2015 Cannes Critics’ Panel Day 4: Rousing, Tender, Homo…geneous Response to Haynes’ “Carol”

Long tipped for a Main Comp berth, the Croisette’s Todd Haynes drought appears to be over with a dam busting gush of a love from critics. Making the Lido the launchpad lieu for Far from Heaven, I’m Not There. and his mini-series Mildred Pierce, it’s been almost a two decade absence from this filmmaker. Safe (1995) is one of the best films to have played in the Directors’ Fortnight, and 1998’s Velvet Goldmine, an In Comp selection, won a special prize for artistic contribution. Carol, being called a 50’s Brokeback Mountain, will not walk away emptied handed, and if we don’t hear the names of Blanchett or Mara mentioned for Best Actress, then this adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Price of Salt has Palme d’Or potential according to our critics: we have 3 perfect scores so far and several four outta fives.

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