Tar Review: A Spiraling Spectacle

Tar both haunts and impresses by diving into the psyche of a talented yet tainted artist.

With its cold cinematography brought to life by a visualization of its themes, a distinct distance from its primary subject and the detailed exploration of a life corrupted by success, Tar acts as the most interesting investigative snapshot of a life one could have the pleasure of viewing. However, calling Tar a wholeheartedly “pleasurable” watch would be a challenge, as the film is unafraid to delve into the horrific psyche of a self important artist and her guilt, all at its own enigmatic pace. While the runtime will undoubtedly scare off some viewers, watching this piece of art provides one of the most entrancing cinematic experiences of the year, ironically, by asking the audience if art can ever absolve the artist.

Tar engages this question with effortless subtlety and controlled thematic development through a lack of judgment. Conversations held in wide are cinematic language for the film taking a step back, thereby affording the audience the chance to more directly interact with the material, and what material it is. Lydia Tar is a spiraling spectacle of parasitic intentions and bewildering talent. Opening with a laundry list of accolades as a nervous Tar stands backstage at a New York amphitheater, the film immediately presents the viewer with a compellingly conflicting character. With all the charm, poise and pretentiousness of a generational talent, Cate Blanchett navigates this role with a craft that both engages and enrages the viewer. One scene she’ll have you chuckling at her impressive vocabulary, and with the slightest glance at a young cello student she’ll have you feeling sick to your stomach. 

Olga, a promising cellist hoping to replace a core member of Tar’s orchestra performing Mahler’s fifth symphony, is given the Lydia luxury of favoritism. This fascination reveals the depths of Tar’s horrific character, as the angular, sterile cinematography of the first half becomes a twisted, haunting visualization of a mind subject to its own actions. Dream sequences increasingly populate this prestige drama, making for a unique blend of art house and sleek professionalism that is only amplified by its cinematography. In other words, as Tar spirals, so does the carefully constructed aesthetic. Black voids of morphing grotesqueries born from Tar’s own nightmares, smooth tracking shots chaotically transitioning to handheld; the still wides now feel like an omnipresent judgment of our title character instead of a result of her power. Where the film once followed Tar to visualize her conduction of the art world, the camera now lies still with Tar moving in and out of frame to demonstrate her lack of control. Truly, the purposeful direction is demonstrated through the visuals alone, just as it is with the brilliant sound design that pairs harmoniously with the uncanny effect the cinematography elicits. As the narrative spirals the cinematic aspects follow suit, with the increasing use of silence juxtaposed by the discreet noises that taunt Tar throughout her story being only one of many hidden details that prove Field is more than deserving of the Best Director award. 

And it is these details that further reflect the ways in which subtlety proves its dominance over explicitness. When Tar arrives in New York for a deposition, at a point where she needs to rebuild her career, she is let out in front of a construction zone where a machine acts as another haunting metronome for Tar to obsess over. Conflict is developed through glances rather than harsh words, and scenes with direct conflict are carefully held in wide to pick up every nuance. 

Again, a masterful command of visuals, tone and storytelling combine to make for a film that feels intentional in every regard. While some may point to the pacing as an area in which Tar feels out of control, I would argue this too is deliberate. As Tar’s world spirals, the pacing quickens to a considerable degree. While the first half is a slow burn to reflect Tar’s overwhelming presence in the art world, the second is a never ending chain of cause and effect that leaves Tar in a position the film leaves the viewer to question: is Tar, both art and artist, deserving of her fate?

This openness is only another praise worthy trait of the film, and demonstrates the sheer confidence in execution on display. From intentional cinematography that encapsulates the film’s themes and narrative to conflict being displayed with the utmost subtlety until an explosive climax, Tar is a film that will test its viewers, both in their endurance and for their opinions on one of the most polarizing artists of our time. The relevancy of the themes, and the subsequent depth at which they’re explored, makes Tar a thought provoking piece in a year of thought provoking films. Yet, Tar sticks out for its artistry, its detail, its unique aesthetic, and for the woman conducting the show.