Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) is an actress who has just landed her next role – portraying the woman who infamously had an affair with a seventh grader and later married him. In order to get to know her character inside and out, she travels to the town where Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) now live with their children. Elizabeth isn’t sure what she’ll find, but it ends up being a lot more than she bargained for.
Director Todd Haynes has set up an interesting character study for us. The way in which the scenes were set up to the unsettling feeling in the air not only added to the story, but kept me entranced from beginning to end. It’s gripping and pulls you in straight away. There was never a dull moment.
Portman and Moore are some of the best actors in the game and I can’t believe this was the first time they starred together in a feature. Their chemistry was as effortless as it was fabulous. The big surprise for me was Melton. I’m familiar with his work on Riverdale and The Sun is Also A Star, but I had no clue that he had this in him. His performance was both comedic and heartbreaking all at the same time and I’d be shocked if he didn’t get some nominations for it.
While the film had me completely mesmerised throughout, I have to say that the payoff didn’t go the way I had hoped. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the big climax, and when it didn’t come, I was left confused. I understand wanting the audience to interpret it for themselves, but I wasn’t on board.
May December is a film that I am going to remember. Not only were the performances phenomenal, knowing that the story is based on true events really does provide a bigger impact. Making my top favorites of the year is going to be hard because this one just made the list!
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5
Credits Rolling 