May December

I thought it was boring and slow. They kept playing dramatic music like something horrible and shocking was going to happen. But nothing ever did.

I understand it's supposed to be about the Mary Kay Letourneau situation. Indicating it was an unhealthy relationship. And how older women can take unfair advantage of younger men.

I thought technically it was done well. The acting was good. I like Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. And Charles Melton got a lot of raves on his performance.

But it seemed like this movie never went anywhere. I kept waiting for something to happen. But nothing ever did.

I think viewers will enjoy this movie more, if they know --- going in --- it's supposed to represent the Mary Kay Letourneau situation. Otherwise like me, they may be left holding out their hands as if to ask, "What was that supposed to be?"

'' May December '' is a drama about an actress who is about to portray the story of a sex offender, and so she starts spending time with her in order to prepare for her movie.

The movie has an intriguing story, and you get the feeling right from the start that there is something even more sinister about those characters that is about to rear its ugly head at any moment. However, that never happens. In fact, in the end, nothing happens. Things remain where they are, and the audiance, who knows that no one is who they appear to be, is left perplexed.

However, the performances were strong from the two leads, Portman and Moore. But, other than that, the movie is a let down.

The movie was not what I expected. The aesthethics and the setting were beautiful and all the lead roles did a good job acting their parts HOWEVER everything else was, to put it mildly, underwhelming. The plotline was flat and didn't offer many surprises. Dramatic music and scenes building up the excitement made me long for some sort of a climax, and it just never came. It was basicly 2 hours of waiting, like smelling delicious food but never getting to taste it. The themes were interesting and important and offered a lot of potential for a great movie. The movie was just simply missing the turning point! All in all, I would not see this movie again.

"May-December" (2023) is the kind of movie that sticks with you. It's the film you find yourself thinking about not just in the days after you've seen it, but when you're lost in thought, all by yourself. It has a way of getting under your skin with its unsettling scenes that can catch you off guard.

Even with its dramatic moments that can feel a bit showy, the film bravely addresses a dark and serious issue that really bites into your sense of ease. It's a gutsy contrast to the film's lighter, sometimes playful moments, but it's a contrast that ends up working really well. The storyline cuts close to the bone, touching on painful childhood issues and awakening emotions and memories that many of us might not have even realized we were suppressing.

In terms of performances, it's Charles Melton who unexpectedly steals the show, bringing a depth to his role in a way that's just mesmerizing. Sure, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are incredible, but Melton is the one who truly commands your attention. Take the scene where he just listens to Portman's character - the silent story his face tells is powerful.

Melton's acting is heartfelt and sincere; it's the kind of performance that not only draws you in but also touches you deeply. I've cried during many movies, but this one hit me harder. Seeing Melton portray a man with the naive heart of a child, caught in a complicated, uneven love, moved me to tears of genuine sympathy.

Director Todd Haynes navigates through the film's challenging themes with skill, shining a harsh light on the twisted ways of predators with unsettling realism. He approaches a subject that could easily cause a stir, as it pulls from headlines we've all seen, yet he manages to create a film that's as intellectually stimulating as it is captivating, guiding the audience through an emotional journey with the expertise of a master.

What really stays with me, though, is how the film knows when to call it quits. "May-December" has moments where it feels like it's starting to drag, and I was worried it might lose its way. But then it pulls off something remarkable - it ends right when it should. The film wraps up without any unnecessary fuss, leaving a quiet impact that echoes with you. In a world where movies often overstay their welcome, this one feels refreshingly confident and decisively smart.

Over the past thirty years, Todd Haynes has been one of the leaders of New Queer Cinema. His movies have focused on housewives whose worlds have collapsed (Safe, Far from Heaven, Carol), Bob Dylan (I'm Not There) and forever chemicals (Dark Waters). Now he brings us a fictionalized account of Mary Kay LeTourneau, who infamously raped one of her students and started a family with him.

Haynes regular Julianne Moore plays the LeTourneau character, now getting interviewed by an actress (Natalie Portman) about to play her. The movie deserves credit for Haynes's direction, Moore's and Portman's performances, and the Academy Award-nominated script and cinematography (which deliberately gives the movie a fuzzy look). The downside is the music. It gets played loudly throughout much of the movie, and ends up dominating. This doesn't add anything to the movie, and it distracts from a lot of the action. They really could've done without that.

If you're looking for a good story, then this will be the movie for you, just as long as you remember that it has some of the most obnoxious music ever.

PS: LeTourneau was the daughter of John Schmitz, a congressman from Orange County and member of the John Birch Society.