Review of Carol (1990) by Alex G — 05 Feb 2016

With perfect performances by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol manages to capture an unconventional love story, along with an unusual mixture of complications that include age difference, sexual orientation in the 50's, and divorce.

Director Todd Haynes balances every aspect of this movie beautifully. Haynes treats the relationship between the main actresses as what it is, a love relationship. Just like any love relationships between other couples, no matter sexual orientation (Note I have not used the words 'gay' or 'lesbian'). The true problems of the movie arise due to the time period and society's views at the time which provide a unique twist than most love stories out there.

Actresses Cate Blanchett and Ronney Mara are simply superb and achieve the portrayal of this complicated relationship. Cate Blanchett acts with the elegance, self-confidence, and poise expected from a middle aged wife of a successful man. Ronney Mara, who is also my favorite in this movie, acts as a shy, but intense and intelligent young woman who starts to explore her sexuality. They are completely different characters that somehow manage to complement each other along the way. In addition, the cinematography that follows the amazingly convincing actresses closely, is just as helpful in capturing and giving us a better understanding of every scene, feeling, and emotion.

Even though Carol, like many other romance movies, can be quite dramatic and slow at times, it won't let you forget the terms and issues the relationship is constantly overcoming. The fact that you are left thinking about the issues the protagonists had to overcome even after the movie and their relevance in today's society, makes Carol, without doubt, more than just a love story.