We Can't Wait #1: Carol
Friday, March 20, 2015 at 7:00PM 
Team Experience is counting down our 15 most anticipated. Here's Matthew Eng with our #1 choice, which incidentally also topped this list last year when we used wishful thinking to pretend it would be done early...
Who & What: Living genius Todd Haynes directs playwright and Mrs. Harris scribe Phyllis Nagy’s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s gently subversive lesbian novella (originally published under the much grittier-named The Price of Salt) about a sensitive shopgirl (Rooney Mara) who falls in love with the lonely society dame of the title (Cate Blanchett) in lush 1950s New York.
Why We’re Excited About it: The cinematic “comeback” of Haynes, returning to the big screen a full eight years after I’m Not There (despite a six-hour pit stop at HBO for Kate Winslet’s Mildred Pierce), is obviously incentive enough. But he’s also compiled a cast so charismatic, it basically makes you salivate: Mara and Blanchett, of course, but how about Ace Team Player and Perpetual Dreamboat Kyle Chandler as Blanchett’s snooping husband?
Lots more and several photos after the jump...
the cast of characters
Or Supporting Actress Extraordinaire Sarah Paulson as Blanchett’s confidante? Or how about undersung Obvious Child Prince Charming Jake Lacy as Mara’s clingy boyfriend and Sleater-Kinney/Portlandia roundabout woman Carrie Brownstein as someone named Genevieve Cantrell?
That’s a well-cast bunch if there ever was one but then there’s also DP Edward Lachman, who has shown such dazzling finesse with the various period Americana of Far From Heaven, I’m Not There, and The Virgin Suicides, not to mention the totally different milieus of Ulrich Seidl’s Paradise trio; miraculous costume maven Sandy Powell, a designing goldmine unto herself, who has made every single stitch and seam we’ve glimpsed only in stills look so mouthwatering; and the despicably un-Oscared (not to mention un-nominated!) Carter Burwell, lending another of his gorgeously moody scores to the proceedings. And having read Carol in the year since I wrote up its #1 post for last year’s We Can’t Wait countdown, I’m even more excited for a risky, tough-minded love story between two women that thinks and feels so deeply for its characters and considers their interiors with such carefulness and contemplation, without relying on any toxic twists or treacherous lesbian harpy-killers.
Costumes by Sandy Powell. Might she get two Oscar nominations this year for this and Cinderella?
What if it all Goes Wrong? I refuse to acknowledge this as a possibility. Even Mildred, surely the most uneven effort in Haynes’ oeuvre, is an admirably layered, technically sophisticated, and memorably sad-eyed rendering of a story inherently rooted in lurid pulp. Every other Haynes picture is an expertly-acted, visually spellbinding, tonally impeccable, and stunningly multifaceted masterpiece. Maybe I’m jinxing Carol by having zero qualms about her, but I genuinely can’t help it. These filmmakers’ lesser efforts are often more invigorating than the “bests” of many others. And, honestly, anyone who has bestowed Carol White and Cathy Whittaker upon this earth can do little wrong in my book. Todd Haynes has proven time and time again that he is heaven, personified.
When: Haynes himself revealed on Indiewire’s Playlist podcast that the film is likely headed for a spring premiere (aka: Cannes) and since The Weinstein Co. is distributing, there’s no way this won’t be the most sumptuous, period-specific stocking stuffer you’ll ever receive.
Reader Comments (36)
The inevitable victor, of course. I'm sure Nathaniel had a long talk with any member of the team who didn't put this one as #1. God, I hope this movie is great.
Speaking of which, will we get to see the individual list of the members of the team that voted? I'm curious to see what you all think individually outside of the aggregate.
Johnny -- lol. I didn't actually vote. I let the team handle this one. apart from i made a couple executive saves near the bottom of the list where there were close vote totals :)
Aside from the terribly boring and unimaginative title this looks terrific and a definite must see.
Cate's Number 3? I wish somebody would give Meryl a run for it:-)
That cast is so perfect. I'll watch Kyle Chandler, Sarah Paulson and Todd Haynes are all obsessions of mine, and I'm very intrigued about Brownstein and Lacy.
I need this now.
Sally will totally get those two well-deserved Oscar nominations. Let's start campaigning right now.
Everything in this movie looks too good to be true, almost as if it was designed by a computer program to haunt us for months.
Johnny, my five choices were:
1. Carol
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Macbeth
4. Ricki and the Flash
5. Freeheld
Not only 2015's most anticipated but the most anticipated movie EVER,
There a great website for all things Carol that is lovingly curated by the lovely @MissBelivet, check it out : http://missbelivet.tumblr.com/
I know Blanchett is a recent winner, but after DDL had such an easy win not too long after his second Oscar, it's possible. If the performance is the kind of undeniable work that all the early precursors get behind, watch out.
When will they give us the trailer? We've been oh so patient!
I obviously have no idea how closely Nagy followed the book but if it's a "loyal" adaptation then I suspect Blanchett might actually be Supporting, in which case she probably has an even better shot at winning, regardless of any "too soon" hesitation. It's really Therese/Mara's story with Carol occupying the less centralized love interest position. The closest precedent I can think of is Swank and Sevigny in Boys Don't Cry and I couldn't possibly imagine Lana or Carol being placed in Lead categories even though they are undeniably "leading ladies" to their main characters. Although, once again, the film could be completely different from the book in terms of character emphasis.
I heard the movie is different from the book in that Carol ie Blanchett is much more prominent. Just look at the casting, the two biggest names after the leads play Carol's friend and husband. those characters are minor in the book.
Matthew - That's promising. I kind of love the idea of her winning another supporting Oscar. I also think Eddie Redmayne being in the race again this year will hog all the "But is it too soon?" conversations. And certainly people would think Cate's career would actually warrant it so soon after Blue Jasmine more than Eddie.
This needs to score a nod in all possible departments, especially since it's a Weinstein movie
1 Picture
2 Director
3 Actress (Cate)
4 Supporting Actress (Mara)
5 Supporting Actress (Paulson)
6 Supporting Actor (Chandler)
7 Adapted Screenplay
8 Cinematography
9 Costume Design
10 Score
11 Hair and Makeup
12 Editing
13 Sound Editing
14 Production Design
15 Sound Mixing
I'm always fascinated by what a powerful presence Blanchett is, even on mere photos, no wonder the subtle-loving folk sometimes has a problem with her, she's naturally dominant, doesn't need to do much.
Here were my Top 5 Choices:
1. The Danish Girl (how did this not make our final 15?!)
2. Crimson Peak
3. The Dressmaker
4. Steve Jobs
5. Macbeth
Carol is definitely at the top as well. (i mean, how could it not be?) but left it off because it topped last year's already and i don't want to over-anticipate it...
I can't wait to see this and yes, Cate may just clinch her third for this!
I believe Blanchett will win her third before Streep wins her fourth.
I'm so looking forward to this. I had the pleasure of working with Haynes and Powell and it is such a wonderful atmosphere to be in. I want this to go well.
There's no way Cate Blanchett will go supporting for this. She's too big a star. Kinda like how Streep goes lead even when she's arguably supporting because she can get nominated there.
All I really hope from this is that Sarah Paulson gets nominated.
Philip H, Cate will go lead to fulfill her obligation to become a Best Actress Perennial for Nick. Four Best Actress nominations minimal, plus one win in the category to qualify.
I don't care who gets nominated, I am just glad that these women (Streep and Blanchett) can still headline films. Do you know how much dreck gets funded for men? Go Cate and Meryl.
@Ryan: You said it! Delighted to see such a project be given a decent budget and a first class cast & crew. Never mind the Oscar talk... I just want this to be a hit, along with Freeheld, Suffragettes, and Ricki and the Flash. Making money is more important than Oscars if you truly want to see more of these types of films.
Concerning "Carol" - my only nitpick is the casting of Rooney Mara. I just don't find her appealing, and I'm skeptical of her acting abilities. I hope that I am proven wrong.
I heart Jake Lacy.
Having recently read the book and knowing the changes to the screenplay I am way beyond excited for this film. Todd Haynes is a genius director who sadly has been long ignored and with this film I believe it will finally be his time. The story is just as relevant as it was back in the 50's today and the story is so great. The cast is perfectly chosen from the big roles like Blanchett down to the small roles like Cory Michael Smith. Funny enough is the sight had the film number 1 last year and again this year.
A year in advance I believe this film will conquer giving us our first sweeper in so long.
Here is my Top Five (Not on the Team)
1. Demolition
2. Crimson Peak
3. Sea Of Trees
4. A Bigger Splash
5. Dark Places
I agree with whoever on Rooney Mara, she's the only thing that doesn't excite me about this. I would've loved to see Mia Wasikowska in this.
^ @LadyEdith... saying "whoever" sounded kinda rude lol
I'm right there with you, Lady Edith and Philip H. Rooney Mara can be such a cypher of an actress, in my opinion. Even iin her best roles (unquestionably in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network), I remain lukewarm on her.
Now watch Harvey Weinstein hold back the theatrical release or Carol till 2016...just to spite us!
I hope it's as good as "Far From Heaven"
I second (or fourth) the blandness of Rooney Mara. Would've preferred Mia Wasikowska for sure, she gave the best performance of last year (in Tracks), offence to Julianne Moore. But Cate Blanchett can do no wrong, just look at the pics, she was born to play Carol. She just rocks the 1950s hair and frocks, doesn't she?
And I adore Sarah Paulson. I recently rewatched Martha Marcy May Marlene - she's clearly the MVP of that film, too bad John Hawkes and Elizabeth Olsen stole most of her thunder.
have you Rooney Mara doubters seen her in Side Effects at least
I've only seen Rooney in Her but she was great in a small role. I love Mia but there's something about her that reminds me of Blanchett so it would be weird to see them in those roles together.
Mara is a wonderful actress and she's incredibly selective. She clearly goes for the directors just like Blanchett.
Fincher X2, Soderbergh, Jonze, Daldry, Wright, Haynes, Malick - in less than 5 years.
She's such a to-be Oscar winner along with Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley. It's just a matter of time.
Abstew, I'm not even sure I was aware The Danish Girl was as far along in production as it clearly is when I did the list. Still, we only have five slots and I wouldn't have altered if even knowing The Danish Girl was a definite 2015 film.
I haven't seen much of Rooney Mara, but she was excellent in Ain't Them Bodies Saints. Remember how long it took people to warm up to Nicole Kidman when she was new? (Not me!)
Rooney's an exceptional actress. I'm not going to play the game of who's better than who, But give her a chance, she'll make a great Therése.