Watch Carol For Free

Really Surprised!

Overrated and overhyped

Instant Favorite.

A Brilliant Conflict

Espectacular, vale la pena verla, muy parecida a lejos del paraíso

Todd Haynes' 'Carol', like much of his output, paints a inch-perfect picture of life as it was the 1950s, at least for the middle and upper-middle classes, the sort of protrayal that emphasises the idea that the past is another country and they do things differently there. My gut reaction is to dislike this approach, to feel that a focus on aesthetic differences or behavioural norms hides the essential truth that underneath, we're the same as we always have been. But I can't help but praise 'Carol', a quietly mesmerising movie about two women who have a very socially-unacceptable affair. The acting is good, the score is excellent, but what's really brilliant is that the film works as a portrait of individuals, motivated by their own mixtures of desire and need. This is less a story about the right to be gay, per se, as one about the more general right just to be yourself; but it doesn't shy away from presenting the innate selfishness of asserting that right. I particularly liked the way Cate Blanchett's eponymous character, older and glamourous, initially appears to be calling all the shots, but in fact it's her mousy companion who turns out to have the firmer idea of what she really wants. A subtle and excellent movie.

Romance blossoms between a wealthy, middle aged woman and an open-minded younger woman in this lusciously filmed drama set during the 1950s. While both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are effective in their respective roles, the most interesting aspect of 'Carol' is the near ignorance of everyone else to the possibility of the pair being in love. More than half an hour passes before Blanchett's husband questions how Mara knows her and director Todd Haynes does wonders keeping the mutual attraction between the pair subtle. Much is communicated simply through looks and stares without the need for explicit romantic moments or obvious dialogue. This subdued approach in turns makes Blanchett's more emotional moments in the second half of the film more powerful as she comes against a "morality clause" in her impending divorce proceedings. Certain aspects of both female protagonists are left uncomfortably murky - most notably, the suggestion that Blanchett might have a history of seducing younger women. Both characters are generally well fleshed out though as they are torn between the hearts' desires and being what everyone else expects them to be. Carter Burwell provides an enchanting music score that perfectly complements the proceedings and the memorable final scene is a testament to the ability of images to convey more than words.

She's a privileged kid who got easy breaks... And although that's totally fine, unfortunately her performances don't match her opportunities. She's one of the most overrated actresses out there right now. She's too busy trying to be cool and "different" to be remotely human or relatable. Cold and robotic is how she consistently comes across.