TÁR is the latest in a long line of biopics about musicians. This time, the subject is Lydia Tár, a female composer with a fascinating history.
Set among the scholarly and austere world of classical music, the movie is set to be a visually ravishing portrait of one of history’s most driven artists, one whose philosophies made her all the more fascinating. From the trailers alone, audiences are expecting a beautiful, highly stylized depiction of the life of the famed composer, and an array of fantastic performances, which this cast is sure to deliver.
Cate Blanchett – The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001 – 2003)
Cate Blanchett stars as Lydia Tár, but may be best-known to modern audiences for the role of Galadriel in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. The movies follow Frodo, a young hobbit, who must embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring and save the whole of Middle Earth.
While Blanchett has a slew of incredible roles to her name, her work as Galadriel is, arguably, her most widely known, and it’s a vastly different role. While Galadriel is a mythical elf, who leaves anyone she interacts with in awed silence, Lydia Tár is driven and deeply self-assured, and fans of Blanchett will get to see this side of her.
Mark Strong – Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Mark Strong stars as Elliot Kaplan, but his face may be familiar to those who have seen the Kingsman movies, where he appears as Merlin. The movie stars Taron Egerton as a lippy British geezer who is recruited by a top-secret group of spies to save the world.
These two roles are very different for Strong, who has made a name for himself as a versatile actor. Merlin is a no-nonsense type, with little time for Egerton’s character, Eggsy, who shows no respect for tradition. Crucially, however, the role is comedic in nature, whereas the role of Elliot Kaplan is primarily a dramatic role, an area in which Strong excels.
Julian Glover – For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Famous British actor Julian Glover appears as Andris Davis in TÁR, though the villainous role of Kristatos from the James Bond franchise may be the most well-known. The franchise follows James Bond, the suavest fictional spy in England, as he carries out missions for Queen and country.
Glover has a myriad of characters under his belt, and these roles are set to be wildly different. The role of Kristatos, the main antagonist in For Your Eyes Only, is comically evil, willing to kill anyone who gets in his way. Andris Davis, on the other hand, is based much more on reality.
Nina Hoss – Shadowplay (2020)
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A lauded German actress, Nina Hoss appears as Sharon Goodnow in TÁR, but her role of Elsie Garten in the series Shadowplay is her most known. The show follows an American cop who arrives in post-war Berlin and sets to create a new police force.
Hoss’ character is crucial to TÁR; her character acts as a romantic interest for Blanchett, but also serves as the potential object of her downfall. It’s set to be a sensual performance and one that differs from her work in Shadowplay. It’s a much more straight-laced project, though her performance is no less excellent.
Noémie Merlant – Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019)
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Noémie Merlant appears in TÁR as Francesca, though she is best known for her performance as Marianne in Portrait Of A Lady On Fire. The movie follows Marianna, a painter hired by a mother to paint her daughter without her knowledge.
An essential LGBTQ+ movie, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire highlights Merlant’s masterful abilities as an actress. The character of Marianne is confident, observant, and fiercely intelligent, though she has a combatant in the character of the daughter. While little is known of Francesca’s character, aside from her being Lydia’s assistant, fans can expect another marvelous performance from Merlant.
Vincent Riotta – House Of Gucci (2021)
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Vincent Riotta appears in the movie as Cory, but his face may be most recognizable from his work as Fernando Reggiani in House Of Gucci. The movie follows the real-life story of Patrizia Reggiani and her unending rise to power as a member of the Gucci household.
Riotta’s work as Fernando Reggiani, Patrizia’s adoptive father, has him alongside Lady Gaga and his character is kind and compassionate. With the role of Cory, Riotta will be branching out into a world of art-house cinema, something that is seemingly outside his usual comfort zone.
Allan Corduner – Defiance (2008)
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Allan Corduner stars as Sebastian, a longtime assistant conductor, but he may be most known for the role of Shimon Wiertz in Defiance. The movie follows a group of Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe as they join the Resistance in the hopes of saving their people.
These two roles vary wildly in terms of genre. His role in Defiance, a gritty war film, is not at all similar to his role in TÁR, which explores themes of LGBTQ+ expression and female identity. Shimon is a quick-witted and snarky character, but is determined to help his people. Whether these elements translate over to Sebastian is yet to be seen.
Sydney Lemmon – Fear The Walking Dead (2015 – )
Sydney Lemmon, whose exact role in TÁR is yet to be specified, may be familiar to audiences as Isabelle from Fear The Walking Dead. The show, which is itself a spin-off of The Walking Dead, follows a dysfunctional family who must come together to survive the zombie apocalypse.
Lemmon’s role in Fear The Walking Dead spans multiple episodes, receiving a Saturn Award nomination. Isabelle is cold and apathetic, initially, but gradually warms up to those around her as she fights to survive. It’s a great performance, deserving of the nomination, and audiences should look forward to seeing her on the big screen.
