The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast
patreon
S6E31: Field of Tar
🕑 Added 2022-12-27 02:05:02 +0000 UTCBret Easton Ellis pulls a rare reversal as he dives deeper into a recently discussed movie after experiencing it for a second time. Bret then talks about one of television's hottest shows, exuding power at a renowned Los Angeles restaurant and Norman Mailer as he answers questions from Platinum listeners on the air.
NOTE: If you haven't seen "Tar" and don't wish to have its plot points revealed, you should skip ahead to the 40-minute mark because the first section could potentially spoil the flick for you.
Comments
John
I adore this movie, and my appreciation grew with each rewatch (I think I’ve seen it three times at this point, but now feel compelled to watch it again.) Something Brett didn’t address, though, was the Peruvian thread woven throughout, in music, symbols, ghosts, visions…even her breathing exercises if you recall. There’s something subtle there that haunts the film and complicates the “fall from grace” narrative.
BrienPiechos
This was a hell of a good movie. Shocked that we have a strong yet deeply flawed portrayal of a lesbian. That's damn near a criminal offense in this moment. I cannot recall any lesbian being portrayed as anything short as a victimized paragon of virtue since Charlize Theron played Aileen Wuornos.
Harold B
It definitely started out that way with the majority of pro reviewers completely ignoring that the show existed. At this point, I think the show following has become so massive that liberal reviewers have no choice but to acknowledge it. 1000% agree red states are true Americana.
Harold B
I'm sure you don't complain on behalf of conservatives when so many podcasters insist on including woke takes in their work. Just goes to show much more sensitive one side of the aisle is than the other in terms of being able to handle opinions they don't like.
Justin Ketrinchek
Tar is the best film of the year. Maverick #2!!
Steven Mills
Right on. I hadn’t seen the movie yet when I made my comment - partially based on Bret’s previous appraisal - which, after watching Tar, I kind of agree with. I guess it’s required to see it multiple times, but it’s friggin’ long and I already have a full time job.
Dan Zilic
Yes
mr_potato
i hope bret covers avatar: the way of water in one of the upcoming pods!
Keith campbell
It’s too funny that Yellowstone has become US culture war and allegedly ignored by blue state prestige media (I am going by Bret on all of this, I live in the UK). An enjoyably trashy soap - Dallas is indeed the right comparison, except Linda Gray was never allowed to swear and show flesh like the amazing Kelly Reilly. I like to spend part of the winter in Jackson Hole and the plot lines in Yellowstone I read about are the same as what you see in the local papers there. It’s all land use disputes: Native Americans vs ranchers vs obnoxious coastal transplants vs enviro greenies vs extreme skiers who want to shred on the lands of all the above. Red states are where it’s at.
Keith campbell
I enjoyed the section on “The Deleted”. As I suspected, Bret had way too much fun ordering beautiful young influencers to do filthy things and had to be reined in by various managers and lawyers. I particularly enjoyed the final episode, where Bret all too chillingly voices his own unseen character, the cult mastermind, ordering the recruits around.
Steven Mills
Bret telling the entire plot?
Sebastian Brück
Concerning latin american authors: I would highly recomend Pola Oloixarac, who is an argentinian writer based in Barcelona. Check Wikipedia to read more about her: "(...) Her third novel Mona (Spanish 2019, in English 2021) shows her as a satirist with some taste for provocation as her Guardian reviewer stated. (...)" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pola_Oloixarac
Jorge Espinha
My 16 year old nephew is reading American Psycho with zero influence from my behalf. There's hope.
N.M. Janice.
What is in bad faith?
GellMon
More bad faith takes from predictably ‘anti-woke’ Bret. This is not the reason I started listening to this podcast.
R. M.
Ponied up the $19.99 to rent Tar after Bret’s review and so glad I did. Excellent filmmaking. Blanchett is amazing. Typically I wouldn’t pay that much to stream a film but it’s excellent and we need to support films like this or they will disappear.
Lundon Boyd
Tarr felt like someone saw michael haneke films for the first time
Thomas Davidson
Lydia is stealing Sharon's pills; in the earlier scene in the car in in the US Lydia asks if there are any of Sharon's pills left. When she gets home Sharon says that she has been having heart trouble and doesn't have any of her pills left (because Lydia has taken them); so Lydia then sneakily pretends to find one pill "loose in the drawer". I thought these early scenes were great because they so clearly communicate so much of Lydia's character and the current state of her family situation. Todd Field pulls you in and reveals the characters and the world (and sets up the 'secret histories' as you say) and then once you know them; he sets the main plot in motion. Terrific, classic stuff.
MR ADAM SMITH
hellyeah the run gu
E
The run guy?
MR ADAM SMITH
Wrong. The new Terrence Malick movies are the best. For reference: https://richardowainroberts.substack.com/p/terrence-malick
Adam Dugger
Has Bret ever mentioned if he watched Better Call Saul? I thought the final season was phenomenal. Rhea Seehorn’s performance as Kim deserves more recognition than an Emmy’s snub.
Chris De Burgha
Jack Nicholson needed a bit more hespect on his name in this one lol damn Jack is top of the food chain come on guys
BrienPiechos
Enjoyed Tar a lot, but take umbrage with the overarching message marrying an anti-woke stance to sexual predation. Is this the only reason he was allowed to make the film? It suggests that the only reason someone would eschew identity politics is because they hamper access to groups the individual push side of the power dynamic may want to cull from. Which suggests there's no legitimate, artistic or moral reasoning behind being anti-woke, which is of course not the case whatsoever. Also, man, is every single movie about Jews now or what?
Darren Ankenman
Mailer’s The Deer Park. Great nasty little Hollywood novel set in Palm Springs.
Patrick Crowley
Tár was definitely the best movie I saw in 2022, my only regret is that I didn’t see it again while it was in theaters.
Steven Carrier
Cate doesn’t play Brad’s mother in Benjamin Button hahaha that would have been a hysterical twist tho
Brian Rooney
AMC should create an exclusive app, just like Netflix or Criterion. A select group of new films. Charge $25 and the movie lasts a year. Features director commentary, behind the scenes, outtakes, just like an old DVD but it expires in a year. I recommend bailing on the theatrical experience. As someone who likes movies, I’ve seen zero because I gotta pay for useless streaming apps and patreons.
N.M. Janice.
Happy that Bret came around on Tar. I had the same experience. Took me two viewings to really appreciate it. I gotta disagree with Pauline on this one. Some of my favorite films of all time are films that I didn’t respond to on a first viewing.
Mike Ward
Love this Tár, was surprised Bret didn’t like it on first watch but glad he came around. Hope he does more movie reviews (All Beauty And The Bloodshed? Triangle Of Sadness? Babylon?)
OSOS
The movies reviews are one of the best parts of the podcast, whether new or old
Alexander Quattlander
Damnit now i gotta go see TAR afterall.
richard owain roberts
am going to listen on my run. will say more later, after my run.
Brad Turner
Love Yellowstone. Also, check out Tulsa King with Stallone. Very entertaining.
Patrick
I got that as an Xmas present too! Can’t wait to hit it!
Seneca Garcia
Spurred by the suggestion of this podcast, I got QT’s Cinema Speculation for genX-Mas and what can I say, it is a delight - like hanging out with Quentin, and a great supplement to BEE podcast and cheers
Normaling
Wow. Yellowstone sounds bonkers 😂
Gary Wood
1883 is not bad. Isabel May, who plays the main character, Elsa Dutton, is wonderful and is worth watching just for her character arc.
honker_2021
Movie review’s are “right in the pocket” for me on this podcast. Listening to this was thrilling, interesting, and made me think about Tar in new ways. And that’s what makes a movie great & reading a review great as well.
M. Nero Nava
Jack > Leo The Passenger, Carnal Knowledge, 5 Easy Pieces, Last Detail, etc. He had a deeper catalog at Leo’s phase of his career. Enjoyed the questions, and show. I also only liked Mailer’s first one.
PETER GREER
Love Yellowstone …. That house
bpvalentine
Interesting. I have, ahem, less than zero interest in Tar. It'd be quite an accomplishment if I come away from this episode w any kind of desire to see it. I think I remember Bret not being a fan of it before? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, time to listen. I'm tempted to say something about returning videotapes just to take the wind out of the sails of whoever usually says that every week. But... ah, it's Christmas! Or like Debnis Frans in Die Hard 2, "Christmahsssssss!"
