My Rating: 3.82/4

One line summary: The fictional great musician, Lydia Tar, catapults towards an epic recording.

The Deets: I struggled to rate this film. It is both ambitious and uneven. You can’t look away and it all seems too curated. The writer/director Todd Field has created a memorable movie that will absolutely not appeal to everyone. The credits and the first scene – an extended interview with Tar – almost dare the viewer to keep watching. And because of the intrigue, the keen aesthetics of the film, and Blanchett’s absolutely masterful performance (no other actor could pull off this role), the payoff – if there is such a thing – is worth it. There is much chatter about this film as a commentary on our woke culture, but I think that misses the point entirely – this is a movie about a great artist and her struggle within that greatness of creativity, as well as with her demons – and we all know about those.

Perfect for: Anyone who enjoys a good intellectual film that almost takes itself too seriously, and also if you love Cate Blanchett.

Where to watch: You gotta rent it, and I think it will be worth your 2.5 hour time commitment.