Tár - watched this last night. you may have heard this is a "cancel culture" movie, but that is merely the surface. that's like saying, "that's not an omelet, that's eggs, cheese, ham, etc." there is so much more going on with this film. it is not at all what it seems to be. massive spoilers, so hiding them. DO NOT READ until you watch the film!
this is a fucking phenomenal film. i absolutely loved it and will be watching many, many more times. cate blanchett is unbelievably good in this. you may be fooled by the marketing to think this is some sort of fictional biopic drama, but please do not believe that. watch this film as soon as humanly possible. can't wait to talk about it with someone else.
Re: Tár [Todd Field]
2split this into its own topic, as i expect we'll be talking about it for quite a while.
Re: Tár [Todd Field]
5Is this Drama or Horror or something else? Is it reality or fantasy? Is Tar the hero or the villain? Is the red-haired woman real, a ghost or a figment of the imagination? Could Tar be the dying old woman in the neighbouring apartment?... Watching Field balance the film in perfect ambiguity towards all these questions and more, whilst simultaneously ensuring his directorial presence is evenly felt - unshowy for the most part, but the camera is always well-placed and the unnerving tone a constant, the pace gradually accelerating like a performance of Bolero - for the best part of 3 hours was exhausting but thoroughly rewarding. Shades of Eyes Wide Shut (seems Field was paying attention) and Lost Highway and Cache, but not in an overt or derivative way. Also one of those rare films suited to a digital capture format, the oppressive greys and browns and modernist interiors and not a ray of sunshine.
OK occasionally the conservatoire dialogue doesn't quite ring true (would a conductor of Tar's stature really hold such a philistine view of New Music? Would Kaplan, amateur as he may be, really not spot the string section free bowing?) and the vomiting after the brothel scene was slightly heavy-handed, but otherwise no complaints I can think of. Easily a 4 out of 5 and maybe more... Fidelio.
OK occasionally the conservatoire dialogue doesn't quite ring true (would a conductor of Tar's stature really hold such a philistine view of New Music? Would Kaplan, amateur as he may be, really not spot the string section free bowing?) and the vomiting after the brothel scene was slightly heavy-handed, but otherwise no complaints I can think of. Easily a 4 out of 5 and maybe more... Fidelio.
Re: Tár [Todd Field]
6yeah, exactly. and like i said, some of the things i linked in the story above i didn't even pick up on first viewing. it's one that will be very re-watchable to see if you can pick up some of those things and pinpoint exactly where things turned, why, etc. it's been weeks and i'm still thinking about it. due for a rewatch.