Rent Tár on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Todd Field
Directed by: Todd Field
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie KauerMark Strong, Alec Baldwin (voice)
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Set in the international world of Western classical music, the film centers on Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living composer-conductors and the very first female director of a major German orchestra.
Verdict
It's gripping from the first moments and never let's go. This is a powerful movie that doesn't hold your hand as we see someone with so much stature and then so much lost. She's at the peak and then tumbles all the way down. The script and direction is great, and Blanchett is amazing. There's so much happening off screen in this movie, plights we ascribe to Tár that are never seen but assumed. Tár isn't likable, but we do get a glimpse of how much work it took to rise in her industry. The fall is her own fault, we're left to speculate whether she became too comfortable or egotistical.
Watch It.
Review
This opens with a montages of Tár's daily life as we hear a voice over of her various accomplishments. She's a titan in her field of conducting. From the start Blanchett is captivating as Lydia Tár. She talks in an interview about history of the field, being a conductor, and the importance of time. It seems she relishes the control she can exert as a conductor. A few scenes later and she's a lecturing at Julliard. A difference with a student approaches bullying when the student won't capitulate. Tár is someone knowledgeable about art, history, and her medium but there is the question of separating art and artist. While she's focused on music, she also doesn't care about anyone else's opinions. We understand her pursuit of art, but her willingness to eschew morals for art is telling.
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| Cate Blanchett plays Lydia Tár |
Tár seems to buy into her own self importance. She's yet to be likable and when she's linked to a potential scandal her first response is to delete all evidence. At first we don't know if Tár is justified in ruining a colleagues chances at a future in the field, but it becomes clear she plays favorites. Does she do it because she can, because she's powerful? Is it just ego and she thinks she can't be stopped? It's clear her stature in the field allows her leeway.
When Tár's assistant quits after a snub, her reaction is telling. Tár is angry, demanding, and entitled. Tár is undeniably one of the greatest conductors. We get why she'd be cocky, even arrogant. We wonder if it started small, taking liberties due to her ability, and it kept progressing.
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| Cate Blanchett plays Lydia Tár |
This is an intriguing character study. We see Tár try to avoid any bad press by lying or at least deception. She reads reviews online, and I have to wonder if she needed the reassurance or the attention. Tár keeps digging deeper, her lies and deception a result of her ego. She doesn't think anyone can see through her lies.
We don't see how Tár reached her peak, but she must have overcome much to reach the level she did. Now she's spiteful and petty. Her skill didn't make her like this, it allowed her the freedom to act like this without consequence. Scene after scene, we see this oversized ego paired with childish reactions when she doesn't get her way. Being on the top has surely had countless people feeding her ego, making her reliant on that praise. She's been able to coast on past successes. Now her life unravels by her own doing.
This is gripping movie as we watch a tower fall in slow motion. There's an undercurrent of what she had to overcome as a woman in this profession, but she lost it due to many poor decisions. I don't feel bad for her, it's bemused wonder
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