Tar is an upcoming Drama film starring Cate Blanchett in the lead role of Lydia Tar. The supporting cast of the film includes Nina Hoss, Noemie Merlant, Mark Strong, Sydney Lemmon, Julian Glover, Sam Douglas, Allan Corduner, Sophie Kauer and Christoph Tomanek. The film is written and directed by Todd Field who is known for directing two features films: Bedroom (2001) and Little Children (2006), for which he has received three nominations but is still devoid of an Oscar. However, it looks his upcoming venture might be his ticket to the Oscars this year. The premise of Tar is extremely unique and intriguing, “Renowned musician Lydia Tár is days away from recording the symphony that will elevate her career. When all elements seem to conspire against her, Lydia’s adopted daughter Petra becomes an integral emotional support for her struggling mother.”
The film premiered for selective critics, film analysts and attendees at the 79th Venice Film Festival that took place in September. Out of the film festival many films came out. Some had good reviews, some had bad but I doubt any film had great reviews as this one does. The film is about to release in theatres and thankfully the critics have given out their first impressions of the film.
Tar Reviews Round-Up: A Perfect Character Study?
Tár is rare film that takes guts to make. The unique premise is really difficult to pitch to smug studio executives who have little to no idea about filmmaking or writing. Thankfully the film has an established actor in the lead which will help sell the film otherwise a film like this will fly under the radar for many people. The film’s reviews are off the chart with not single reviewer speaking bad about the film. Cate Blanchett gives another Oscar worthy performance and she might be competition to Ana de Armas at Oscars 2023.
The film at the time of writing has an IMDb score of 7.9/10 and it is deemed Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes with a rating of 97%. However, apart from the scores let’s take a look at the comments of praise that the film is garnering.
David Rooney
Hollywood Reporter
“A significant leap in maturity, control and confidence that takes risks at every step. What’s more, they consistently pay off in a transfixing movie that feels like no other.”
Richard Lawson
Vanity Fair
“TÁR is breathtaking entertainment, beautifully tailored in luxe, eerie Euro sleekness… That fine craftsmanship is all anchored by Blanchett’s alternately measured and ferocious performance.”
David Ehrlich
indieWire
“One of the boldest and most exciting new American movies I’ve seen in years.”
Original Score: A
Raphael Abraham
Financial Times
“[Todd Fields] plays it icy cool, shooting Berlin in elegantly muted tones and orchestrating his drama with a surgical precision worthy of peak Michael Haneke.”
Original Score: 4/5
Todd McCarthy
Deadline Hollywood Daily
“The film represents a daring and quite comprehensive immersion in a rarified world and features a lead performance the likes of which doesn’t come along very often.”
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
“I am not sure that all the film’s disparate and intriguing tics and hints and feints all come satisfactorily together, but what a colossal performance from Cate Blanchett.”
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
“Blanchett responds with perfect pitch. Her eyes are like spies, missing nothing, and her smile is a charmer’s knife.”
Keith Uhlich
Slant Magazine
“The film is consistently compelling visually and aurally, but neither Todd Field nor Cate Blanchett seem quite decided on whether Tár’s comeuppance is a grand tragedy or a cosmic joke.”
Original Score: 2.5
Jonathan Romney
Guardian
“A singularly strange offering…”
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
“Few will resist Blanchett’s bravura, occasionally monstrous performance. … The ending is for the ages.”
Tomris Laffly
RogerEbert.com
“A film of rare elegance and sophistication.”
Leah Greenblatt
Entertainment Weekly
“The movie belongs to Blanchett, in a turn so exacting and enormous that it feels less like a performance than a full-body possession.”
Original Score: A
Justin Chang
Los Angeles Times
“I didn’t want it to end.”
Bilge Ebiri
New York Magazine/Vulture
“Blanchett… [turns] the movie from a moderately interesting and topical one into something quite beautiful.”
Stephanie Zacharek
TIME Magazine
“The movie makes no excuses for Lydia’s behavior, and Blanchett’s performance faces it squarely.”
Ben Croll
TheWrap
“Works more as psychological portrait than narrative freighter, putting you in the room with (and in the head of) a professional control freak as her life spirals out of control, all while observing the fallout with eerie calm.”
Hannah Strong
Little White Lies
“Cate Blanchett is captivating as formidable, world famous classical composer in Todd Fields’ frustrating study of the cult of genius.”
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
“The film wields its intelligence and style with total effortlessness, and its every move holds your gaze like a baton’s quivering tip.”
Original Score: 5/5
Check out the Full Trailer for Tar on YouTube:
Todd Field’s Tár is slated to release in theatres on 7th October 2022.
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