'One of the best movies of the 2020s' with Cate Blanchett's 'best performance' streaming at no extra cost

A modern epic that garnered critical acclaim upon its release in 2022 is now available for Netflix subscribers to watch without any additional charge.

The film has not only been lauded with glowing reviews at the time of its release but has also been hailed as one of the top films of the decade thus far.

Featuring Cate Blanchett in what many consider a defining role of her career, she earned her eighth Academy Award nomination for a performance that left audiences spellbound.

Cinema enthusiasts now have another opportunity to be captivated as the provocative and challenging drama Tar joins the Netflix streaming line-up.

Directed by Todd Field, Blanchett takes on the eponymous role of Lydia Tar, an esteemed composer whose life spirals into disarray after becoming embroiled in a scandal, reports the Mirror.

Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian awarded the film a full five stars, commenting that Blanchett is a "perfect lead in delirious, sensual drama" and that "her performance will pierce you like a conductor's baton through the heart".

The Independent also extolled the virtues of the film, noting: "Tar is essentially about our current moment, and all the whirlpools of discourse around #MeToo and 'cancel culture', but rarely in a way that feels like a polemic or a pat on the back.

"It answers the question of 'should we separate the art from the artist? ' by laying bare how impossible a demand that is."

In a survey conducted by World of Reel involving 100 critics, Tar was ranked second, just behind Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning blockbuster Oppenheimer.

Collider has recently praised the film by including it on their list of the 35 best movies of the 2020s, stating: "Tar might feel like a biographical film about a divisive figure within the world of music known as Lydia Tar, especially given how real Cate Blanchett, in the lead role, makes the titular character feel."

Moreover, in a recent Reddit thread discussing the stand-out films of the decade so far, numerous viewers have lauded Tar as one of their top picks.

Opinions seem to be split, with one comment reading, "Tar or Another Round; it's hard to decide," and being met with another user's admiration: "Tar was so damn good."

On Letterboxd, Zoe Rose Bryant extolled Blanchett's portrayal, remarking: "It's not hyperbole to say that Cate Blanchett gives maybe one of the greatest performances I've EVER seen in Todd Field's Tar...

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Free Netflix membership Get Netflix free with Sky

Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription to Sky Stream members, saving £119.76 over the 24-month term.

Sky Stream lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like The Penguin and the upcoming second season of Squid Game.

£26

Sky Get the deal here

"A chilling character study of a famed conductor and her fall from grace - fuelled by her own hubris and self-obsession - directed with Kubrickian control.

"At 158 minutes, it may seem like a daunting and demanding watch to some, but there wasn't a single second where I wasn't entirely enthralled."

Additionally, another user by the name Wes echoes these sentiments regarding Blanchett's acting, claiming she delivers "one of her best, if not her single best performance" and hails Tar as "one of the most astonishingly directed and achingly made films in recent years."

So the question lingers, will you be following Tar's melody this week?

Tar is available to stream on Netflix.