To some film fans, the legendary Martin Scorsese is a grumpy older man who hates flashy new films, but the filmmaker has found a new movie to put high on a pedestal.
Scorsese made a surprise appearance at the 2023 New York Film Critics Circle Awards, appearing virtually to present Tár director Todd Field with the best feature award. The filmmaker had nothing but positive things to say about the film, even going as far as saying it’s a bright spot in a dark Hollywood world.
“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. But that’s on dark days.”
He went on to go head-over-heels for Field’s latest film, which stars a stellar Cate Blanchett. “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. All the aspects of cinema and the film that you’ve used attest to this. The shift in locations, for example, the shift in locations alone do what cinema does best, which is to reduce space and time to what they are, which is nothing.”
“What you’ve done, Todd –– it’s a real high-wire act,” Scorsese continued. “All of this is conveyed through a Masterful Mise-en-scène, as controlled, precise, dangerous, precipitous angles and edges geometrically kind of chiseled into a wonderful 2:3:5 aspect ratio of frame compositions. The limits of the frame itself and the provocation of measured long takes all reflecting the brutal architecture of her soul — TÁR’s soul.”
Scorsese will return with his latest directorial effort this year, Killers of the Flower Moon, coming to Apple TV+. This film will mark the sixth collaboration between Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio and the tenth collaboration between Scorsese and Robert De Niro.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Tár here
Tár is on its way to a likely Oscar nomination for Best Picture and Blanchett for Best Actress. Despite its praise and awards chances, the film only made around $5 million at the box office.
Tár is currently playing in cinemas.
