So dull

It wasn't. Although in my opinion, along with many others', it should have been. Carol was not a fast-paced action/thriller which is guaranteed to be a huge box office success (AKA almost every movie being made now), but it was a beautifully exquisite, subtle film, which touches upon the most challenging thing of all: falling in love. So I can understand why you found it "dull."

I didn't find it "dull" but I found it to be "ordinary." While the two main actors did well with their characters my own summary is:

The movie is well-acted and filmed beautifully but there isn't anything particularly novel here. The fictional stories of a young person falling for an older married person, then being forced to deal with great issues has been done many times. The only thing that makes this one worth seeing are the actors. It is basically your romance novel brought to the screen.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not.

I completely agree, I couldn't even get through the first 45 minutes before I shut it down..... snooze fest!

I think there were several flaws with this film.

Not enough background and depth into Carol as a character, which made it hard to actually empathise with her, and really root for her unconditional happiness in the end. I think the subtleness referred to here by many people was actually mediocre acting on behalf of Cate Blanchett. I have seen more compelling performances from her in other films.

The relationship between Therese and Carol did not seem to be based on enough substance to be plaisible. Again, the proponents of subtledy will say that the looks and innuendos would be enough to drive a relationship like this forward, or at least to run away together and risk everything. There wasn't enough of a plausible connection between the two leading characters for me to believe it was important enough for either of them to take that roadtrip. Maybe for Therese to a certain extent, as she was young, and had a lot less to lose, but not Carol.

The second Act and roadtrip dragged on for too long, without, in my opinion, adding anything to the development of the plot. If we wanted to see them 'alone' in their own little world, which is what the twenty minutes or so of car scenes was supposed to have portrayed, this could have been acomplished with far more economy, hence leaving more room for suspense and plot development.

I must admit, for some mysterious reason, i rooted for Therese not to be let down in the final scenes, but it was more in empathy with Therese, than thinking that the film Carol was an outstanding movie.

If you want a good lesbian film, go and watch Desert Hearts.

I have to agree. It was very ordinary, slow, dull... Nothing really happened.

I didn't enjoy it.

Is Highsmith's original book better?