During the 1952 Christmas holidays, an upper class housewife (Cate Blanchett) whose marriage has run its course meets a younger shopgirl (Rooney Mara) and the two embark on an inexplicable love affair. Carol is absorbing workmanlike filmmaking from Todd Haynes, working from Phyllis Nagy's adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith novel, which could be viewed as a companion piece to his Far from Heaven and even Mildred Pierce at that, and continues to remain deeply engrossing even when material sinks to triteness or over simplicity. Rooney is extraordinary, nuanced and powerfully quiet, although Blanchett gives another affected (and yes occasionally moving) performance which has already garnered her a lot of acclaim. Kyle Chandler is strong in support playing her frustrated husband.
*** 1/2 out of ****
