A heartfelt addition to Todd Haynes' oeuvre, with strong performances by the dual leads of Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. I thought the use of period was a poignant way to set the right tone for what this movie attempts to accomplish, and I appreciated that this was a romance done with subtlety in an era of romance movies with no subtlety at all.
I see a lot of similarities between Carol, and one of my all time favorites, Brief Encounter. Both movies start with us seeing two people talking. We don't have any idea what's going on with them and what they're going through. We travel backwards in time to experience their forbidden love story until we go back to the first scene. Now that we are watching them more closely and from their perspective we know that seemingly ordinary moment at the beginning was a defining moment, charged with heavily repressed emotions for both people.
I don't know exactly what it is, but I think Carol lacks something that Brief Encounter had. Is it the chemistry between them or believability of their romance? In Carol, At the "full circle moment" I didn't even care about their affair anymore.
In 'Brief encounter', we start the film with the two main lovers having a quiet few moments to take their leave when it is all over, and their precious last goodby is interrupted and spoilt by the arrival of a loud intrusive woman. We then go into flashback to see what led to this situation, which will eventually bring us back to 'bookend' the film with a repeat of that event ..
In Carol we have the same thing .. even down to the gentle, touching squeeze of the shoulder.
Did anyone else notice this and wonder - deliberate homage, coincidence, or plain steal?
It's well known and accepted that 'Brief encounter' has a substantial cult gay following (the 'forbidden love' theme), so I Suspect deliberate in joke..
Any thoughts?
PS, sorry, I have just seen someone else had a similar idea months ago ..
Languishing in its pacing, slow even. There are good moments, very good performances. Like this review, it just seems a bit meandering and aimless. There is a vague motivation of attraction and love, but it is mostly tepid and dry. Nonetheless the sets are immaculate and Cate Blanchette carries the film to unexpected heights.
I watched this movie as a Mystery Film in the local theatre and I was very much pleased. I agree with mosts that the plot is boring and nothing happens basically in the runtime of whole movie, but I did like it. What made me like it even more was Rooney Mara's smile which was amazing. I have not seen her smiling like that in any other films I've seen. It was very surprising to realise that it's Mara playing the lead.. The smile reminded me of Alison Lohman or Audrey Tautou even. Can't really describe in words what I mean, but it was amazing.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 18
chryzsh
It's not sensationalized or forced, but it isn't very exciting eithernymusix
A heartfelt addition to Todd Haynes' oeuvre, with strong performances by the dual leads of Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. I thought the use of period was a poignant way to set the right tone for what this movie attempts to accomplish, and I appreciated that this was a romance done with subtlety in an era of romance movies with no subtlety at all.ermi
I see a lot of similarities between Carol, and one of my all time favorites, Brief Encounter. Both movies start with us seeing two people talking. We don't have any idea what's going on with them and what they're going through. We travel backwards in time to experience their forbidden love story until we go back to the first scene. Now that we are watching them more closely and from their perspective we know that seemingly ordinary moment at the beginning was a defining moment, charged with heavily repressed emotions for both people.I don't know exactly what it is, but I think Carol lacks something that Brief Encounter had. Is it the chemistry between them or believability of their romance? In Carol, At the "full circle moment" I didn't even care about their affair anymore.
few visible scars
Brief encounter connection?In 'Brief encounter', we start the film with the two main lovers having a quiet few moments to take their leave when it is all over, and their precious last goodby is interrupted and spoilt by the arrival of a loud intrusive woman. We then go into flashback to see what led to this situation, which will eventually bring us back to 'bookend' the film with a repeat of that event ..
In Carol we have the same thing .. even down to the gentle, touching squeeze of the shoulder.
Did anyone else notice this and wonder - deliberate homage, coincidence, or plain steal?
It's well known and accepted that 'Brief encounter' has a substantial cult gay following (the 'forbidden love' theme), so I Suspect deliberate in joke..
Any thoughts?
PS, sorry, I have just seen someone else had a similar idea months ago ..
psdantonio
Really, really good. (Seen it twice already in its month or so of release.)satisfythecrave
Perfection.frankqb
Languishing in its pacing, slow even. There are good moments, very good performances. Like this review, it just seems a bit meandering and aimless. There is a vague motivation of attraction and love, but it is mostly tepid and dry. Nonetheless the sets are immaculate and Cate Blanchette carries the film to unexpected heights.3 stars
jutuomin
I watched this movie as a Mystery Film in the local theatre and I was very much pleased. I agree with mosts that the plot is boring and nothing happens basically in the runtime of whole movie, but I did like it. What made me like it even more was Rooney Mara's smile which was amazing. I have not seen her smiling like that in any other films I've seen. It was very surprising to realise that it's Mara playing the lead.. The smile reminded me of Alison Lohman or Audrey Tautou even. Can't really describe in words what I mean, but it was amazing.harrison27
One of the great scores of the 2010s, as far as I'm concerned.God
exquisiteBarbieLover
Hello my beautiful girlfriends!elcid
Sweet chocolatecubesofspinach
It made me so happy.AyaChible
i felt like it was emotionless and boringTiago Costa
5 /5Showing items 1 – 15 of 18