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From the outside, Gracie and Joe are the perfect suburban couple. That is, if you don’t take into account the fact that their relationship was a tabloid sensation 20 years ago. When Elizabeth, an actor, arrives at their home to research for a role in a film based on Gracie, it becomes clear that the couple’s relationship isn’t as strong as they’d like to believe. As the truth begins to unspool, and Elizabeth immerses herself in her role, it becomes clear that she’s not the only one acting. What is the truth to Gracie and Joe’s relationship? And is Elizabeth’s presence complicating things even further? With a trifecta of stunning performances from Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton, Todd Haynes effortlessly combines classical melodrama with contemporary preoccupations of celebrity and scandal.
The Garden Cinema View:
An entertaining and captivating Almodovar-esque melodrama, not least due to Moore, Portman, and Melton's exceptional performances. May December explores some fascinating issues: morally grey areas, the erosion of boundaries, the process of grooming, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
Too inhibited to fully embrace its campiness, and a bit reluctant to fully explore the weighty themes, May December falls slightly short of greatness. Even so, it is still a very charming and enigmatic watch, and a thoroughly entertaining experience for our audience that will likely keep you thinking after the credits roll.
Cast:
Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton