TR, the first film directed by Todd Field in more than 15 years and a psychological drama, has earned the second-best per-theatre average of 2022 thanks to its positive critical reception. The film had a limited release this weekend in New York and Los Angeles, playing at four theatres and earning an estimated $160,000, or $40,000 per theatre on average. This is second only to the fantastic $50,000 per theatre average Everything Everywhere All at Once had earlier this year. TR, starring Cate Blanchett as the made-up Lydia Tár, a great conductor/composer dogged by the responsibilities of her flaming genius and fame, is shaping up to be a major Oscar candidate come 2019.
The movie had its world premiere in September at the Venice International Film Festival, where Blanchett won the Best Actress award for her performance, and its North American premiere at the Telluride Film Festival the same month. During the month of October, it also premiered at the New York Film Festival. Blanchett’s portrayal has been praised as among the greatest of her impressive career. “In more ways than one, this is her Raging Bull,” reviewer Brian Formo gushed. It’s a repetitive performance, with just minor adjustments made while switching from public to private identity. For three of its four cinemas, including Lincoln Square, The Angelika, and The Grove, TR was the top-grossing movie of the weekend.
On Friday, it brought in $64,000, Saturday brought in $53,000, and Sunday brought in $43,000. Focus Features President of Distribution Lisa Bunnell commented on the film’s successful debut by saying: As we continue to showcase this magnificent picture, spearheaded by Cate Blanchett’s tour de force performance, to theatregoers around the country, the early returns for TR have been fantastic. There’s reason to be optimistic about the film business as a whole as we head into the fall thanks to the success of our picture and other mature-themed releases this weekend. Blanchett, who is widely considered one of the greatest performers of her generation, has had seven Academy Award nominations and won twice (for The Aviator and Blue Jasmine).
She has been nominated for seven awards and has won three. In the Bedroom (2001), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, was Field’s breakthrough, and Little Children (2006) was his next major film. Since the miniseries adaptation of The Devil in the White City starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese recently had a severe setback, he has been chosen to helm the project. TR also stars Nina Hoss (A Most Wanted Man) and Mark Strong (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) (Sherlock Holmes). Hildur Gunadóttir, who scored the Oscar-winning film “Joker,” wrote the original soundtrack. Field’s Standard Film Company, together with Emjag’s Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert, are responsible for producing TR. This next week, the film will open in 30 additional cinemas in 10 additional regions.
Synopsis
Tár, featuring Cate Blanchett as the legendary musician Lydia Tár, is the brainchild of producer-writer-director Todd Field. The effect and longevity of power in the modern world are investigated in TR.