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Topics: Film and TV
Daisy Phillipson
Considering Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential directors today, when he recommends a movie, film lovers listen.
And that's certainly the case with Todd Field's Tár, which Scorsese said has 'lifted the dark clouds over cinema'.
The film in question is a psychological drama based on a fictional renowned composer and conductor named Lydia Tár, portrayed by Cate Blanchett.
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Per the official synopsis: "Tár examines the changing nature of power, its impact and durability in our modern world.
"Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living composer/conductors and first-ever female chief conductor of a major German orchestra."
The film has received high praise since it premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year, and this only continued when the Goodfellas director appeared virtually to award Field with the Best Picture accolade at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards this week.
"For so long now, so many of us see films that pretty much let us know where they’re going," Scorsese said.
"I mean, they take us by the hand and, even if it’s disturbing at times, sort of comfort us along the way that it will be all okay by the end.
"Now, this is insidious, as one can get lulled into this and ultimately get used to it, leading those of us who’ve experienced cinema in the past – as much more than that– to become despairing of the future of the art form, especially for younger generations."
The 80-year-old filmmaker went on to say that these are 'dark days' for cinema, but there are rays of hope with certain movies – including Field's Tár.
He continued: "The clouds lifted when I experienced Todd’s film, Tár. What you’ve done, Todd, is that the very fabric of the movie you created doesn’t allow this...
"We don’t know where the film’s going. We just follow the character on her strange, upsetting road to her even stranger, final destination."
Scorsese also praised Field's directing skills, including the 'controlled, precise, dangerous, precipitous angles' and the '2:3:5 aspect ratio of frame compositions reflecting the brutal architecture of... Tár’s soul'.
No doubt Field and the team behind the upcoming flick are busy celebrating their incredible feedback – it's not everyday Scorsese hails a film as one that is helping to save the world of cinema.
In fact, we all know the Wolf of Wall Street creator has been pretty scathing of certain genres before, particularly superhero-themed Marvel movies.
In a New York Times op-ed, Scorsese suggested that these films were 'not cinema', and said that while he admired many of the MCU’s directors, his idea of what cinema should be was 'as far from the Marvel universe as we on Earth are from Alpha Centauri'.
These comments are far removed from his reflection on Tár. If you're excited to see what all the fuss is about, the film is available to stream in the US and drops in UK cinemas on January 13.