CAROL

[Note: During this week leading up to the SAG Awards, I’ve been reviewing a quartet of the top films of the year. (So, if you missed the previous three, you can always check the main page for them.) Any of the important ones that I don’t get to this week, I’ll review the week before the Oscars. And please don’t miss my critique of the best film of the year, by far, The Revenant, which you can still read here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/movie-review-the-revenant.]

While I was watching Carol, I thought I was semi-bored, but this is the only one besides The Revenant so far that has stayed with me. I even researched it after. I can’t believe that that’s what lesbians had to go through back then! I guess I could have figured it, but I’m so used to these open days that I forgot their struggle.

The name of the original book the story is from is The Price of Salt. I think that would have been a more effective title for the film, as well, although I have no idea what it means. (If you do, please share it in the Comments section below.) To me, “Carol” just sounds like it would be a dumb comedy. One where every time the main character would do something kooky, the other cast members would exasperatedly utter the catchphrase of the film, “Oh, Carol!” Just sayin’.

The movie is good, but I really couldn’t understand what was going on most of the time. I need much more dialogue; I’ve never been great at reading between the lines, especially of love stories.

But, visually, Carol is a stunning film. It’s set in 1951, and the colors, sets, fashions, and all set appointments are just magnificent. Watching it, I could somewhat feel what the world looked like in those days. It reminded me of some of the photos in my parents’ cherished photo albums.

Actually every optical nuance is perfection, down to the women’s jewelry and make-up. It seems that every tiny touch was given much thought. The cinematography was gorgeous, as well. Kudos to the entire production team for all of that.

As for the acting, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, (the actress with the best name in Hollywood,) did admirable jobs.

Cate is great, but it’s funny– when it was over, I asked Mr. X, “Doesn’t she always look like she’s playing gay?” She’s so convincing that, if she weren’t married with children in real life, (which I know doesn’t always indicate a person’s true sexuality,) I’d think she is a lesbian. (I read, in a few places, actually, that she said that she’s had many sexual encounters with other women, so that may count. I really don’t know how that stuff goes.)

And I also don’t how these straight actresses can do same-sex love scenes. I was once offered the role of a girl who had had a lesbian relationship in college, and even though it was going to be portrayed as having happened a few years before the story of this film begins, I had to turn it down. I’m not that good of an actress. I could play a killer more easily than I could a lesbian! (Not that I’m a killer, either, of course, but at least I wouldn’t have to kiss a girl.) (Come to think of it, I couldn’t play a love scene with a male I’m not attracted to, either! And that’s a very long list. I’d have no problem if it was Hugh Jackman or Simon Baker, though. They may not be happy, but I sure would be!)

Rooney Mara.

Jean Simmons.

Jean Seberg.

Gene Tierney.

Anyway, let’s get back to Carol. The entire time, I was struck by how much Rooney Mara looks like Jean Simmons, doesn’t she? Or Jean Seberg. Or Gene Tierney. Okay, so one of the “Gene/Jeans.” (And Gene Tierney is my favorite actress of all time, so that’s saying a lot, coming from me.) She has that old school face, eyes, voice, and delivery. I love old movies, so that performance was lovely to see. (Someone should write a movie about one of them, especially Jean Simmons, of whom Rooney is actually the image, just so she could play her! And remember, this e-zine is copyrighted, so you’d have to give me “Created By” credit. Yay!)

So, that’s it. This one is worth seeing. And if you think this old-timey love story is painful, stay away from Beasts of No Nation and 99 Homes. I could barely sit through those two because of the emotional scars those stories were leaving on me! [Note: If I can bare it, those will be two of the films I review the week before the Oscars.]

As of now, I’m planning on live-tweeting the SAG Awards tomorrow night, (including the arrivals, of course!) I’m not promising this time, but that is the plan. So, if you don’t already follow me, @MajorCelebrity, now might be the time to do so. I’m sure there will be be some juicy dish to discuss.