It’s always hit or miss when you see films about true stories. Sometimes filmmakers like Todd Haynes put a twist on them which throws you for a loop. That’s the case with May December, his latest film. He has made such films as Carol, Dark Waters, and Far From Heaven which are more straightforward movies but he’s made the occasional weird one as well. Working in different styles has helped him in his career thus far.

Gracie Atherton Neil (Julianne Moore) is a mother of three kids who is married to Joe (Charles Melton) They live in Savannah, Georgia. They have what seems like a good life at first glance, but they have been a couple for twenty years. Ever since Gracie had an affair with her middle school student. Because of this, she has gone to prison and as a result, Hollywood has come calling about their story. Elizabeth Barry (Natalie Portman) has come to town because she has been cast in the film about Moore’s character.

Julianne Moore has worked with Haynes before on Carol so she understands his style. With this film, she channels this woman with a lisp perfectly. She shows her insecurities and her odd nature. Which is why she can have an affair with a child. Obviously they had something after she got out of prison but it wasn’t easy for her or her children once she got out. As a family, they have an uneasy understanding of their situation. Like most families, they try to be as normal as possible. Moore goes to a strange place with this role which Portman channels with her role.

Natalie Portman is another actress on the same level as Julianne Moore. They’ve both won Academy Awards for Best Actress, but that is not why they are both so great. It’s because they both choose such interesting roles. They choose to stretch the limits of their acting ability. Portman uses everything at her disposal to create this character. Even though she’s an actress playing an actress she mines every little detail of this woman who she is playing life. From friends and family to former acquaintances.  She even goes to the lengths of reading letters to get into character. She is the definition of a method actor in her approach to this character. She’s amazing in this role.

Charles Melton isn’t an actor a lot of people talk about. He has been in a few things here or there. The Sun is Also a Star and Heart of Champions are among his resume. This is the first role where you see he is trying to be a genuine actor. He goes about playing this 36-year-old man like he is still a child in some ways. He walks, talks, and acts like he’s twenty years younger than he actually is. He even interacts with his children in a youthful way. He is a bit awkward like a younger man would be. He holds his own though acting opposite two of the heavyweights in the industry.

Besides the story aspects and acting by the main three actors there is a pretty haunting score by Marcelo Zarvos. He creates a score that pops up from time to time, mostly in ominous situations. Or dark conversations. It’s mainly three notes and expands off of that. These notes are bone-chilling when they pop up. You know something bad is happening or that’s what Haynes wants you to think. This is one of the best scores I’ve heard this year. A good score is one you remember for days and months after you’ve seen a film and this is one of those scores. Hopefully, it’ll receive some awards buzz this awards season. 

This movie has a Metta feel to it. Regarding the movie about the movie actress playing the real woman featured in the film. It can be a bit confusing at times but the script by Samy Burch allows for some leeway in its interpretation of the story. There are a lot of characters who come in and out of the story. They all help Portman’s character with her acting process which in turn doesn’t bode well for Moore’s character’s mental stability. He is a wreck at times in this film, which goes to show what she is truly like in real life. The script only scratches the surface of this woman’s Pentax state though. We know she’s missing a few bricks in the foundation though. Portman understands that in her approach to the character.

May December made a big splash, back at the Festival de Cannes back in June which in turn made Netflix buy it for their streaming service. That was a good thing. This movie needs to be seen by as many eyes as possible and I don’t think it’s a film people are going to flock to the theater to see. The intimate setting of one’s living room or on a laptop or iPad or something may be a better setting to watch this film. I enjoyed the theatrical setting myself but I could be better served on the streaming service. Haynes creates a metta world where these women and man are dealing with some bad issues. This isn’t going to be for everybody but I found the characters fascinating in an odd way. I can see three or four Oscar nominations in the future for this film. 

4 stars

Dan Skip Allen