Todd Haynes’ “Carol” was an instant classic when it premiered at Cannes last summer (we loved it), and it has rightfully kept up steam well into the awards season race. But yesterday, the film’s Oscar prospects lessened with the announcement of the nominees for the Directors Guild Awards after having also come up empty handed at the Producers Guild Awards (not to mention winning nothing at the Golden Globes, though this year’s ceremony felt more like an inside joke shared between drunk people than ever). So it’s not looking good for “Carol” come tomorrow morning when the Oscar nominees are announced.
All of which is to say “Carol” still deserves love. A small, quiet film (compared to the others in awards contention), Haynes’ adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s “The Price Of Salt” is gorgeously shot, immaculately well acted, and a haunting portrait of the American zeitgeist.
To coincide with the DGA announcements, Haynes sat down with Wash Westmoreland (the director of "Still Alice") to talk “Carol,” shirking norms, creativity versus adaptation, the importance of perspective and point of view, reconstructing 1950s New York and his body of work. As always, Haynes is thoughtful and open about his craft, highlighting the care and intention that went into “Carol,” and the Q&A is an insightful look behind one of the year’s best films.
Check out the talk below and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below.
