When I saw this movie I knew it's considered one of the best of 2015, and among the favorites for many prestigious awards. The story seemed interesting, and so it was, but the film itself was rather boring.
Inspired by a 1950's novel by Patricia Highsmith, Carol portrays an eccentric lesbian love story between two much different women. One of them is the titular character, an elegant woman in her forties whom the experienced and brilliant Cate Blanchett portrays beautifully, especially her sentiments and passions. The other is Therese, a weak and introvert young woman portrayed by Rooney Mara. The two stars of the film play their parts fine, both individually and combined as there seems to be good chemistry between them.
However, I strongly believe that the analysis of the characters, both the two women and the others, is not as deep and touching as it could - and should- have been, and the inevitable result is that the viewer fails to identify themselves with anyone. You just sit and watch their adventures and misfortunes, but, other than a mere sympathy, you can't feel much about them, or even for them. Furthermore, both the relationship between the two main characters and their relationships with other people (Carol's family, Therese's boyfriend and few friends) are left unexpanded and unclear.
I know that the LGBT subject of the story is very subtle, and it was even more when Highsmith wrote the novel, and it's natural for a film depicting such a story to attract attention. If you have read other novels written by the same author (or watched the film adaptations), such as "Strangers on a Train" or "The Talented Mr. Ripley", it's nothing of the kind. And that's another fault of the film; while Highsmith's novels are based in suspense, this one fails to attract your interest and make you anxiously wait to see what happens.
In the end the result is a decent but mediocre film. Blanchett and Mara, especially the former, do their best but the screenplay is somewhat weak and unable to keep the viewer's attraction. If you can identify yourself with the characters and see "between the lines", if there's anything important there, you'll probably like it. Otherwise, there's not much too see.
6/10
Inspired by a 1950's novel by Patricia Highsmith, Carol portrays an eccentric lesbian love story between two much different women. One of them is the titular character, an elegant woman in her forties whom the experienced and brilliant Cate Blanchett portrays beautifully, especially her sentiments and passions. The other is Therese, a weak and introvert young woman portrayed by Rooney Mara. The two stars of the film play their parts fine, both individually and combined as there seems to be good chemistry between them.
However, I strongly believe that the analysis of the characters, both the two women and the others, is not as deep and touching as it could - and should- have been, and the inevitable result is that the viewer fails to identify themselves with anyone. You just sit and watch their adventures and misfortunes, but, other than a mere sympathy, you can't feel much about them, or even for them. Furthermore, both the relationship between the two main characters and their relationships with other people (Carol's family, Therese's boyfriend and few friends) are left unexpanded and unclear.
I know that the LGBT subject of the story is very subtle, and it was even more when Highsmith wrote the novel, and it's natural for a film depicting such a story to attract attention. If you have read other novels written by the same author (or watched the film adaptations), such as "Strangers on a Train" or "The Talented Mr. Ripley", it's nothing of the kind. And that's another fault of the film; while Highsmith's novels are based in suspense, this one fails to attract your interest and make you anxiously wait to see what happens.
In the end the result is a decent but mediocre film. Blanchett and Mara, especially the former, do their best but the screenplay is somewhat weak and unable to keep the viewer's attraction. If you can identify yourself with the characters and see "between the lines", if there's anything important there, you'll probably like it. Otherwise, there's not much too see.
6/10