Carol

Set in the early 1950s, Director Todd Haynes’ slow-moving Carol is the story of a young woman (Rooney Mara) and an older, married woman (Cate Blanchett), who falls in love with each other.

 

Blanchett’s character is the gay version of the woman she played in Blue Jasmine and, though her performance is excellent, I am surprised she opted for a role that was, in most respects, so similar.

 

The standout performance, here, is Rooney Mara’s as the inexperienced department store worker, who steps into her own power as a woman in both her career and her love life.

The problem with the film is due either to Patricia Highsmith’s novel or Phyllis Nagy’s screenplay or Laura Rosenthal’s casting, since the men in the lives of the women (Jake Lacy and Lyle Chandler) are such walking dildos that even the staunchest anti-gay advocate would have to give these ladies a pass and bless their union.  The “issue” becomes no issue and it is surprising that Haynes takes so long to bring it to fruition.

I give Carol a 3.8 out of 5, but both Blanchett and Mara get 4 out 5 for their performances.