Tár (2022)

Tár is a bit of a masterclass by an actor and a director. Blanchett proves once again she is one of the best of her profession by portraying a complex, difficult, and ambiguous character with an undeniable humanity. And Field tells a challenging narrative that refuses to be straight forward or simple to wrap one's feelings around  Tár is gripping and plodding, intricate and sparse, sympathetic and unlikeable. 

Field and Blanchett present their title character as brilliant and magnetic to start and slowly add elements of s subtle cruelty, often couched in an artistic talent that makes us want to forgive her. Early on she attacks a vulnerable student in a way that almost convinces us she is right. But as the film progresses we begin to see she is both hero and villain of her own story.

Tár smartly inverts the gender dynamics of the sort of powerful predator narrative this story is telling so that we as an audience can shed some of our assumptions about these sorts of stories and see it through a clearer lens unclouded by our cultural assumptions. Field refuses to ever hold our hands by telling us what's going on any any one specific moment or foreshadowing exactly how his moments are going to play off each other down the road. He approaches his story telling with a sit-back-and-take-it-in approach with subtle nods to artistry that keep Tár and its protagonist at arm's length. He doesn't tell us what to think about Lydia Tár and instead presents us with situations for our own contemplation. 

For me the ending sped up too joltingly from the careful pace of the rest of the film and then suddenly we were done. And how it ended jarred me a bit after the film taking such care to not centre judgements. The final act feels rushed and perhaps more simplistic. But that doesn't take away from the strength of a story that will give audiences much to think about and a central performance that is just so complexly satisfying. 

Tár

Starring: Cate Blenchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Mark Strong, Julian Glover

Writer/Director: Todd Field