The plainly titled "Carol" is based on the novel with a much more intriguing title, "The Price Of Salt," written by Patricia Highsmith, best known for "Strangers on a Train," a 1950 novel adapted for a 1951 film with a screenplay credited to Raymond Chandler, Whitfield Cook and Czenzi Ormonde, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman and Leo G. Carroll, and "The Talented Mr. Ripley," a 1955 novel adapted for a 1999 film with a screenplay by Anthony Minghella and directed by Minghella and starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett.

"Carol" is nominated for six Oscars: Actress: Cate Blanchett; Supporting Actress: Rooney Mara; Adapted Screenplay: Phyllis Nagy; Cinematography: Edward Lachman; Costume: Sandy Powell, and Score: Carter Burwell."Carol," which is set in the early 1950s in the United States, and predominantly in New York City, is clearly a showcase for Blanchett as Carol, an older woman facing marital difficulties, and Mara as Therese, a department store clerk to whom Carol is attracted. The story revolves around their falling in love and the problems their relationship creates for them, their families and their careers."Carol" doesn't rise to the level of intrigue and lacks the emotional wallop of either "Strangers on a Train" or "The Talented Mr. Ripley," perhaps because of the predictability of Nagy's screenplay (yes, despite its Oscar nomination) but more likely because of the steady, yet unexciting pacing and somewhat daytime soap opera predicability in the direction by Todd Haynes ("I'm Not There," 2007; "Far From Heaven," 2002; "Velvet Goldmine," 1998).The film is also hampered by stereotypical acting among its supporting cast. The less said here the better to protect the guilty of overacting.That said, the scenes between Blanchett and Mara have a quiet reserve, palpable passion and explosive power when the two connect (and connect they do).Their Oscar nominations are well-deserved, especially that for Mara, who creates a memorable performance with a tentativeness in mannerisms, uncomfortableness in her personality and gradual awakening to her own emotions. Mara accomplishes this in several remarkable scenes as you see her sentiments sweep across her face and emerge like laser beams from her eyes. Mara's performance anchors the film."Carol" is fun for its re-creation of an early 1950s American, replete with costume designer Sandy Powell's choice of lovely outfits for Carol and Therese and the requisite strong suits for the men. The interior design, furniture and accoutrements, as well as the era's automobiles, add to the believability of the mise-en-scène.The cinematography by Edward Lachman lavishes attention on the settings' sumptuous details, no more so than on Blanchett's and Mara's expressive countenances. Atmospheric touches (raindrops and glimpses through windows) symbolize the hidden nature of the women's relationship."Carol," MPAA Rated R (Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian.) for a scene of sexuality-nudity and brief language; Genre: Drama, Romance; Run time: One hr., 58 min.; Distributed by The Weinstein Company.Credit Readers Anonymous: Principal filming of "Carol" was in Cincinnati, Ohio.Box Office, Jan. 29:"Kung Fu Panda 3," opening at No. 1 with a strong $41 million, kicked the black bear of "The Revenant" (12 Oscar nominations and a SAG actor award for Leonardo DiCaprio) to No. 2, with $12.4 million, $138.1 million, six weeks;3. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (five Oscar nominations), $10.7 million, $895.4 million, seven weeks; 4. "The Finest Hours," $10.3 million, opening; 5. "Ride Along 2," $8.3 million, $70.7 million, three weeks; 6. "The Boy," $7.8 million, $21.5 million, two weeks; 7. "Dirty Grandpa," $7.5 million, $22.8 million, two weeks; 8. "The 5th Wave," $7 million, $20.1 million, two weeks; 9. "Fifty Shades of Black," $6.1 million, opening; 10. "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi," $6 million; $42.5 million, three weeks.Unreel, Feb. 5:"Hail, Caesar!" PG: The Coen brothers, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, are back as co-writers and co-directors with an A-list cast of George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes and Frances McDormand in a comedy about a Hollywood movie studio official who tries to keep the studio's stars in line. We'll see how that works out."Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," PG-13: Director: Burr Steers directs Lily James, Lena Headey, Douglas Booth and Matt Smith in the horror film when the Jane Austen classic tale of different social classes in 19th century England has another social class to contend with: zombies.Two popcorn boxes out of five popcorn boxes.