Opened: October 7, 2022

Directed by: Todd Field

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover, Allan Corduner, Mark Strong, Sylvia Flote, Adam Gopnik, Mila Bogojevic, Zethphan Smith-Gneist & Sydney Lemmon

A film about cancel culture, Tár will alienate audiences with its protagonist, who is actually the biggest villain of the film.

Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) is a world-renown conductor, who is working with the Berlin Philharmonic. Between grooming allegations and edited interactions appearing on social media, Lydia’s world begins to crumble around her.

By her actions throughout the movie, it becomes clear that Lydia is guilty of what she’s being accused of by her former fellow as well as many other women. Though you sometimes want to sympathize with her, remembering that she is the aggressor abusing her power makes you cheer that she’s going down.

Blanchett is powerful, especially in the last hour of the film, but it takes so long to get going that you may be checked out by then.

Final say: Justice in the takedown. ★★★☆☆