Review of Carol (2015) by Richard H — 10 Dec 2015

I'm really enamored by Carol, the first film I've ever seen from top-notch Director Todd Haynes. There's simplicity to it. A boldness and a bravado that comes to any project that's so..

. fully what it is. This is an exceptionally well crafted film, and so much so that I don't think you'll see another one like it for a while, at least not in this genre. (Which for me is a love story).

And this is a FULLY. BLOWN. LOVE STORY. I mean besides our two beautiful starlettes, there's only but a few other characters we come to feel for. So it's a pretty fascinating and big deal for me, that the story is so entrancing.

The performances are at center stage here, and these two women deliver. Cate Blanchett, who I've never actually seen in a full-length feature before- is just SO, so much as the character in this. I was completely pulled in by her, and her performance alone is just about half the reason you might believe that it's the 1950's- THAT and a spectacular set and costume designer combing through every single detail.

Rooney Mara as you may not have seen her, a complete Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, she's a very curious (pardon the expression) and rosy nosed creature, and to watch her as she's slowly swept away by events, you can't help but feel everything she's feeling and to go along with her.

Todd Haynes must be a wonderful guy, because he captures Mara at some of her most vulnerable and heartbreaking moments as perfectly and as picturesquely can be. The aesthetic, and the cinematography, it's just gorgeous.

And there's a poetic nature to the camera work that adds layers upon layers to the story telling. The performances, as I mentioned before are... unique, and subtle, and NOTHING is there to jump out at you.

You absolutely HAVE to lean forward, you HAVE to put two and two together, and try and work out what the characters are feeling. If it takes an audience member a while to get invested, uhh, it's only because y'know, it's not even trying to convince you of anything.

It's simply setting the stage and watching, very closely, how two people fall in love. 6 stars. <3.