Saturday, January 20

Movie Review: Carol (2015)


Film Title: Carol
Length: 1 hr and 58 mins
Released: 2015
Genre: Drama, Romance
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Netflix


SUMMARY:
An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.







TRAILER:



Review:
I’ve been hearing about this movie all over the place…so I decided to give a shot. 
Well…it wasn’t movie of the year by any means. It was simply and barely okay. 

I enjoyed the complexity of the story and the characters. This wasn’t a simple movie where there is only one issue. These characters are in a time where man and woman marry and have kids and that is it. Women have more rights and are working now. Divorce is pretty much okay now, but it is something that is still a big, big decision to make. However, it is morally wrong to love someone of the same gender and it is so taboo.

Carol and Terry are two women from different sides of the social block and different parts of life. During the Christmas rush at the store, the two bump into each other and for some reason they are attracted to each other. Carol, who has been struggling with her sexuality since forever, immediately lusts after Terry. Terry is a complete naïve gal who just thinks Carol wants to be friends..at first, but there is something there in the back of her mind she doesn't understand. At the same time, both of them are dealing with the men in their lives. Carol with her husband that she is divorcing and Terry with her boyfriend that she wants to dump. Things happen. Lives are torn apart over this forbidden love. 

This all sounds so exciting. But it was so slow moving that it was exhausting at the beginning. Things heated up near the end when all that building finally blows, but it took forever to really get exciting.

Carol’s story was interesting and I felt so bad for her. She tried so hard to make it work with her hubbie for the sake of the kid, but you can’t force what isn’t there. The hubbie was a jerk for sure, but he was in love with her and just wanted that perfect life. 

Terry was boring. Maybe if this character had a little more flare and personality it wouldn’t have dragged the story down. What did Carol see in her????? So boring and so timid. The actress didn’t help. Her face was the same for all her expressions. She looked like a scared deer in the headlights throughout the movie. 

The ending was a little too open-ended for me. Okay…so? What does this mean? How will this impact custody? How will this impact Terry’s new job? I needed more answers. 

In the end, this was just okay. I enjoyed seeing the characters in a complex situation. Don’t expect a grand adventure littered with excitement. It was a quiet movie with a serious subject matter about love. I’ll stamp this with 2 stars.  






5 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

She lost the kids and was all alone. And yes that girl was so timid

Melliane said...

I heard about this one but I didn't watch it

Carole Rae said...

B, super timid and boring

Melliane, super popular but I think it is overrated.

Anachronist said...

I agree, it's overrated. A decent movie but nothing more.

Carole Rae said...

Ana, yes...just decent and barely that.