Carol (2015)

An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.

Director:

Todd Haynes

Writers:

Phyllis Nagy (screenplay), Patricia Highsmith (novel)

Stars:

Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 76 wins & 239 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cate Blanchett	...	Carol Aird
Rooney Mara	...	Therese Belivet
Kyle Chandler	...	Harge Aird
Sarah Paulson	...	Abby Gerhard
Jake Lacy	...	Richard Semco
John Magaro	...	Dannie McElroy
Cory Michael Smith	...	Tommy Tucker
Kevin Crowley	...	Fred Haymes
Nik Pajic	...	Phil McElroy
Carrie Brownstein	...	Genevieve Cantrell
Trent Rowland	...	Jack Taft
Sadie Heim	...	Rindy Aird
Kk Heim	...	Rindy Aird (as Kennedy Heim)
Amy Warner	...	Jennifer Aird
Michael Haney	...	John Aird

Storyline

In an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) come to light.

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | lesbian romance | road trip | child custody | waterloo iowa | 

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Taglines:

Some people change your life forever

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sexuality/nudity and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Price of Salt

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$253,510, 22 November 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$12,711,491, 31 March 2016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$40,272,135, 1 May 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Weinstein Company, Film4, Number 9 Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The three boys that run up to the model train set display in Frankenberg's toy department after Carol has walked away from it are Dashiell, Roman and Ignatius Upton, the sons of Cate Blanchett and husband Andrew Upton.

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Goofs

When Carol and Therese are driving into the tunnel, Carol turns on the radio. This would have been impossible -- in those days radios were AM, and the signal wouldn't have carried. Back before FM was common, AM signals could cut out briefly even just driving under an overpass.

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Quotes

Carol Aird: You miss Richard?
Therese Belivet: No. I haven't thought about him all day. Or of home, really.

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Connections

Featured in Film '72: Episode #44.11 (2015)

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Soundtracks

That's the Chance You Take
Performed by Eddie Fisher
Composed by Sidney Lippman/Sylvia Dee
Published by Chester Music Limited Trading Campbell Connelly & Company
Published by Edward Profit Music
Courtesy of Music Sales Creative
www.retrospective-records.co.uk
Master recording courtesy of Retrospective Recordings

User Reviews

A Fine Film That Needs More Character

'Carol' is a fine film. The juxtaposition of the lavish costumes and production design with the grainy look of 16mm film sells the film's old-fashioned aesthetic. It is a well-shot film that is pleasant to look at. All of the individual performances are pretty good.

The best part of the film is the opening sequence. The credits play over a continuing shot of fifties New York accompanied by Carter Burwell's fantastic piece 'Opening'. This shot brings us to a scene in a restaurant. This is a flash-forward that we revisit later on in the film. Our first sight of the main couple occurs when a man at the bar looks around the restaurant and spots them at a table. In this shot, Therese (Rooney Mara) and Carol (Cate Blanchett) are sitting at a table. Therese is sat facing away from the camera and towards Carol, who we can see clearly. My immediate reaction to this sight was "Wow, Cate Blanchett genuinely looks like she's in love." It felt real.

Unfortunately, I didn't get this feeling from the rest of the film. I couldn't feel any chemistry between Therese and Carol. Mara and Blanchett do their best with what they are given, but they aren't given enough. Their characters don't feel fleshed out. I didn't feel like I knew them as people by the end. The film's technical achievements can only lift a film so high. If you love this film then I'm glad, but I can't love it when I couldn't grow attached to the characters. This is especially a problem as this feels like a film driven more by character than by story.

Despite what I have said, this film didn't bore me. Mara and Blanchett are both engaging actresses who command your attention even if they aren't given enough to work with. The film is on the slow side but it goes at the right pace for what director Todd Haynes and screenwriter Phyllis Nagy were going for. Overall, it was an interesting experience that felt a bit empty.

You can see more reviews at http://letterboxd.com/lloyd_morgan/films/reviews/