"CAROL" IS HERE !
Friday, November 20, 2015 at 11:40PM 
This weekend is an important one for a myriad of reasons: Quality Best Picture candidates Brooklyn and Spotlight are expanding; The Hunger Games is wrapping up; two foreign Oscar submissions are arriving (Lithuania's lesbian romance Summer of Sangaille and France's must-see Mustang); the all star remake of the Oscar-winning Argentinian film The Secret in Their Eyes is upon us; People are prepping their Thanksgiving festivities. But all of those reasons pale in comparison to the big news:
Todd Haynes' exquisite 50s romantic drama Carol starring Cate Blanchett & Rooney Mara is now in theaters!
Sadly Carol is only on 4 screens which means many readers will have something of a wait to experience its glory. We'll hold off on going Carol-mad just yet though we're planning a whole Carol week (for real, DATES TBA) but we'll wait until more of you have seen it so we can get detailed.
But for now a little silly stanning to celebrate. You see, whilst I was in Los Angeles I was able to interview five key members of Carol's mega-talented team. As something of a goof about my own obsession but a goof that spiralled out of control and into actual reality I started each Carol interview with the same question and here are the actual answers...
NATHANIEL R: WHY ARE YOU SUCH A GENIUS?
Affonso Gonçalves, Editor: Sure. Let's start with that. [Laughter] I don't get called that - I'm going to tell my mom.
Judy Becker, Production Designer: Well, the question is 'why is Todd such a genius?' Todd is a genius.
Phyllis Nagy, Screenwriter: Practice. [Laughter]
Carter Burwell, Composer: Um... [long silence]
And we conclude with Sandy Powell the much lauded costume giant who has three Oscars to show for it... but curiously none from her Todd Haynes' collaborations.
NathanielR: I started this as a joke about my Carol obsession this morning but I've literally asked everyone why they're a genius today. So...
Sandy Powell: [Interrupting] You've asked every single person?
Nathaniel: Yes.
Sandy: Has anyone admitted to being a genius?
Nathaniel R: Phyllis.
Sandy: [LAUGHTER] I can say why everyone else is a genius but I don't think I can say why I am!
Full Carol interviews are coming. Stay tuned...
This is my fav outfit Cate wears as CAROL and also Sandy Powell’s favorite. (Our interview soon!) pic.twitter.com/BYm9HU7vYV
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) November 19, 2015
Reader Comments (17)
OMG, loving this already.
I see that The Second Mother's grade is still TBA. Might I suggest/demand an A/A-?
And a review/impressions of "the Second Mother" is necessary too. Knowing the strong fanbase this site has in Brazil!
Now we're talking! Slayed by everyone and they all look good for Oscar noms except the editor (R.I.P.). Carol is (slowly) upon us, Todd Haynes his power his influence his acclaim and yes genius!
Peaking at the right time,I don't see Cate being snubbed at all.
I've been trying sooo hard not to read anything about Carol until I see it.
Also today the documentary 'Drone' is opening in New York and Toronto. Perhaps you read the article in the Guardian by the courageous former drone operators who described the counterproductive nature of the program; most of the dead are not combatants.( They were on Democracy Now! today.) Also there was the leak of the 'Drone Papers' on the Intercept which confirmed the same thing.
Saw it last week at a festival - God knows when it's going to show up in the cinemas. I'll give Weinstein the benefit of the doubt with his release strategy if he manages to get nominations all around, but I never understood exactly why is it better box office wise to postpone the movie after all the publicity for it is gone. But what do I know?
How do you keep your composure doing things like this?! I'd be a British bumbling buffoon like Hugh Grant.
adelutza -- this is always what makes me crazy about Cannes sensations. by the time they arrive...
"I can say why everyone else is a genius but I don't think I can say why I am*!"
* but I won't argue the point. Classic Sandy!
Hayden - LOL. glad you caught that.
Mikey C -- some would argue that by asking the question at all i was not maintaining a professional composure ;)
Oh, I love this so much Nathaniel! I can't wait for Carol week :)
Carol isn't being released here (Australia) until Jan 14th :( I have only been waiting for this movie all of my life, so what's another month or so?!
Minneapolis has to wait until Christmas!!! I'm outraged. At least they didn't start the limited release in December like they had planned before....
❤
Category fraud is not a pet peeve of mine. However, after watching Carol there is not honorable reason to push Mara as supporting when her character is not even supportive.
Best Actress this year is competitive but not competitive enough to deny two actresses from the same film nominations in the same category.
Hopefully the Academy will do the right thing and nominated Mara in Best Actress.
I do not want her nomination to be at the expense of Rampling, Blanchett, nor Larson (who I'm rooting for to win). Maybe Lawrence doesn't make it because they made room for Mara.