May December: Film Review
I finally understand the hype surrounding Todd Haynes‘ latest movie May December – it’s so damn good!
Set in Savannah, Georgia in 2015, the movie stars Natalie Portman as Elizabeth, an actress preparing to play Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) in a film. Gracie hit the headlines back in 1992 when she, then 36, was caught having an affair with a 13-year-old boy named Joe. To prepare for the role, Elizabeth visits Gracie, Joe (Charles Melton) and their children to learn more about the people behind the tabloid scandal.
May December is so good; I could have easily watched more. What a fascinating concept and array of characters. The history is so rich and the relationships are so complex that the movie really only scratches the surface and leaves you wanting more. I particularly wanted to delve deeper into Joe and hear more from their children to get an even better idea of their opinions on the scandal. But they are understandably hesitant about talking to Elizabeth and keep her at a distance, especially Gracie, who is concerned about protecting her image.
However, I wasn’t totally convinced by the movie’s soap opera tone. It felt like an odd choice and it wasn’t necessary. The music does the hard work – the heavy-handed melodramatic music seems ripped from an ’80s/’90s TV show. Also, Moore plays her character like she’s in a melodrama whereas nobody else seems to.
Portman’s Elizabeth slowly becomes obsessed with nailing her portrayal of Gracie and almost starts to method act while on her research trip. She slowly morphs into Gracie and subtly picks up her mannerisms, lisp and way of holding herself. Her performance is incredible and her piece-to-camera monologue best be in her Oscar nomination montage.
Playing Gracie is no small task, given what she has done and what she’s been through as a result of that, but Moore makes it look easy. I didn’t feel like I knew Gracie particularly well but she’s certainly in denial and more fragile than she’d like to admit.
However, both of these women are seasoned pros who ace it every time. For that reason, I was most impressed by Riverdale’s Melton, whom I had never seen on-screen before. It’s such a layered, nuanced and subtle performance and I wish Joe had the opportunity to get everything off his chest.
It’s rare to leave a movie wanting more but I could have spent so much more time with the characters in May December. What a treat!
In cinemas from Friday 17th November