Hope you get the chance to watch the movie soon!
I live in Western Australia and have to wait until next year to see Tar…😢 I have had the privilege to see Cate on stage and believe her to be the greatest living ACTOR ❤❤ in the world
Completely agree with your review. What a movie and what a performance by Blanchett!
Yes!! Tár is fantastic! I’ve seen this movie three times already in theaters (which is not something I’ve ever done before), and I’m honestly contemplating a fourth watch. I feel similarly that this movie was calling my name from the get-go. One thing I’m curious about is whether or not we’ll be getting a director’s cut, because some of those trailer moments looked brilliant
The film is complete.
Thanks for this review. I was looking for one for a while and for some reason yours didn't find me until today. I knew that once I stopped looking it would find me, but I didn't know so soon. And lol, yes, I did google to see if the characters were fictional or not.
I also felt like the other reviews I saw were reducing this movie to cancel culture and that answer was very unsatisfying because it's obvious more was going on. On the other hand, maybe I should have actually watched their entire review, but that title "cancel culture" really turned me away.
Incredible movie and CB should win the Oscar. Great review
It’s nothing less than a scandal, she didn’t get the Oscar. In my opinion it was a political decision for the Asian community and tragically Cate B. is the sacrifice. I feel sorry for her but I hope she’s got the inner feeling of a really great job she did .
Brilliant review. Felt your entusiasm on this one. It seems a must watch indeed. Also Cate is the best actress alive. Did one of my favorites of all: CAROL 🧡
Thank you so much! Cate is a treasure
A great review. How nice to hear from someone who actually sees the movie that's in front of her.
I feel like watching this movie after this. Great analysis.
I hope you love the movie as much as I did!
I just saw it over the weekend. I agree. It’s brilliant. It’s Cate Blanchett at the height of her powers. I was blown away.
Let’s hope this inspires other great actresses to take on a bold character like this. I think there are some really fantastic actresses that just haven’t found the right movie to carry out their full potential yet.
Finally saw it. 10/10. I’m kinda speechless, this does feel like Cate Blanchett’s best performance. Outstanding.
Excellent review Marianna. You’ve sold me on this film. I will definitely have to check it out sometime.👍
Thank you! Hope you love it as much as I did!
@@ImpressionBlend no worries, and thank you.👍
I am very happy that i discovered your channel ! Such a breath of fresh air! It feels that you succed to cover all without spoiling the watching experience. I would love to see your take on The Banshees of Inisherin . Please continue your work.
Thank you! Welcome to my channel)) Actually working on my Banshees review for my next video, so stay tuned
I hadn't heard about this prior to your video. Thanks for spreading the word!
You're welcome! Happy to recommend this movie to as many people as I can
I’d love to watch an in-depth analysis of this movie. There are just so many details I still don’t understand. For example, why did she steal that red pen from the player she fired, where exactly was that new cellist living? These are small details but I think they should have some meaning
Oh I didn't noticed that! I might need to watch again..😅
I thought she did it bc she hated when he played with it
She has misophonia so gets highly irritated by sounds like the pen clicking... so she isn't really stealing it, more like hiding it from the assistant so he doesn't pick it up and play with it when she's here. As for the cellist, one theory could be that she (Olga) knew that Lydia is the kind to engage in relationships in younger females, and purposefully gives her the wrong address so that she doesn't know where she lives.
@@sixtdaily This makes a lot of sense. Thanks
This is the best review of “ Tar “ it covers all the movies aspects and what wants to Say , I had to watch Tar twice. , the first time I was stunned by the performance of Queen ‘ Blanchett “ so I missed lots of the dialogue, the second time I was amazed by the director work and the questions the movie is having for the audience to think about , and yes Cate Blanchett deserves her third Oscar for the pice of art
Saw it twice! Blanchett's best work ever, and an exquisite story!!
This is third Tar review I have watched. This is the best review so far.
Excellent review!
Where are your house of the dragon reviews???
What is happening?
Why are they not happening?
Because judging by the feedback after the first one, there wasn't much interest
I absolutely loved this movie will watch it again for many reasons.
Great analysis, TAR is my favourite movie of the year and sometimes I don't find the right words to explain why. From now on, I will just share your video with people.
Thank you. I really appreciate your well thought out discussions. Certainly plan on going to this movie!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the movie!
Love the reviews, keep it up!
A reflection i have is that every time i watch your latest video it always strikes me how it kind of sounds like you are talking into a can. Im sure you have a quality mic so maybe it can be tweaked with some eq setting.
Really? That's weird, it doesn't sound like that on my end
It left me with so many questions! Can’t wait to see it again!
Like Bach, the movie doesn't give the answers. The most important is the question. I loved this movie so much. It's already one of my favorites of all time.
Your presentation astonished me with its depth, subtlety, and layered poetic sensibility. Your previous stuff is also high quality, but this particular review thing jumped out to me as exceptionally striking and resonant. I will definitely find my way to this film.
it is brilliant, and todd field is a genius. I could give a flying flip about classical music, and I consider the filmic arts at the bottom of the arts, but this film is a masterpiece.
I wasn't even interested in TÁR, but after seeing your review... I may have to reconsider that.
How come you weren’t interested? I’m just curious.
@@ImpressionBlend the trailer didn't really sell me to want to watch it
I'm definitely seeing this tomorrow. Thanks for the review! You were a music major. What was your instrument? I'm a music lover and am curious. Former Chicagoan too. Miss deep dish!
Clearly an excellently made film, and deserves every award it wins. But, mainly due to its length, it's not a film I need to see again.
Thank you for this informed and intelligent review. It has helped me appreciate the movie more and understand I missed a lot. Here are my shallow comments. I saw it yesterday and was wondering throughout, where is the sound track?...where is the background music to liven things up? Has there ever been a movie about classical music, conductors and orchestras devoid of background music? It did accentuate the dark palette. I was glad the Russian cellist didn't fall for her during the trip to New York for the launch of "Tar on Tar." But I was sorry when that sleazy proto-conductor with the hair turned up. Cate Blanchette created a character so strong, so flawed, that you don't love her; you don't hate her. OK, you have my go-ahed: give Cate Blanchett a third Oscar.
I have been savoring the thought of seeing this film since I first heard about it. So, I'm holding off on watching your review until I see it on Monday.
The Juilliard scene is a brilliant bait and switch, an ingenious act of misdirection. it suckers in people with a agenda then chews them up and spits them out.
I'm not sure it's so straight-forward. The scene certainly foreshadows the central premise of the film, but I think to interpret it as a bait and switch really does a disservice to the beautiful ambiguity of the film. As Tàr says about Bach, the film knows that the question is more interesting than the answer.
Tàr isn't a totally corrupt, evil person, but she is capable of the immoral and unethical actions which her position enables. She pays for her old mentor's driver as a thankless act of kindness and is a caring parent. She is a geniunely great musician, but her entire persona and brand is an invention. The exact nature of the relationship with Krista is also left open. It seems pretty clear that there was a sexual component, but was she a genuinely unbalanced and dangerously volatile person who Tàr was justified in declining to recommend? This would still be morally bad, of course, but a much more understandable and forgivable situation than outright black-balling.
Equally, while she was clearly attracted to the new cellist, she ultimately didn't make any of the expected advances. Although Tàr clearly set up the concerto solo as a favor, she was also evidently a cellist of superior talent and very deserving of the opportunity in any event. So was it morally acceptable or not?
Tàr has the complexity and moral ambiguity of a real human being. I really didn't take away from the film, "The student was right; the art can't be ever separated from the artist and everything vaguely problematic should be cancelled". It was for me, rather, a meditation on the subject without a definitive answer. But I could be wrong about that, of course.
I agree, this was tops
I want to watch this movie so bad. Thank you for reviewing this movie.
I hope you get the chance to watch it soon!
@@ImpressionBlend - Thank you!
I really enjoyed it.
I am a musician and was engrossed in every angle of this film.
Cate is such a joy to watch
Also, this is easily the best review I've seen of TAR on this platform
I disagree that Tar wants to show us different POVs, it only shows us Lydia’s POV, we never even see the girl Krista who committed suicide…just saying, great movie though
I finally got to see this film today it just came out here in New Zealand. Cate Blanchett was amazing great acting great screenplay great direction. Great look at power dynamics and cancel culture. One of the best films of the Oscar season.
You’re making me want to buy it now. Was going to wait for it to come to HBO or hit the $5 prime video shelf.
One of the best blanchet performances. Or probably the best (despite the fact that in Elizabeth she was amazing)
I’m finding it increasingly difficult, to separate the art from the artist. It used to not bother me too much, but the absolute hatred and disrespect with which, opinions, or disagreements are presented, takes a toll, over time. I do try, but…
I find that if I already have a sense of nostalgia with something I can’t just remove that because of the artist, but anything new that comes out I’m happy to ignore and not watch/read/consume it. Others can, but I don’t need to see a new Polanski, for example. Also depends on how big a part they played. An author or director I can’t separate, but sometimes I will make exceptions for disgraced actors in larger casts. But if their transgressions were really bad and widely known BEFORE the project happened and everyone still chose to work with them then I don’t need to see it
That's a good point - things you already love are easier to separate because you fell in love with them before you knew actor/director was not a great person. I also generally find it easier with movies than other pieces of art, just because there are SO MANY people involved in making a film - it's never only ONE person's project. Finally, if the person is dead - it doesn't bother me nearly as much as someone still living, who I would end up supporting with my money if I were to buy a ticket/blu-ray/whatever.
This is an incredible analysis of the film, I clicked the subscribe right away! I agree so much, what I loved the most is it doesn't feel preachy, it allows the audience to take their own interpretations about the story.
Thank you for this, you’re one of the very few who gets it. I felt exactly what you feel about the film. In a day and age that emphasizes on black/white answers, this is a very important work. Those who hated this film may look back 20 years later and realize how wrong they were.
Gorgeous review ❤ Truly cannot wait to experience this film. My most anticipated of the year, and your review revs up the excitement
Thank you, Zack! Hope you love it as much as I did
I honestly did not like the movie. I personally thought the film was way too slow and way too long for my liking and I personally did not like the characters or the dialogue in the movie because I’ve found the writing way too pretentious for my liking. That being said, the only good thing about the movie was Cate Blanchett’s performance as Lydia Tar. Her performance is nothing short of spectacular and the only reason why anyone should even watch the movie because Cate’s performance is really that amazing.
What I struggled with, with this movie is that it felt shallow. I keep hearing people say, including Todd himself, that he wants this film to spark conversation, and ask questions, which makes sense, and I love films that are ambiguous and open to interpretation. However, a film should, whether it's ambiguous or not, feel like it has something to say, and that based off of our personal interpretations, we can have a discussion about it. Yes, asking questions of the audience and leaving things open for interpretation is important, but if the film itself has nothing to say, then it's empty. It's shallow. It's just questions. It's just a Rorschach painting. It's just a blob with no meaning. I loved the idea of this movie, I loved the craftsmanship from all departments, I just felt that it was an unfinished movie. It didn't go far enough, it didn't really get anywhere. It's a thesis statement that just keeps repeating itself and there is no body or conclusion.
Look at David Lynch's movies. They are completely open to interpretation and almost impossible to explain logically. Yet there is never any question that David Lynch doesn't have a strong point of view and that he is saying something with his work.
If you don't, you're just treading water. It's just an exercise in chasing a wild goose. You're never getting anywhere, because the film is literally just asking questions, so there is no meaning to these answers, it's you filling in the blanks that the filmmaker should have done himself.
I knew very little about the art of Ballet before i saw Black Swan and I know nothing about orchestra conducting which i am certain TAR will introduce me to - I love these sort of movies, which are so well researched and so well dramatised - the only pity is in the UK I won't see this until next year!!
Watched it last night, can't stop thinking about it today..Fantastic film.
The best review of TÁR I've seen on RUclips. Great job!
Aww thank you so much!
Glad I was able to see this in theatre. To watch this amazing film at my home tele would of robbed it of its focus and magnitude.
Great review. Will put this on my watch list. Also, thanks for saving me the time I would have spent watching Blonde.
Hope you enjoy it!
This thumbnail was why I blind-bought this movie on 4k, I knew I had to give it a go. best blind buy of the year and I am glad you mentioned the comparison to Whiplash because I thought to myself, "the Terence Fletcher sequel we all deserved", haha.
I came out of that film saying over and over, it's a movie made for adults. But really it was a movie that didn't need to handhold viewers and talk down to them. I felt so energized afterwards and it seems like it's been awhile since I felt like that after watching a movie.
That’s how I felt after watching Whiplash. La La Land also reaffirmed the way I see my past relationships.
I did not get this one. A lot of it was subtlety that I did not pick up on. It did not make a lot of sense to me. I do not get the oscar hype for eitiher the movie or Cate Blanchett. This has been a down year for movies, but I am still waiting for one to root for.
The last few years have been awful for audiences. We are treated to "The Last Jedi", "Velma" and "She Hulk". This movie sounds like it is not in that category.
Definitely not.
Wagner may be the one artist I find myself unable to separate from his work as he was anti-Semitic beyond anything I have seen.On the other hand, even though Elia Kazan betrayed many people in the 50's at the HUAC, his "Face in the Crowd" is brilliant and so relevant for today.
I just saw the movie and loved it! I’m a fan of Cate Blanchett. Everything about film was amazing from cast, music, cinema photography, everything. Love your review, cheers! ~Elizabeth
excellent review, you are very talented for it.
the first 50min I was like ok this movie is not for everyone, I can't recommand it to friends that are not too much into music. But then everything accelerate and downfall becomes more and more intriging. I was thinking it was going to end with her suicide, I'm glad it did not, and I love the ending. Living into a foreign country and disturbed by random noises I could totally understand impersonnate her character.
The acting is sublime
The level of details on every pictures is amazing, couldn't stop my mind to analyse every frame and lines.
This movie is stressfull, and it really puts you in a phsychologique state that totally stun you at the end.
I loved it. I'll watch it again too.
well done analysis
I think you deserves an Oscar for your presentation of the film 👏👏
Terrific summary; I completely agree. It assumes the best of its audience. Refreshing.