Director: Todd Haynes
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Kyle Chandler
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors have made movies audiences treasure like Kyle Chandler. Ever since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Chandler has become a beloved icon in the film industry. Whether it is police officers, frustrated fathers or dedicated FBI investigators, Chandler has played several strong characters. Arguably, Chandler’s finest strength as an actor is his commitment toward his craft. He is one of those rare actors which has always pourers his heart and soul in each and every role. Chandler has rarely ever been afraid of taking a risk in his career portraying characters that aren’t always likeable. He has always had an aptitude for stealing the show in a supporting role. Even in roles where he’s not given much screen time, Chandler always stands out as the best part of the movie. An actor with powerful commitment towards his craft, Chandler has become a celebrated icon in entertainment. Through his abilities to craft commemroated characters that audiences can easily relate to, Chandler has become an actor that audiences value. Throughout a powerful career, Chandler has made many unforgettable movies that are worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Chandler and adore all the movies he has made in his career. However, “Carol” is definitely my favourite. Released in 2015, Todd Haynes’ movie offered a powerful portrait of a doomed lesbian romance. Packed with breathtaking production design, strong storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s one of the best LGBTQ movies ever made. At the centre of it all is a terrific performance from Kyle Chandler, who portrays a husband unaware that his wife is having a lesbian affair. Ultimately, what makes “Carol” a masterpiece is universal appeal. Unlike most LGBTQ films, it tackles strong themes everyone will definitely relate to. It delivers a profound message about sexual identity which would resonate among everyone. A mesmerizing masterpiece about lesbian lovers, there are many strong reasons why “Carol” is a movie that is definitely worth seeing.
Set in 1950’s New York, “Carol” tells the story of a doomed love affair between lovers facing despair. Rooney Mara portrays Therese, a shy department store clerk that has huge dreams of success. Therese has always struggled to find intimate connections with people due to her withdrawn personality. However, Therese’s life forever changes when she falls in love with an older married woman that causes disaster. Carol (Cate Blanchett) is an enigmatic woman with a mysterious allure. Despite the dangers of a time period when lesbian relationships are forbidden, the two women instantly fall in love. Therese takes immediate liking towards Carol, finding that the two share similarities. Arrival of Carol’s husband Harge (Kyle Chandler) in the picture complicates matters. Faced with a big dilemma, Therese questions whether she will ever be able to find love in a homophobic era. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Therese begins to wonder whether she will be able to find a lover.
Todd Haynes is a newcomer toward the theme of lesbian romance. Before he directed “Carol”, Haynes has never made a movie about lesbian lovers. Haynes achieved fame for making films about the lives of conflicted housewives which experience depression. With “Carol”, however, the filmmaker directed his first lesbian drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the barriers faced by lesbian lovers during the 1950’s, but he succeeds tremendously. Using captivating cinematography, Haynes captures lesbian lovers that form a strong bond during the 1950’s. Haynes effectively uses close ups to capture the strong bonds between a pair of lesbian lovers. For instance, close ups elevate the restaurant conversation scene. During this unforgettable scene, Therese and Carol have an intimate conversation in a restaurant. One appreciates close ups capturing the powerful bonds between lesbian lovers. Close ups are complicated techniques to employ in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” had suggested, close ups elevate classic horror movies about sharks. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through engaging visuals, Haynes captures the hardship lesbian lovers during the 1950’s are facing.
Another astonishing aspect of “Carol” which is worth praising is the production design. From a technical perspective, the movie is well made. Haynes effectively uses production design to capture the lives of lovers that face a decline. Throughout the movie, Haynes effectively uses costumes to create a strong lesbian romance. Therese’s costumes showcase her personality changing as she falls in love with Carol. At the start of the film, Therese’s dresses are a dull colour without any brightness. However, after she meets Carol her dresses become brighter with greater texture. For instance, costumes elevate the photo scene. During this heartfelt scene, Therese snaps photos of Carol during a joyous vacation day that they spend together. Through stunning costumes, Haynes creates a powerful lesbian character that audiences can relate to. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Carter Burwell’s commemorated music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that queer women bear. Through phenomenal production design, Haynes captures hardships of lesbian lovers which experience a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Carol” is a strong lesbian romance which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and successfully uses silence to capture the hardships faced by lesbian lovers. Haynes’ screenwriting strength is his abilities to use silence to capture the experience of lesbian lovers. Throughout the movie, Haynes uses silence to capture the tension experienced by lesbian lovers. For instance, silence elevates the farewell scene. During this unforgettable scene, Therese says emotional farewells to Carol causing despair. One admires silences capturing the tensions that a pair of lesbian lovers are facing. Silence is a tough technique to use in movies. As John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” suggested, sequences of silence often elevate horror movies about the apocalypse. Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” claimed silence elevates movies about the Holocaust. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a stellar screenplay, Haynes captures the lives of lesbian lovers which face a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Kyle Chandler delivers one of his best career performances as Harge. Chandler achieved recognition for playing frustrated fathers that struggle to raise gifted children. With “Carol”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray an anxiety-ridden husband whose wife is having a lesbian romantic affair but Chandler succeeds expertly. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charming and emotional in his most unforgettable role. With riveting expressions, he captures angst, grief and frustrations of a destructive man trapped in a broken marriage with a lesbian woman that causes disaster. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors which is working today.
Rooney Mara is riveting as a lesbian woman falling in love in a doomed relationship which causes a dilemma. Mara has always had the aptitude for playing emotional women under stress, and “Carol” showcased her strengths as an actress. As Therese, Mara successfully uses her body language to capture a lesbian woman facing trauma. Whether she’s flirting with Carol on their first meeting together or discovering the consequences of engaging in a lesbian romance, Mara uses her subtle body language to create a queer woman which is compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most talented actresses that‘s working today.
Cate Blanchett is brilliant as a queer woman engaging in a lesbian romance causing her marriage to deteriorate. Blanchett is one of those actresses that has often had a flair for conveying strong emotions by expressions, and “Carol” exhibited her strengths as an actress. It’s a role that gave the actress the chance to showcase her talent for playing powerful feminist characters with success. Whether she’s developing a close bond with Therese or struggling to cope with a broken marriage, Blanchett uses her expressions to create a queer woman that’s compelling. It’s a fantastic performance from one of the most celebrated actresses that’s currently working in Hollywood today.
Finally, “Carol” will achieve the appreciation of everyone for capturing lesbian women facing a struggle. Unlike most LGBTQ movies, it covers strong themes which everyone would relate to. It discusses powerful themes including identity, marriage and sexual identity that will resonate among everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be members of the LGBTQ community to enjoy it. It delivers a meaningful message about sexual identity that would resonate among everyone. Therefore, “Carol” is one of those rare LGBTQ movies everyone will adore.
Fans of LGBTQ dramas would enjoy “Carol” and so will movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece about lesbian lovers, it honours an actor that has built a legacy that’s iconic.
Nearly a decade following the release of a groundbreaking LGBTQ movie capturing the relationships between queer women experiencing a doomed lesbian romantic affair causing despair, it’s a riveting reminder of an underrated actor that has built an illustrious career through his abilities to portray compelling characters with larger-than-life personalities in rare movies about which audiences have grown to deeply care.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 