Review of Carol (2015) by Josiah M — 07 Feb 2016

While I didn't totally dislike Carol, I have yet to understand the rave reviews. When Carol finally says 'I love you' it is too little - too late. A script that took decades to finalize ends up being mostly empty with almost no emotional connection between the two women or thoughtful dialogue. Who was more emotionally manipulated by Carol - was it Therese or the audience? This movie has been hyped so much it's somewhat difficult to walk away after seeing it and wonder what the big deal is. Watching Carol emotionally destroy the people in her life is to say the least depressing and the ending was not a happy one.

After seducing Therese Carol didn't hesitate to contact her ex Abby to fix the mess all while Therese is overhearing the two phone conversations. After the intimacy in Waterloo, the movie just seemed to fall off a cliff. Hopefully, the DVD release will contain the deleted scenes that are needed to fill in the blanks. These points may be spoilers - but it's obvious Abby still carried a torch for Carol and shows disdain for Therese as she is jealous. There is also a hint of a sexual conquest contest between Carol and Abby that Therese is the exploited victim of. Therese's hairstyle resembled Carol's daughters to the point of having a creepy undertone. Dialogue such as 'things change' was just another example of a poorly written script.

The best make-up, costumes and attention to detail can't make up for a movie with no sincere passion, warmth or love between the two main characters. It was only longing and lust, which might be fine if it worked, but the film shouldn't be marketed as any type of inspirational love story. Why these two women never really talked about their backgrounds and how they came to be who they are is just left out.

Also, the movie should be called 'Therese' not 'Carol' - as the book is from the stream of consciousness of the young woman and no amount of re-writes can change the overwhelming feeling that Carol is not a nice person to say the least. The filmmakers decision to change a one person narrative to a two person narrative caused an uneven adaptation from book to movie.

Rooney Mara's acting was what made the move watchable. Cate Blanchett seemed campy and over the top, like she was on a one person stage. Also, the demotion of Mara to supporting actress is just so unfair. But since it's a production by Cate and her husband and the studio didn't want the two actresses in competition with each other the better acting by Rooney had to be disregarded. The Oscar nominations should be the other way around, this is Rooney's best work..