The opening scene, where Blanchett’s Tár is being interviewed on stage, made me really nervous because New Yorker writer and non-actor Adam Gopnik came off more naturally than professional acting person Cate Blanchett, who seemed mannered and unconvincing. But Blanchett seemed to settle in after that, and the balance of her performance is just as superb as advertised. The movie itself is much more than a showcase for her performance or a transparent bid for Oscar attention, too; it’s a genuine work of art, with unexpected nuance and ambiguity, both in its “message” of corrupt power and its narrative execution. A superb accomplishment.