Review of Carol (2015) by Chimovski — 30 Nov 2015

I really can't understand the hyperbolic praise for this film. It's really beautifully made and on the whole is well performed, but there is a fundamental flaw…there is no chemistry between the two leads. I didn't buy into the relationship at all, it felt unrealistic and the film failed to fully show any real spark of romance.

I applaud the idea to feature a lesbian romantic story and the most interest for me lay in the forbidden nature of that kind of relationship in that period. Its period detail did seem to drip off the screen and it has some really well crafted scenes, I especially liked the last scene.

But, for me, because the relationship lacked chemistry I found myself left cold, even bored at times hence why I started noticing the period detail rather than being lost in the romantic story. I wasn't the only one to think this, my girlfriend felt the same as did some others who were in the cinema I overheard as we left. I think Rooney Mara wasn't the best cast here and I think if I had to blame anyone I'd blame her, she just failed to sparkle.