‘Don’t be so eager to be offended…’
Actor-director Todd Field hasn’t stepped behind the camera since his well-received 2006 effort Little Children, a film I immensely enjoyed. It is unsurprising then that Tár, his 2022 collaboration with Cate Blanchett has caused quite the stir…
Lydia Tár (Blanchett) is widely considered one of the greatest composer-conductors of all time. She is adored by the classical music press, regularly appears at award ceremonies and lectures and has the world eating out of her hand. Tár follows the beloved composer as some of her methods become outdated and her star beings to wane, culminating in a downfall of epic proportions.
It’s funny that I watched Tár shortly after a rewatch of Whiplash – another film about a musical genius with controversial methods. The similarities between the two films are striking, not least the fact that both contain an astonishing central performance. Blanchett’s turn here is a sight to behold. Assured and confident one minute, bereft and unravelling the next, I’ll be amazed if she isn’t at least nominated for Best Actress at next year’s Oscar ceremony. A solid supporting cast made up of Noémie Merlant, Sophie Kauer and Mark Strong all serve to exemplify Blanchett and her genius. She appears in almost every scene and her magnetic presence ensures that the 158-minute running time never drags.
Tár follows in the tradition of Whiplash, Black Swan and La La Land, films in which the arts can become a dangerous obsession. I loved it.