"Carol" is one of the those rare gems in film. It's vibrant and honest, and welcomes the audience into a forbidden love. The lead actresses, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, are an absolute treat on the screen. Their chemistry is a slow burn and spends it's time in looks rather than words. It is no surprise that both women have been nominated for an Oscar. Mara also nabbed the title of Best Actress, awarded to her at the 68th Cannes Film Festival for her performance in this film.
The movie is adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel "The Price of Salt." The novel was first published under the pen name, "Claire Morgan" in 1952. The novel itself does the unthinkable, and gives the characters an assumable happy ending which was something unheard in that day.
Truly, my only honest complaint about the movie is that it has been released in select cities. I have been praying that Lake Charles would be one of those select cities since late November. Of course, no such luck. However, recently The Grand Theatre in Lafayette has become one of these cites. Without much delay, I hightailed it to Laffy on Saturday to finally watch it. You can click here to find showtimes in your area.
[Mild Spoilers Ahead] Stop now or forever hold your peace.
Like I said the only true complaint I have is the select cities, but I do unfortunately have a small annoyance with Rooney Mara's character Therese Belivet's passion with photography. Therese seems to hone her skills in the art throughout the film, but I'm not the biggest fan of the scenes dedicated to this. I understand it's purpose in the film which is to give Therese a way to create a career for herself. The scenes feel a little forced in nature, and sometimes jarring to the progression of the plot. The way Cate Blanchett's character Carol Aird reacts to Therese budding photography skill is offputting on occasion. It's really such a small annoyance because I do believe it is essential to the plot. Also, so little time is really spent on this element that it doesn't affect the movie or my overall opinion of the film.
Now, let's get into the visual aspect of this film. It's a period drama set in the 1950's, and is excellent in creating the setting. "Carol" is simply a delight to look at. The warm tones and meticulous eye to detail greatly enhance the experience. I enjoyed the small snippets to different items in the scenes. It anchors the story in the time period and allows for a natural curiosity. It lets the audience get to know the scene before they're thrust back into the plot.
There is hidden star in the movie. I absolutely adored her and relished when she graced the screen. I have to admit I have been a fan of Sarah Paulson since season 2 of "American Horror Story", and her romance with Holland Taylor is nothing short of interesting. Paulson's character, Abby Gerhard holds her own in every scene and plays a childhood friend, turned lover, turned ex-lover, turned friend of Carol. Oh and Abby is dubbed Carol's child Rindy's godmother too. Her character fulfills several roles, but she also serves as the voice of reason in the film. On several occasions, Abby is the one to ask the hard questions and is a loyal friend to Carol. She has a stellar scene with Carol's husband where she really sticks it to him.
The center focus of the film is the romance between Carol and Therese. The movie captures the universal experience in a love worth pursuing. It's elegant in the touches and the lingering of the eyes. There is a beautifully orchestrated scene where two different people's hands linger on Therese's shoulder. The detail within this film is what makes it. It is hard to put into words the rapidness, the fury, and the anticipation of love, but the director, screenwriter, and the actresses in "Carol" are superb in capturing the reality of these feelings without words.
