Noemie Merlant – Cut To The Chase

Written & Directed By: Todd Field
Cinematography: Florian Hoffmeister
Editor: Monika Willi

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noemie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer, Mark Strong, Sydney Lemmon, Sylvia Flote, Zachary D. Smith-Gneist

Having achieved an enviable career few could even dream of, renowned conductor/composer Lydia Tár, the first female principal music director of the Berlin Philharmonic, is at the top of her game. As a conductor, Lydia not only orchestrates, she manipulates. As a trailblazer, the passionate virtuoso leads the way in the male-dominated classical music industry. Moreover, Lydia prepares for the release of her memoir while juggling work and family. She is also willing to take up one of her most significant challenges: a live recording of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. However, forces that even the imperious maestro can’t control slowly chip away at Lydia’s elaborate facade, revealing the genius’s dirty secrets and the insidious, corrosive nature of power. What if life knocks Lydia off her pedestal?

This film feels like an epic in its Scope and locations but also really for this one character. Who goes all over the spectrum of emotions and from being high on the horse to l falling so low.

As impressive as the film is, the performance of Cate Blanchett is mesmerizing; it certainly helps that she is constantly on the screen and she is in every scene. This also allows us to notice that we see everything from her point of view.

We see how high her ego is but also how talented she is and can easily back it up. We see her views on certain subjects and life. As well as her behavior in life.

We also see her downfall and never are quite sure if she is guilty or not, but we can see that those around her totally abandon her and now that the mighty have fallen are willing to sell her out. How some might have even conspired In her downfall, getting passed over once gotten what they wanted, has no problem only added to her downfall.

We never really get an answer to her guilt but can see questionable behavior. Such as threatening a little girl who bullies her daughter we might be able to understand that as a parent, but who is to say she doesn’t have that attitude with those older yet under her. Who needs her approval

As she is touchy with younger students but that seems more free-flowing. We never see her victims, only glimpses of emails that her assistant has been keeping and filing.

It becomes a mystery in itself as to who exactly is behind taking her down. Though the film remains subtle. It keeps offering hints of what might be happening behind the scenes. Who might be holding grudges and why. As her attitude is flippant toward those around her.

In its own way, it is a tragedy that is a black comedy. In The second half, the film is systematically her downfall and her reaction to it as it happens and she gets more and more unbalanced. Which is when the true range of Blanchett’s Performance truly shines.

Then in the third act where she tries to get her career back and the lengths she has to go through just to work. All the way to a foreign land where even though she obviously dislikes her surroundings there are hints that she might be guilty of what she has been accused of as far as grooming. Such as when she goes to the massage parlor and runs out and throws up. We suspect that this is after realizing what kind of parlor it is, but also it might be after that she has to resort to paying for this kind of attention.

That is how the film presents her as a double-edged sword of someone who we could admire but also might be repulsive and guilty of her accusations. As even when she sees her brother he is nonchalant about her and his feelings towards her and why in pure and simple language.

That is the magic of the film. Everything is presented plainly but there are so many subtle hints that you never know exactly the truth only how she sees it. Even though the video footage was presented later we know was doctored. As we sat through her class and know her comments have been cut together.

The film’s comedy is very dry and subtle but on second viewing it becomes a little more clear. As the first time, the film jsit feels devastating and the biggest joke of all is the finale. As we see the audience for her

Grade: B+

Written & Directed By: Zoe Wittock
Cinematography: Thomas Buelens
Editor: Thomas Fernandez

Cast: Noemie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot, Bastien Bouillon, Sam Louwyck, Tracy Dossou

Jeanne, a shy young woman, works in an amusement park. Fascinated with carousels, she still lives at home with her mother. That’s when Jeanne meets Jumbo, the park’s new flagship attraction.

This film will remind some audiences in the know of Titane. As they have particular storylines that are similar but are in Totally different ways.

The French film, TITANE is dark and about more than necessarily meets the eye. Where it has things to say about many subjects. This film Is sweeter and has no pregnancies though it is a fairy tale based On reality and tries to keep matters at hand.

This film has a sweetness but doesn’t ignore its own implausibility. As it even has the character question her sanity. Though her own faith shows through. We in The audience begin to question as we see erratic behavior and every time there is something fantastical involving others we never see it as random there is a logical reason for it all.

The film doesn’t shy away from sex but it doesn’t make it feel tawdry it feels erotic but more out of innocence.

Even those close to her who doubt her and her sanity. We are left to wonder if they are doing it for their own self-interest and out of jealousy.

As the main character feels like a typical one you would find in a quirky romantic French film. She looks and dresses like a shy teenager even though she is a young woman in her 20’s.

The movie starts off innocent and as it goes along it gets more serious and into more issues and questions that are surprisingly asked. That is usually left out in films with scenarios such as these.

Noemie Merlant really shines in this film. She stays believable and strong even though her character can be weak at times and doesn’t speak up for herself. She seems to run away rather than confront. Though she gains our sympathy and soon finds ourselves rooting for her. As we watch from the beginning her character is a tomboy but wears such shapeless clothes we wonder if she is in arrested development. through it all even in various sex scenes. She still seems like an innocent more than anything.

Emmanuelle Bercot as her mother is also strong. As a hard-driven woman. She has had her heart broken quite a few times and wants to believe in love but finds herself defined by the company she keeps usually male. She wants the best for her daughter but that seems in the daughter more or less getting into a relationship and finding a man. As she tries to act more like her sister than her mother. She is tough to a certain degree but has a soft spot for her daughter that she rarely shows.

This is a film that might not always make sense but it does have a charm that is constantly on display and tries to always stay in reality. Even with its more fantastical elements.

Grade: B

Tag: Noemie Merlant

TAR (2022)

JUMBO (2020)