What is the nature of love? If you strip it of our ingrained, fetishized, idealized notions that religion, society, our own upbringing, (good or bad) with all of the Hallmark card sentiment, absent class, race, identity politics, and aggrandizing alphabetical branding, isn't love just two people who meet, and know they want to be together, sometimes in utter disregard of what everyone else thinks?
If you're looking for some sort of lurid, sensational, over the top depiction of a lesbian romance, this ISN'T your movie. Actually, you could make the protagonists in Carol a mixed race couple in the 50's, or two people from "different sides of the tracks", or different cultural backgrounds, and it would still be a compelling story. But, the fact that these two people fall (HARD) for each other in a time that was SO repressed that there wasn't even the faintest notion that this was a legitimate possibility, and, in Rooney Mara's characters case, not even really having the vocabulary to express what she was feeling, but just knowing she was indeed feeling it, makes for a compelling watch.
...And then of course there is Cate Blanchett..., that normally would be "nuff said", but, here, she is in full Grace Kelly mode, exuding an elegance and style, yet, with an undertone of ferocity that almost gives one pause. It is understandable why both men and women could fall for her. She and Rooney are a marvel to watch, even in their stillest moments. They can do more with a a tilt of the head, a smile, or a tremble, than many actors could with an entire page of dialog.
Sara Paulson is steadying force for both characters, and adds a lot with the few scenes she has, as does Kyle Chandler as the soon to be ex husband, still in love, but having to come to grips with a wife that it turns out, is "that sort of woman". And there's no one to help him with that.
Gorgeously shot on super 16 film stock to give it a period grittiness, with sets and costumes that add to the production without making it a kitschy "period piece", Carol is a story about love lost, love found, and love rediscovered, no politics necessary.
Review by Paladin5150BlockedParent2019-01-15T08:27:51Z
What is the nature of love? If you strip it of our ingrained, fetishized, idealized notions that religion, society, our own upbringing, (good or bad) with all of the Hallmark card sentiment, absent class, race, identity politics, and aggrandizing alphabetical branding, isn't love just two people who meet, and know they want to be together, sometimes in utter disregard of what everyone else thinks?
If you're looking for some sort of lurid, sensational, over the top depiction of a lesbian romance, this ISN'T your movie. Actually, you could make the protagonists in Carol a mixed race couple in the 50's, or two people from "different sides of the tracks", or different cultural backgrounds, and it would still be a compelling story. But, the fact that these two people fall (HARD) for each other in a time that was SO repressed that there wasn't even the faintest notion that this was a legitimate possibility, and, in Rooney Mara's characters case, not even really having the vocabulary to express what she was feeling, but just knowing she was indeed feeling it, makes for a compelling watch.
...And then of course there is Cate Blanchett..., that normally would be "nuff said", but, here, she is in full Grace Kelly mode, exuding an elegance and style, yet, with an undertone of ferocity that almost gives one pause. It is understandable why both men and women could fall for her. She and Rooney are a marvel to watch, even in their stillest moments. They can do more with a a tilt of the head, a smile, or a tremble, than many actors could with an entire page of dialog.
Sara Paulson is steadying force for both characters, and adds a lot with the few scenes she has, as does Kyle Chandler as the soon to be ex husband, still in love, but having to come to grips with a wife that it turns out, is "that sort of woman". And there's no one to help him with that.
Gorgeously shot on super 16 film stock to give it a period grittiness, with sets and costumes that add to the production without making it a kitschy "period piece", Carol is a story about love lost, love found, and love rediscovered, no politics necessary.