A while back, after enjoying the film Aftersun, I made a pledge to try and watch more movies worthy of an art hoe status. I have to say that I did a pretty good job of that this week. I started by watching Tár, which was all the rage in 2022 but somehow completely escaped my notice. I also got to see the new Wes Anderson movie, Asteroid City.
Let’s start with Tár. This is such a wild film, definitely worth a watch IMO. It centers on world-famous and absurdly accomplished composer-conductor Lydia Tár, who is leading the Berlin Philharmonic in this fictional alternate present day. I love a movie that brings you deep into a subculture, in this case, the highest echelons of the classical music world.
There are very few women leading major orchestras around the world today, and only one in the US, as this New York Times review points out, which makes the setup interesting in itself. And there has never been a female principal conductor of the Berlin Phil (according to my personal research). But this premise only becomes more interesting when it is slowly revealed that Lydia Tár is maybe, probably, definitely, abusing her power, and playing favorites with different young women in the field in return for….. what exactly? We never get the precise details.
It’s a movie without many answers, which means it’s a movie about perspective, nuance, and subtleties, a few things that have been sorely lacking in our world in the past decade. The fact that Tár is a woman in this rare position makes it impossible to saddle her with the traditional #metoo storyline although a lot of her actions mimic the stereotypical male/female power dynamic that the movement is hoping to bring to an end. There is also the amazing scene in which Tár confronts her daughter’s bully, calling herself “Petra’s Father”. Lots to unpack here.
The more I think about this movie, and the more I read about it, the more I love it. Definitely worth a watch, and if you want to take a deep dive afterward, these two reviews by actual film critics (i.e. not me) are very good.
The slate review takes the position that much of the movie is not supposed to reflect reality, but rather some kind of psychologically unstable experience, or a nightmare of sorts. The reality/unreality of the movie harkens back to my post about John Prine, perspective, and individually experienced truths. This is a topic that gets ever murkier when we are discussing sexual misconduct and abuse of power.
Oh, one more thing worth noting about this movie, NO FAKE PLAYING OF INSTRUMENTS. It really makes a world of difference. I can’t tell you how many times I’m immediately pulled out of belief in a scene by some ridiculous violin playing that’s not even on the correct string, let alone note.
OK, as for the new Wes Anderson movie Asteroid City, I absolutely adored it. Wes Anderson movies, to me, are like bottling up delight and pouring it out in the form of a couple of hours on screen.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a great experience seeing this film. Steve and I went to the AMC on an off day in Connecticut, after the Green River Festival, and they had it playing in a very small theater. We were ten minutes late, and slightly stoned, and ended up in the FRONT ROW. My eyes were basically touching the middle of the giant screen, and every time they did that signature Wes Anderson camera swing, I felt like I might puke.
I also convinced myself that I left my sour patch kids in the bathroom and went running through every stall trying to find them before causing a big scene while returning to my seat by jumping over the back. My sour patch kids were nestled comfortably into the side of the chair.
Anyway, none of that is Asteroid City’s fault and you should watch it. It’s too crazy to try and explain the plot, and it wouldn’t do it justice! and it would be a spoiler!
until next week,
Rachel
…and that conductor, Nathalie Stutzmann leads the ATL Symphony Orch —- !
Shout out to Seu Jorge from Asteroid City. Here in Palo Alto, I went from 5 pm asteroid city to half hour late to 7 pm Mae West Cary Grant movie at nearby Stanford theatre which shows nothing but classic films -- I was hoping to catch the famous line "come up and see me sometime; come up Tuesday; its amateur night" but instead what I noticed was a continuity or plays within plays and a western theme. so I saw a mashup of AC and the classic film
it was opening night after a long delay due to covid for this film museum.
and its across the street from where Hawktail and Phoebe Hunt played, Lytton Plaza.
not to tip our hands but I will make a good faith effort to get you to said plaza in October. (and depending on what is playing at those two theaters we can market your show as concert-and-a-movie; two weeks ago I hosted a student salsa band from nearby Stanford University and got the ice cream parlor Scoop to issue 13 free servings of mango ice cream for members of Cien Mil Mangos and their fans.
sorry to step all over your post...mark in Palo Alto
my wife saw Tar I have not...
shout out to new Boots Riley movie "I am Virgo" -- never worked with boots and The Coup but I did help them get their debut at The Fillmore years ago.