"Carol" Review (****)

Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett star in "Carol."

Directed by Todd Haynes ("Far From Heaven," "I'm Not There"), “Carol” tells the story of a young shop girl in the 1950s who falls in love with an older, married woman. The film is based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith. Haynes navigates this forbidden love story gracefully and gorgeously while infusing some of the best cinematography and set design of 2015.

James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now" to close Atlanta Film Festival

Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller star in "The Spectacular Now"

The Atlanta Film Festival will officially announce its lineup any moment now. Earlier this week, news broke that on March 15th, Jeff Nichols' "Mud" will kick off the festival. Now, it has been confirmed that Georgia-filmed "The Spectacular Now" will close out the fest on March 23rd.

Director James Ponsoldt's film was shot in Athens last summer and stars Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kyle Chandler, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bob Odenkirk. The film was a huge success at Sundance last month, with Teller and Woodley taking home acting awards. Adapted from a Tim Tharp novel by Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter, A24 picked up distribution rights for the film at Sundance and aims to get "The Spectacular Now" in cinemas sometime this summer. Personally, I am thrilled to see this as an ATLFF selection, but not surprised!

In addition to "Mud" and "The Spectacular Now," we do know a few other movies to look forward to. Documentary titles include "As Goes Janesville," "Blood Brother," "Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp," "The Institute," "La Source," "Losing Lebron," "Magic Camp," "Mohammed to Maya," "Scarred but Smarter: Life n Times of Drivin n Cryin," "Submit the Documentary" and "Zipper: Coney Island's Last Wild Ride." Narrative titles include "A Band of Rogues," "Cinema Six," "Claire's Cambodia," "Congratulations!" "euphonia," "Faces in the Mirror," "Hank and Asha," "Moral Sleaze" and "The Suicide Kid."

Georgia filmed "The Spectacular Now" to premiere at Sundance

Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller star in "The Spectacular Now"

Last summer, as James Ponsoldt was still riding the wave of acclaim he received for his Sundance hit, "Smashed," he began work on a new film in his hometown of Athens, Georgia. "The Spectacular Now" is adapted from Tim Tharp's much beloved novel by screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber ("500 Days of Summer"). Upon reading the book and being reminded of his own hometown, Ponsoldt set out to change the setting from Oklahoma to Georgia. Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Kyle Chandler, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Mary Elizabeth Winstead all star in this promising teen romance. The world premiere is Friday, January 18th. I'd love to see this film come back to Georgia for the Atlanta Film Festival in March.

Check out some images (courtesy of The Playlist) and a brief word from Ponsoldt after the jump.