‘Carol’ Part Four: The Influences and Inspirations

On February 13, 2022March 5, 2022 By Murtada ElfadlIn Podcast6 Comments

We conclude our Carol miniseries with a discussion about the influences and inspirations behind the 2015 film masterpiece. From those acknowledged by the director Todd Haynes – David Lean’s Brief Encounter – to others we gleaned from watching the film many times – the films of George Cukor, Deborah Kerr in The End of the Affair and Haynes’ own Far From Heaven. For this conversation Murtada welcomes back Izzy from Be Kind Rewind to discuss these topics and how forming a relationship with a film changes the way you view over time.

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The film is available on vudu.

Topics Discussed:

Why does Carol resonate and has such cultural capital six years into its life. True or are we just living in a Carol bubble?
Todd Haynes’ women; their internal lives brought to splendid vivid life. This time we get two. Compare Carol and Therese to Cathy Whitaker in Far From Heaven and the other Carol in Safe.
Haynes insists that Carol and Far From Heaven are not similar despite taking place in the same time period. He maintains Carol is more realistic, a love story and not a melodrama though he also says “naturalism is artificial. It’s all artificial.”
Haynes mentions David Lean and Brief Encounter as a direct inspiration for the epilogue and coda of Carol. Other Lean romances include Summertime and Doctor Zhivago.
Because of the period setting this performance was compared to those from the golden age of hollywood. We talk about Deborah Kerr in The End of the Affair and Greta Garbo’s Romance.
Cate’s look, blond hair, red lipstick against the period exquisite cinematography. She has a similar look in Nightmare Alley currently on release.
How with repeated viewing the film becomes funny without losing its emotional impact.

Previous Episodes in the Carol MiniSeries:

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‘Carol’ Part Three: The Perfect Actress for the Role

On February 6, 2022February 13, 2022 By Murtada ElfadlIn Podcast3 Comments

Cate Blanchett’s the top is so many ways. The top star, the top actress. And in Carol she plays the top. In the third of our multiple episodes about Carol (2015), the topic is the perfect merge of actor and role with Blanchett as Carol Aird. For this conversation, Murtada welcomes Maggie Larkin to discuss how Blanchett’s screen persona makes her the ideal actor to play this role.

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The film is available on vudu.

Topics Discussed:

How many times have we seen Carol – why does it resonate?
Why is Cate Blanchett so well suited to play Carol? What makes her such a compelling screen presence is what makes her perfect for Carol. The confidence, the glamour, being a consummate actor playing someone who’s always putting on a facade, forced to hide themselves from the world. She plays the text and the subtext, yet never shows all her cards.
Cate always fares better when she shares the screen with other women – think Judi Dench, Sandra Bullock etc.- She is far too intelligent and dominant when paired with men.
Deep dive into a few particular scenes that prove Blanchett is the perfect Carol.
The chemistry between Cate and Rooney Mara.
Favorite press tour moments 1) Santa barbara Award presentation 2) At Cannes.
Blanchett recieved a SAG nomination for Nightmare Alley. Will she be Oscar nominated?

Previous Episodes in the Carol MiniSeries:

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Like? Rate and Review. Have a question? Leave us a comment.

‘Carol’ Part Two: The Queer Cultural Impact

On January 9, 2022February 13, 2022 By Murtada ElfadlIn Podcast3 Comments

In the second of multiple episodes about Carol (2015), the topic is the cultural impact the film had on queer people. From memes to comedy routines, Carol was adored. For this conversation, Murtada welcomes writer and film programmer Shayna Maci Warner of Critically Queer, to review the film and talk about its queer legacy.

Click to Listen:

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The film is available on vudu.

What is the film about?

From Letterboxd: In 1950s New York, a department-store clerk who dreams of a better life falls for an older, married woman. Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith

Who does Cate play?

Carol, a wealthy NJ woman in 1952 who begins an affair with a young shopgirl that has big ramifications on her life.

How is Cate introduced?

3 minutes in as Carol and Therese are interrupted at the Plaza..yet it’s that mesmerizing first look in the department that seals the deal we are in for something special.

What year did it come out?

2015

Box Office: Domestic = $12.7 MM, Int’l = $27.5MM its cultural impact goes way beyond these numbers.

Critical Response: Metacritic : 94 RT: 94

Topics Discussed:

A lesbian film made by queer people: Todd Haynes, Phyllis Nagy, Christine Vachon, Sarah Paulson. There are some straights too.
Desert Hearts (1986) another great lesbian film.
The Democratization of access and how it led to Carol‘s cutural impact., see also Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1986).
Carol’s seduction of Therese.
Cate Blanchett’s heightned portrayal of Carol, playing both the character and the way Therese sees her.
The innuendo, the declaring love without saying anything, the drop of the gloves. These women use everything at their disposal to communicate; except words.
Rooney Mara charts a stingingly real arc for Therese from naivety to maturity.
The chemistry between Blanchett and Mara.
Blanchett’s ’s chemistry with Sarah Paulson – the only known queer person in the cast.
“Mommy’s baby.”
The memes; “Harold they are lesbians,” the support group , “gay shaking”
Kathryn Hahn and Rachel Weisz set to the score of Carol.