Review of TÁR (2022) by Everett — 11 Jan 2023

Besides being a vehicle for Cate Blanchett's star performance, I don't understand what the point was in making this film. I went into it thinking it had to do with the topic of whether artists' despicable personal behavior should come into play when judging the merits of their work. But Tar doesn't create her own work; her attempts at being a composer don't go far, and her fame is derived from conducting the work of others.

Now I'm wondering if the film is an attempt to demonstrate that famous, successful men aren't the only ones who use their power to prey upon women - that women do it too. In that sense, I guess it succeeds. Point taken. Good for you.

But is that kind of "point" enough to justify our showing up - especially for over two and a half hours? Where's the takeaway, the universal kind that makes a movie great?

It's very possible that I'm missing something, so please tell me. Otherwise, I'm left with the sinking feeling that I've wasted my time on someone's self-indulgence.