Tár

⭐ 9.5/10

(Originally written by Tim)

This movie was incredible, and you will certainly be hearing from Cate Blanchett come awards time. She plays a world-renowned orchestra conductor and composer who is at the top of her game. She really emanates intellect, and is a powerful esteemed lesbian, so when things start to unravel I found myself defending her in a way I wouldn't for, say, a powerful straight white man. She is fierce mother (portrayed in a delightfully twisted scene), so how could I ever want anything bad to happen to her!?

She is already losing her mind a bit as is, basically tormented by being a genius, so when some misconduct allegations come along things fall apart. This is not a #metoo movie at all though, and the empathy I felt for her was surprising given the way you see her treat people.

The movie starts with a couple long epic monologues that really put you in this world, where has she transcended celebrity as a world renowned figure, and rightly so. The level of detail is so high - every piece of clothing and apartment and even the way she carries herself is so perfect and well thought out, I felt like I understood this character so quickly. There is a 10 minute one-shot scene where she gives a Juilliard lecture that turns into a scolding of a student that discounts Bach because of his problematic behaviour that is the Oscar reel scene here, and I found it completely electric.

This movie really forces you to consider how we view greatness, especially when the person who creates greatness isn't a great person. The movie starts with the credits, which felt like a signal right off the bat - 1 or 2 people get all the love in art or business or academia, but it is a fleet of people that actually make things happen. But even here, the cast across the board is extraordinary and Blanchett just blows everyone off the screen in such a way that makes this her movie.

The movie is not completely humourless, but most laughs would be from a sharp quip in a conversation. However, I thought the final scene was genuinely funny, and when the lights came up the audience was audibly baffled by the choice. I loved the unique choice to end a serious drama with a wacky circumstance, but without giving anything away it is clearly commenting on what we consider high art and what actually provides value in peoples' lives.

Just short of a masterpiece, since it is fairly long and I am not dying to rewatch it. I left with a weird desire for mastery over something, wishing I could be the best in the world at something and renowned for it, despite just watching almost 3 hours of it tearing apart a person's life. MVP goes to Tar's Porsche, what a beauty. The level of wealth on display is staggering, and honestly pretty alluring.