Review of Carol (2015) by Patrick L — 27 Mar 2016

"A strikingly beautiful film about a young woman who falls for a much older woman".

Movie Review: Carol.

Date Viewed: December 26 2015.

Directed By Todd Haynes (Far from Heaven and I'm Not There).

Screenplay By Phyllis Nagy, Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith.

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy, John Magaro, Cory Michael Smith, Kevin Crowley and Carrie Brownstein.

Oscar is definitely going to reel in this little gem. "Carol" is a strikingly beautiful film about a young woman who falls for another woman who is two decades older than her. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara give stellar and compelling performances in this lesbian love story. However when the relationship hits some roadblocks, the couple are forced to make difficult decisions.

Set in the early 1950s, we meet a young woman named Therese Belivet (Mara), she's an aspiring photographer as well as a department store clerk who meets a gorgeous older woman named Carol Aird (Blanchett). Both of them are dealing with difficult relationships, Carol is stuck in a failing marriage with her husband, Harge Aird (Kyle Chandler) and Therese is having a hard time with her boyfriend, Richard (Jake Lacy) because he wants her to go to France with him and hopes to get married there.

Soon, the two meet up again and they spark a romantic relationship. This news makes Harge uncomfortable and threatens to take her children away. Despite his threats, Carol decides to go on a road trip with Therese just to escape the drama. They travel to Waterloo, Iowa and stay in a motel room for the night where they reveal their true feelings to each other. With the divorce proceedings getting more ugly by the day, Carol will have a difficult choice to make, stay with Therese or go back home to fight for custody of her children.

With beautiful photography, lavishing costumes and two great performances, "Carol" is genuinely sad film from director Todd Haynes who also did "Far from Heaven" and "I'm Not There". Blanchett and Mara give strong Oscar-worthy performances here but Sarah Paulson is also really good as Carol's best friend.

Based on Patricia Highsmith's proclaimed novel "The Price of Salt", director Haynes is faithful to the source material and he doesn't throw any soft pitches. "Carol" is absolutely devastating and that's why it's such a powerful love story.