'Cate Blanchett Will Slay You'
Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 7:19PM 
Next Season on the WB This Season at Cannnes: Cate, the Cinephile Slayer
It's not really "news" per se to share the information that Cate Blanchett has won another round of extravagantly positive reviews for a performance; that's kind of her thing, and habitual happenings aren't news. But the early round of Carol reviews are in and everyone loves it.
The adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel "Carol" (or "The Price of Salt" depending on when it was published) about a married woman (Cate Blanchett) carrying on with a younger shopgirl (Rooney Mara) has been our Most Awaited feature for two years running in our annual We Can't Wait series. It's been EIGHT YEARS since Todd Haynes had a movie out. To prevent overhyping, I'm not going to fully read any reviews but here are some blurb whore quotes that could sell tickets whenever they decide to release the movie. My gut says December and I'm not happy about waiting that long:
And the acting slays you: Cate Blanchett, especially, somehow leaps over her own highest standards with a subtlety that’s little short of phenomenal.
-The TelegraphA superbly realised companion piece to his 50s Sirkian drama Far From Heaven... creamily sensuous, richly observed."
-The GuardianThe success of the material ultimately rests on the formidable strength of its actresses, both credibly buried in their roles."
-IndiewireCarol is both a beautiful miniature and a majestic romance"
-The Wrap
Oscar Trivia For the Road...
The last time Cate indulged in the lesbian angst subgenre she was the younger woman and she and her co-star were both Oscar-nominated as were the Screenplay & Score. Coincidentally the last time Todd Haynes had a real Oscar hit, the film also received 4 nominations and also lost each of its categories. Will history repeat itself? Against my better judgment I skimmed several reviews and frequent mentions of the films "quiet" and "restraint" and "careful pacing" don't make it any kind of Oscar slam dunk, but then again Oscar is only icing. What's more important is this -- new Todd Haynes cake!
Reader Comments (20)
I really believed in this film being the big movie and it came true. it's Todd Haynes time to be fully embraced and this will be just the feature to do it. Watch out Oscars 2015/16 prepare to be dominated by Carol
I want to see this now!
Even if Todd doesn't get recognition for it, the film may well be Mara's Best Supporting Actress win (category fraud or not).
I'M SO EXCITED.
Opening late January?
Dec. 18th limited release...
I'm eager to see this not just because of Todd Haynes but Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara making out.
Ugh stop, now I'm drooling!
Who doesn't love Blanchett? Also hope Mara is good in this I want another Dragon Tattoo level performance from her.
The Fury Road of Douglas Sirk melodramas
A third Oscar for Cate? Never rule that out....unlike Hepburn or Streep, maybe she wouldn't have to wait 20-30 years for that third win. I can't wait to see this movie.
I saw the two released clips and Rooney seems a bit too self conscious, at least that's what I got from it. But she doesn't excite me as an actress anyway. She was cool in The Social Network, but past that, meh to me. I'm sure Cate is amazing again though.
What I'm really excited for is Sarah Paulson...
SO EXCITED!
I know absolutely nothing about predicting Oscars but I think it's likely to be at the Oscars what "Mildred Pierce" was at the Emmys, lots of tech nominations, maybe an acting win because a movie equivalent of "Downton Abbey" shows up and steals its thunder.
Philip H: Sarah has very little screentime, she's good for sure (everyone in the cast is sublime), but don't expect her to do much. The movie truly focuses on Cate and Rooney, and they both are excellent.
the shade at Cate the great. If it was Julianne in Carol it wouldn't have been "extravagant". I guess we all have our biases.
Blanchett will win her third Oscar rather quickly. Bergman won three for seven nominations. Day-Lewis, the most recent three-time winner did it with five.
That headline killed me, lol. The Slayage warrior has been slaying since 1998, thank you very much!
Considering I believed Blanchett to be all wrong as "Sheba" in Notes on a Scandal, I'm much more looking forward to this film, especially in the wake of her Blue Jasmine tour de force. I hope we don't have to wait until December.
Blue Jasmine is a tough act to follow--akin to Mike Angelo debuting his latest after The Sistine Chapel. I love Cate, so God bless!
And more movie roles for Sarah!
I've read that the pace is slow, quiet, and tactful as well but I actually think this will do well with the Oscars. Amour was soul crushingly slow and quiet and very restrained but it was nominated for Actress, Director, Picture, Original Screenplay, and Foreign Film. On top of that, in this type of structured and measured lens I would say Haynes excels... that or I have no idea what I'm talking about and the Academy will shut them out, ha. Hopefully not.