Martin Scorsese Praises Cate Blanchett's TÁR and Said "The Clouds Lifted" on The Future of Cinema When He Watched It

During this year's New York Film Critics Circle awards, director Martin Scorsese praised director Todd Field’s psychological drama TÁR. Cate Blanchett plays the fictional character Lydia Tár, who is one of the world's greatest living composers and conductors.

I have yet to watch the film, but Scorsese praised it as he presented the award for Best Picture to the film's director. He said that "the clouds lifted" on the future of cinema after he watched it:

"For so long now, so many of us see films that pretty much let us know where they’re going. 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 OK 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. 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."

TÁR was released in theaters back in October and it looks like a great film in which Blanchett gives an incredible performance. The movie was specifically written for her. Field previously explained that he wouldn’t have cast anyone else in the role:

“This script was written for one artist, Cate Blanchett. Had she said no, the film would have never seen the light of day. Filmgoers, amateur and otherwise, will not be surprised by this. After all, she is a master supreme. Even so, while we were making the picture, the superhuman-skill and verisimilitude of Cate was something truly astounding to behold. She raised all boats. The privilege of collaborating with an artist of this caliber is something impossible to adequately describe. In every possible way this is Cate’s film.”

Did you get a chance to see TÁR? If so, what did you think!?