Renowned musician Lydia Tár is days away from recording the symphony that will elevate her career. However, Lydia's elaborate facade begins to unravel, revealing dirty secrets and the corrosive nature of power.
- Released:
- Runtime: 158 minutes
- Genre: Drama, Music
- Stars: Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover, Allan Corduner, Sylvia Flote, Vincent Riotta, Sam Douglas, Lucie Pohl, Vivian Full, Lee Sellars, Christoph Tomanek, Frank Röth, Diana Birenytė, André Röhner, Jessica Hansen, Murali Perumal, Sydney Lemmon, Ryan Reynolds
- Director: Todd Field
Comments
- proud_luddite - 14 May 2024
unique and praiseworthy
Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) is a world renowned composer and conductor born in the USA and currently working as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. Her wife Sharon (Nina Hoss) is the orchestra's first violinist and the two have a young adopted daughter. While Lydia enjoys a successful career and family life, her sordid past threatens to catch up with her.
While the movie is over two-and-a-half hours - and not an action flick - director/writer Todd Field succeeds (with great help from Blanchett) in maintaining interest in the day-to-day life of the main character. Being a fly on the wall while viewing the artistic world in cosmopolitan settings is an enjoyable romp.
"Tár" stands out among modern films for a key scene (and a later reference to it) that places a spotlight on something very relevant in our current times: the woke mindset and its offshoots of identity politics and cancel culture. In this scene, Tár is teaching students as a guest lecturer in a masterclass at Juilliard and is trying to draw out the best in student Max (Zethphan Smith-Gneist). Max has the shy awkwardness typical of someone his age. He also shows talent and potential to be a future conductor but he diffuses Tár's mentoring by dismissing great historical composers for their demographics and viewpoints. Blanchett is at her best in this scene as she tries to encourage Max to focus on artistic genius rather than identity politics. While this scene is typical of what has been happening in many schools for years now, it is rarely exposed in modern movies. Considering the success of this film, it seems to have successfully escaped cancel culture itself.
There are some flaws in the film though its high points offset the flaws. There are scenes of text messages that are difficult to read so some of the story is missed here. A meltdown scene near the end might have been over the top. And the second half refers to the main character's questionable past without showing important related scenes even in flashback. Despite the film's relatively long length, it would have been richer if such scenes were included as it seems the motives at that time were likely being repeated. But as a modern parable enhanced with modern-day cancel culture mixed with abuse of power, "Tár" is unique and praiseworthy. - dbamateurcritic. - Katz5 - 21 January 2024
One of the most annoying films in quite some time
First off, Todd Field is a talented storyteller and got some pointers in his style from none other than Stanley Kubrick. In the Bedroom and Little Children were beautifully hot, occasionally painful to watch examinations of small town citizens dealing with tragedy. He totally went off the rails with this movie. Following a very long credits sequence (ALL of the movie credits are presented at the start of the film), the movie begins with a half hour interview with Lydia Tar, the world renowned conductor whom Cate Blanchett plays so effectively, I had to Google the name to see if she is/was a real person. She's not - but Blanchett dives head first into this complex and in the end quite irredeemable character. This is another extremely long film that easily could have been trimmed at least by 30 minutes. That opening interview, for example. Yeah, I get it, we're supposed to see from the start what a brilliant but self-serving individual Lydia Tar is. I stuck with it until the end, and the last shot is a quintessential WTF moment. I admire Blanchett the actor. The fact that her character in this movie made me want to throw something at my TV must mean she got under my skin - mission accomplished. But this film is a tough watch. - hdammu11 - 24 November 2023
An out and out Cate Blanchett show
I was completely transported into the world of western classical music and the life of a conductor with Tár. Cate Blanchett was incredibly impressive with her acting from the word go. I think she completely embodied this character and as a viewer I felt I was voyeuristically observing her, as her life and transgressions slowly unravel. Every other character in this movie played only a supporting role towards showing this happen. Some scenes are legitimately unsettling and difficult to watch, and I mean this in a good way.
I think, like me, if you find yourself invested in seeing the slow but definite downfall of this complex character you won't necessarily feel the drag of the screenplay. I do wish some aspects were developed more than others. In my initial thoughts after the film's ending, I felt there were a few loose ends and incomplete story arcs. But upon reflecting on the film I have been able to see that they were in fact resolved. The issue is that too much is left to interpretation and some symbolism will surely be missed on the first viewing. On the technical front, the cinematography and colour grading give a distant, cold aura to the film much like the protagonist herself. I also quite liked the almost horror and thriller-esque vibe that they went for. On a side note, when I looked up the director I felt he looked familiar and turns out he played one of the scientists in Twister! He's clearly come a long way and I will check out his future directorial works for sure. - redcanofevil - 6 January 2023
Cinema about Cancel Culture
A superb character study helmed by the ever marvelous Cate Blanchett reaffirming the cost of fame and the toll of the fall. An uncomfortable and depressing unraveling tale of artistry and the power dynamics stretched by ego which ultimately leaves you unsatisfied but still manages to etch the lessons into you. A middlefinger to modern day theatre runtime and structure, which is difficult to follow or be interested in for the first 30mins or so. It doesn't quite get better but the brilliance of Cate Blanchett incapacitates you, as you bear witness just how powerful a good acting actually is. Seriously, don't bother nominating 4/5 other actresses for the Oscar only to be humiliated by this power performance. It shouldn't even be a debate who wins best female. - praptialam - 2 January 2023
And this is my friend what we call "ACTING"
Tár caught my attention at first because I assumed it was a movie about music. But when I dove deeper into the film, I discovered it was really about nothing at all. It delicately and serenely depicts the beauty of emptiness. It boasts excellent production value, director, soundtrack, and cinematography. But it has more to it than just being "great," which we cannot quantify. It features Cate Blanchett, who genuinely became Tár rather than merely playing the role.
I started liking Cate Blanchett after seeing "Carol." It was, in my opinion, her best performance. But I was mistaken, and I'm grateful that I was. By undertaking new initiatives, she is simply crossing her own line. Playing Lydia Tár is quite challenging. Putting so much effort into a character while still making them seem effortless is quite challenging. Not just for her stunning performance, but also for several other positive elements, I must urge you to see this movie. But the film is not perfect. This kind of movie is not for everyone because it is quite long and drawn out.
Overall, it's a fantastic movie, and I'm really rooting for Cate Blanchett to win an Oscar this year. She deserves it! - mariamshehab - 28 December 2022
Successful movie.
The acting is more than amazing, I enjoyed the storyline; I had a love/hate relationship with the main character Lydia. The movie targeted many issues that we as a society face today in such a smooth manner. I also loved the cinematography, the movie had many creative and expressive shots and scenes. The music was great, overall it was a success, great acting, great cinematography, and an amazing storyline. I love how the character was introduced to us as an amazing and flawless composer; almost made us fall in love with her, only to realise later on that she had been hiding her flaws and it was about time that we as an audience discover them. Cinematography:7.5 acting:9 storyline:9. - Bachfeuer - 20 December 2022
Maestra Wicked Witch of the West
Even in this impoverished, post-Covid film season, this gratuitous knock on classical music marks a low point. I wasn't going to comment--until a film critic on BBCtv did a show-and-tell of the promotional swag promoters had given him, to influence his reviews. Then he proceeded to pronounce Tár the best film of '22.
I only wish to point out that this number has been done before. Compare A Late Quartet (2012) and On Chesil Beach (2017). It goes way beyond portraying the competitiveness and pressures of the performing world. It seems that the canard is an English language thing. Late Quartet got a better reception than Chesil did. Compare these with TOUS LES MATINS DU MONDE, UN COEUR EN HIVER, THE PAGE TURNER, THE PIANO TEACHER. I'm sure there are Spanish language art house films in a similar vein. - wgcdrps - 12 December 2022
Only for die hard fans
The acting is top notch as is to be expected from Cate. This movie is specifically meant for classical movie buffs and for people who appreciate cinema for cinema's sake and NOT for the average Joe who is out there to have three hours of fun and entertainment. All other aspects of the movie are great which includes the visualisation, the photography, the direction, in short all aspects of the film. However if you are looking for entertainment which watching movies is all about then you are in for three hours of complete and total ennui, as a matter of fact I would go so far as to say that it was excruciatingly painful to go through the entire movie without getting fidgety and restless. Sorry for all the good effort put in but not worth a dekko!! - oljatot - 3 December 2022
Just Cate!
This film is ok only because of brilliant Cate Blanchet. She is such a great actress and every movie is better with her. She shows the human soul with her eyes and not many people have that quality! The story line is not very interesting in the beginning but her role is masterpiece! The camera is great and the sound for the people who loves classical music. The film shows that everyone have some secret and they are visible only when person is too sure of themself and completly let other person in every aspect of her or his life. Also it shows how human mind works in different society and the end of the movie is not what i expected. - eniolaak - 24 November 2022
Ambigiously gratifying
I enjoyed it. Everything, the background, the direction, the dance of move! And talk! The experience was like a teleportation into space, alone in a roaring life-like quietness. There was a lot going on plot-wise but it wasn't plot-like, i liked that- the periodic goings on were structured to matter but not to the point of obliterating consequence-I really liked that. It draws instead on important invisibilities. I'm making little sense but I cannot tell you what particularly i liked about it but it was very musical, in that it's composition had many of the indescribable, impressing, satisfying features of music.
