Tár (2022) Movie Review
Watching previews of Tár you might be quick to draw comparisons to psychological thrillers like Black Swan (2010). But the first ten minutes of the two hour and thirty-eight minute drama will change your mind about what kind of movie you’re really watching. The sometimes pretentious world of classical music conducting and composing is on full display in those first ten minutes as we watch famed conductor Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) be interviewed at some sort of culture fest that would undoubtedly take place in New York City. The interview oozes self-importance and a certain type of ego that only elitists seem to have acquired.
After the interview that is packed full of Tár’s accomplishments she heads to Germany where she is working on completing the Mahler cycle (read more about that here if you aren’t a classical music buff) and much of the time is spent rehearsing with her orchestra. When she’s not obsessing over the process of perfecting the sound of the symphony, she’s with her wife Sharon (Nina Hoss) and daughter Petra (Mila Bogojevic) or being cold to her assistant Francesca (Noémie Merlant).
Writer and director Todd Field gives us information about Tár drip by drip. She has an acute ear and the sound design in the movie is excellent, drawing your attention to the tiniest sounds that disrupt Tar’s train of thought. She suffers from insomnia and clearly struggles with how to turn off her brain that is almost always whirring. Most of what she thinks about is music and herself. Tár is extraordinarily selfish and every move she makes is to further advance her status, her career, and the mythos she has crafted about her genius.
She is talented. That much is clear, from the many accolades and awards she has received throughout her career. But Field throws you a curveball as you watch Tár abuse her status and power through affairs with younger women who are trying to make it in the industry. Sound familiar? Rather than force feeding you the morality issues, Field prefers to give you only enough to chew on and ponder for yourself. Why do so many people with power abuse it in this way? Why does Lydia? Field gives you so many themes to think about that you’ll be replaying scenes in your head for a few days after you watch this movie.
Cate Blanchett gives another powerhouse performance which should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed her career. Every micro expression is on full display and the nuance she gives Tár is particularly insightful. You kind of hate her, but you can’t look away and much of that is due to Blanchett’s commanding presence on screen. I very much doubt the movie would have been as impactful without Blanchett as the lead. Tár has a particularly long runtime and it does drag a little. But overall it’s a captivating portrait of a genius at the top of her game whose downfall is imminent. The themes Field explores are meaty, and as good movies often do provide more questions than answers. But isn’t that part of the fun?
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You’re a fan of Cate Blanchett
2. You are invested in the classical music scene
3. You like movies about talented but unlikeable geniuses
