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Post by alessia on Jan 24, 2023 13:25:10 GMT
I went on Sunday and I was moved to tears a couple of times at Cate Blanchett's acting. Not that the Oscars mean much these days but if she is not at least nominated, I'd be shocked. I can't remember the last time I felt the same about an actor in a film. The film itself is brilliant too- the scene with the student at Juilliard school is the one I'll remember for a long time. And of course the big one towards the end (no spoilers!) I suspect this one will be in my top 5 of this year.
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Post by alicechallice on Jan 24, 2023 13:56:01 GMT
I saw it last week, bloody fabulous.
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Post by Dave B on Jan 24, 2023 14:07:25 GMT
Yup, thought Cate Blanchett was sublime. It wouldn't have managed to be much without such a powerful performance driving the movie forward.
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Post by Mark on Jan 24, 2023 15:48:42 GMT
I went on Friday and thought it was brilliant. I didn’t think I would like it much, because the trailer was a bit…. Meh. But no, totally won over and it was really something special
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Post by foxa on Jan 24, 2023 16:31:13 GMT
And she's been nominated for this role - her EIGHTH (!!!) Oscar nomination.
I was wondering about this film, thinking I might like it. So glad to hear these good reports.
Lately I've seen (IMO) too many slick, shallow, mean-spirited bilms (like The Menu), so am looking for something else.
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Post by alessia on Jan 24, 2023 16:31:43 GMT
I went on Friday and thought it was brilliant. I didn’t think I would like it much, because the trailer was a bit…. Meh. But no, totally won over and it was really something special Yes the trailer is weird, it gives no clues as to the story, and I was expecting lots of dream like sequences which did not materialise
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Post by sweets7 on Jan 24, 2023 23:03:33 GMT
A very good film on power and what it does to people and those around them.
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Post by mkb on Jan 25, 2023 0:36:04 GMT
I saw it a couple of weeks ago. A bit of a mixed bag. Excellent performance from Blanchett, but the story seems to want to have its cake and eat it. In the first half, Tár is portrayed quite reasonably, and the audience -- well me at least -- is on her side. She's someone who gets things done and doesn't let sentiment or pretentious consideration stand in the way of achieving high art. It's the sort of character we see often, but rarely as a female. She has qualities that one can admire in an achiever. Then, for no apparent reason, the portrayal is switched to making her more of a controlling monster and sexual predator. I enjoyed the first half, but felt I was being manipulated by the director later on in ways that weren't convincing. The final segments are quite eyebrow raising as they verge on the ridiculous. The whole thing is very stagey and would probably have made a better play. I gave it four stars, but, in a very rare difference of more than a star, my husband was quite scathing and said two. Worth seeing for the lead performance, but the story-telling would have benefitted from a more experienced hand.
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Post by Jon on Jan 25, 2023 0:41:57 GMT
The ending is very funny in a cruel way.
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Post by karloscar on Jan 25, 2023 21:20:08 GMT
It's all a bit dated and melodramatic. The relationship between conductor and orchestra hasn't been like that for decades if it ever really was, and no female conductor would ever have been appointed never mind tolerated with such behaviour, no matter how talented. I can see why Marin Allsop took such great offence.
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 25, 2023 23:35:16 GMT
5 stars until the last 15 minutes which I couldnt help but eye-roll at.
The best acting of Blanchett's career though - whilst I want Michelle Yeoh to win the Oscar, it's gonna take a miracle for Blanchett not to get her third for thhis
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Post by sukhavati on Jan 28, 2023 6:17:08 GMT
Went with a friend who wanted to see it. I think Cate's performance is the kind that is rewarded by the various organizations that hand out trophies. Multifaceted, showy at times. My friend said that the part was written especially for her.
We probably spent a half hour talking about the film afterward. I was reminded of Greek mythology when hubris leads to nemesis for humans who push their boundaries. On a more mundane plane, it reminds us why it's not a good idea to get involved with anyone at work. And don't believe your own hype - gotta stay humble.
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 29, 2023 11:26:57 GMT
Finally saw this last night and it is nothing short of a masterpiece and by far the only film on the almost comical list of ‘Best Picture’ nominees this year that actually deserves to be there.
Blanchett should and will win for her brilliant performance.
It is the best portrayal of an intelligent psychopath I have seen on screen (Isabelle Huppert has now been bumped into 2nd place for Elle and Luis Tozar into 3rd for Sleep Tight) and the best female performance since Portman’s magnificent turn in Black Swan.
I cannot WAIT to see it again.
5/5
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 29, 2023 12:17:03 GMT
I enjoyed the first half, but felt I was being manipulated by the director later on in ways that weren't convincing. Actually it's the other way around and very similar to Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master in the way it manipulates the audience at the same time as the characters in the film are being manipulated. Many times what appears to be happening in the scene is not actually what's happening and there are very few scenes in the film where she is not manipulating someone. The very first scene tells us exactly what she is with the phone text. 'you mean she has a conscience' 'maybe' It is also very similar to Mulholland Drive in structure and how it feeds you the information and when. {Spoiler - click to view} In Mulholland Drive the first 3/4 of the film is a dream triggered by certain events in the main characters life and the last quarter is the real events that triggered the dream. It is then the audiences job to look back over the events of the film and piece together what actually happened.
In Tar we are a witness to the con and fall for the con ourselves (well some do I pegged her from the first 'word salad' filled New Yorker scene) for the first 3/4 of the film and then see the reality in the last quarter. Once again it is then the audiences job to piece everything from the 2 sections together into what actually took place.
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 30, 2023 8:28:12 GMT
Thought it was a dull, turgid mess. Blanchett was of course mesmerizing, but that wasn't enough to make it a good film (though how 'Apartment For Sale' missed out on a Best Original Song Nomination is beyond me!). Far too long as well, a complete director's indulgence.
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Post by AddisonMizner on Feb 19, 2023 18:53:58 GMT
I finally saw this last night, and LOVED it - the best film I have seen so far this year (perhaps with the exception of ELVIS). The long running time flew by!
I can totally understand why people would dislike it, as it is quite cerebral and verbose in its discussion of music, and hits you over the head with its commentary about cancel culture and whether we can separate the composer from their work. However, this ticks so many boxes for me. Classical music is another love of mine, having studied Music at university. I also adore the music of Mahler having studied it in depth and even presented on it again at university. Anything set in this world is going to be something that I am drawn to.
Cate Blanchett is not just totally believable as a conductor, but embodies it and gives a stunning performance.
5 stars.
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