Writer/director Todd Haynes has an affinity for period pieces. He’s been consistently remarkable building cinematic time machines, but “Carol” is his most convincing depiction of the past, overseeing an exceptional production team that turns every moment into cinematic poetry, with touchable textures and screen artistry that makes the feature hypnotic. But there’s more to “Carol” than exquisite craftsmanship, finding a crushing tale of longing and repression rippling underneath guarded exteriors, with Haynes reviving Cate Blanchett’s thespian authority, while guiding Rooney Mara to the best performance of her career. Juggling tone and drama with outstanding precision, Haynes emerges with his best work since 1998’s “Velvet Goldmine.” Read the rest at Blu-ray.com