With nine BAFTA & six Academy Awards nominations yet on both occasions “Carol” coming away empty handed, the critical acclaim for this majestic motion picture speaks its own volumes and now with the DVD release, we get to watch & enjoy this simply stunning screenplay over & over again while also reviewing what was our Film of 2015.
There can be no doubt that 2015 was an incredible year for film, some truly towering blockbusters hitting the silver screen and while many will cite movies such as “Mad Max – Fury Road”, “Star Wars – the Force Awakens”, “Spotlight” and “The Reverent” as the cream of the crop, there were plenty more that flew a little lower in the radar that impressed us munch more, “A Most Violent Year” creeping into 2015 as it was January when it hit our cinema London. However, it was March’s marvel, the magnificent “Love Is Strange” which simply swept us off our feet and was destined to clasp our Film of The Year crown, having usurped the captivating “Cake” which we saw on the silver screen just a few weeks previously nursing the mother of all hangovers yet is one we have watched on DVD over & over again. Then there was another one from this fabulous year of film that was knocking on the best of 2015 door, “45 Years” never destined to be a Hollywood darling, although was 
recognised in the BAFTA’s and has, along with the others made the race for that coveted crown very close indeed. But when the cinematographic colossus that was “Carol” careered into the cinema in November, the competition was pretty much over there and then, as we were simply blown away by its brilliance, phenomenal performances from leads Cate Blanchett & Rooney Mara along with marvellous make-up, captivating costuming, and a stunning storyline amidst a timeframe that captures Christmas & a heart wrenching romance in 1950’s America amazingly. So it went without saying that “Carol” would become our Film of 2015, although it is only now we get the chance to review this stunning screenplay following the DVD release today.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH3zcuRQXNo[/youtube]
To the plot first and the story surrounds two characters, Carol Aird (portrayed by Cate Blanchett) and Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) whose chance meet over the toy counter at Manhattan department store, Frankenberg’s, develops into firstly a friendship but then into more, Carol’s strained marriage well & truly hitting the rocks, save for the indelible connection, a daughter whose part of the plot is played by the Christmas present purchase Carol makes on Therese’s recommendation. With a history of extra martial affairs with women, Carol’s husband becomes very suspicious when she invites Therese over for Christmas following having engaged emotionally over a thank you lunch following the return of Carol’s gloves which she “accidentally” left behind in the store. With her strained separation come divorce from husband Harge (played by Kyle Chandler) edging Carol to engage further with Therese, she herself having fallen out with boyfriend Richard (Jake Lacy) who was 
hoping to emigrate to France with her, exacerbates the emotional ties building between her & Carol, made even more complicated by a camera Christmas present which really tugged the heartstrings of the budding photographer come journalist in Therese. With a car trip away into the American heartland between Christmas & New Year affirming their feelings for each other, Carol & Therese finally made love only for the whole encounter to be recorded & spied upon by a private detective, employed by Harge, in an attempt to tarnish Carol’s reputation as a responsible mother, in order to gain full legal custody of their daughter. And it is this that dominates the final part of this moving motion picture, the struggle over custody forcing a wedge between Carol & Therese, although the inevitable reunion looks on the cards when a letter brings them back together for a chance meeting over tea, although the cliffhanging end keeps you waiting right to the final few frames of the film leaving you wondering & hoping that Carol’s offer for Therese to move in with her comes to fruition.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOLnK2zlUII[/youtube]
In what has been described as her best performance in a movie to date, Cate Blanchett is simply stunning in the screenplay, her every move measured, her every utterance incredible, the direction from Todd Haynes also worth critical credit as it is clear his influence on his lead & support actors is immense. A far cry from the sci-fi & action films that hit the circuit all around it, “Carol” is a romantic drama that takes your breath away at every turn, the cinematography so clever in so many ways, while the costumes & props befit the period perfectly. Indeed, unlike many films developed from books “Carol” which was inspired by the ground-breaking novel “The Price Of Salt” written by Phyllis Nagy, does the book every bit of justice and more, the novelists involvement in most aspects of the screenplay script aiding the process superbly, the ten minute standing ovation when “Carol as first screen at The Cannes Film Festival evidence of its rapturous reception. And with review ratings up 
in the high 90’s percentile virtually across the board, everyone involved with this magnificent motion picture must feel a little robbed that it failed to scoop a single BAFTA or OSCAR, while we are in no doubt it deserved to, Blanchett streets ahead or Brie Larson who won out at both for her role in “Room”. However, with the DVD release comes the opportunity for us to immerse in the outstanding opulence of “Carol”, soaking up the phenomenal performances over & over again, it destined to become one of our most played discs yet, the soundtrack also adding spectacular substance to this simply stunning screenplay that has every chance of becoming our favourite film of the modern 21st century era. (DISCO MATT)