Todd Haynes’ May December makes you feel uncomfortable from the moment it starts with its ominous score in the background. Haynes reunites with composer Marcelo Zarvos (Dark Waters) and actress Julianne Moore (Far from Heaven, Safe) in the new Netflix film which depicts a predatory relationship 20 years later. We are introduced to a now 59-year-old Gracie (Moore) and her 36-year-old husband Joe, played by Charles Melton (Riverdale, The Sun Is Also a Star) in their Savannah, Georgia home as they await the arrival of actress Elizabeth Berry, played by Natalie Portman (Jackie, Black Swan). We also meet early on Gracie and Joe’s children, twins Charlie and Mary, who are about to graduate from high school. We learn they also have an older daughter who is away at college.
While the characters and storyline are fictional, the film is loosely inspired by the real life story of Mary Kay Letourneau, a school teacher who was convicted of statutory rape in the late 90s after having a sexual relationship with her 12-year-old student. She also gave birth to their child while in prison and married the student once released.
Elizabeth is set to play Gracie in an upcoming movie about their relationship which egregiously began when Gracie was 36 and Joe 13, fuelling tabloid mania following Gracie’s arrest and her time spent in prison. Gracie has agreed for Elizabeth to spend time with her in order to study her for the movie role. When Elizabeth thanks her for letting her into their home and lives, Gracie replies with “I want you to tell the story right, don’t I?” This is a telling line; it illustrates just how out of touch with reality Gracie is. This however is not done in a way that elicits any kind of sympathy for her. She doesn’t deserve any.
As Elizabeth begins to grasp Gracie’s mannerisms, we subtly see her emulating Gracie’s posture, hairstyle, and even clothing. Things turn darker as Elizabeth gets more immersed in her role when she begins to get closer to Joe. It is a fascinating look at how far some performers will go when it comes to embodying the person they are depicting on screen.
Blurring the lines between method acting and manipulation, Elizabeth opens Joe’s eyes to the sad reality that he has never truly grown up and missed out on a lot in his life. This realization on Joe’s part is heartbreaking to watch, which is attributed to Charles Melton’s incredible performance. He will be a serious contender for awards season.
Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman’s performances are also nothing short of brilliant. Both Gracie and Elizabeth are unnerving in completely different ways. It’s also worth highlighting Cory Michael Smith’s (Transatlantic, Gotham) part which was a real highlight even with a smaller role. Smith plays Georgie, Gracie’s oldest son from her first marriage who is around the same age as Joe, and they were even friends as kids. He’s clearly struggling in life and did not have an easy childhood. His insight adds a lot of depth to the overall storyline. Georgie also serves as an important reminder of how the actions of such predatory individuals can also deeply affect the people around them and their family members with long lasting consequences. While there are only a few scenes between Joe and his children, they are quite impactful in demonstrating Joe’s fragility.
May December will have you feeling uneasy from beginning to end. It thoughtfully depicts the grim realities of manipulation and exploitation on different levels. This is one of those movies that will stick with you for a long time.
May December is streaming on Netflix.
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