Carol

This is the hardest review I've ever had to write. It's very difficult to put how I felt about Carol into words. There was so much I liked, but so much I disliked. Well, let's just get through this review step-by-step.

The acting is the best part of Carol. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara both give Oscar-worthy performances. Mara is very calm and subdued, unlike many characters she has played in the past. This really shows her wide range as an actress. She's also a very likeable character. Cate Blanchett gives yet another emotionally driven performances as the mysterious Carol. This might be one of my favourite performances of hers.

The directing and cinematography of Carol is incredible. There were many beautiful shots and it created a very interesting tone. I also ADORED the musical score by Carter Burwell. Definitely one of the best of the year.

My main issues with Carol lied in the storytelling. I just wasn't invested in any of the characters or situations. There's barely any plot. I understand that the film relied on other ways to tell the story, but it just didn't work for me. I was waiting for something interesting to happen throughout the entire film, and it just never got very interesting. The pace is also painfully slow. It wasn't very boring, but the pace was just too slow for me to enjoy myself.

Carol's writing isn't as good as I hoped for either. Some lines were very effective and beautifully written, but others seemed misplaced and just bizarre. I was also rarely invested in the conversations between characters.

Overall, Carol is very difficult film to form an opinion on. It has many admirable things about it such as the musical score, gorgeous direction and superb acting, but I found myself struggling to be invested in the plot or characters. It's worth seeing if you're curious.

RATING: 6.75/10.