May December - a film that surprised my expectations.

First things first, like everyone has been talking about on almost every social media platform, is the incredibly moving performance of Charles Melton. Surrounded by the incredible achievements and filmography of his cast mates Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, I honestly went in to the film expecting either of the actresses to be the stars of the film for me (which don’t get me wrong they had absolutely astounding performances). What i didn’t expect was to be absolutely blown away by Charles’ portrayal of Joe.

To quickly summarise the plot of the film for some that may have not seen it yet, as Netflix have only made the film available in the US and Canada (a crime). It follows the story of a famously known actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) who visits and spends time with Gracie (Julianne Moore) and her husband Joe (Charles Melton) as she is to be playing the role of Gracie in a film about a certain period of her life. Particularly focusing on when Gracie was a mother of two, at the age of 36, had an affair (though i honestly don’t feel comfortable even calling it an “affair” as its stated in the movie ) with Joe who was 13 years old and just finished the 7th Grade, (the same grade as her own kids…) while they were working at the same pet shop. This is when the news broke out and hit the tabloids, leading to Gracie getting arrested and having Joe’s baby while she was in jail. Though after she got out they married and are still together, with their kids now in the present about to graduate from high school. Elizabeth throughout the film studies and spends time with Gracie in order to gage everything she can about her personality.

Though i’ve seen many refer to ‘May December’ as a dramatic comedy, I personally do find any semblance of comedy that may have been present, is void to me simply through the covert tones of this uncomfortable and horrific life of manipulation that Joe has been subjected to. The musical score I find plays a large impact though to add to the campy features of the film, almost separating or disconnecting us as the audience from what is taking place in the film, in the same way the main characters are left oblivious to what is taking place around them. The melody of the piano that is present during pivotal scene changes in the film, adding not only to this distressing feeling but also the cinematography.

Now circling back to the cast and their performances, focusing first on the “complex” character of Gracie as referred to by Elizabeth when speaking to the high school students. I find it very fitting for her character to be conveyed as someone with a fear for lack of control, micromanaging almost every single aspect of her life that she possibly can. A scene that sticks out is in the dressing room, when her daughter is trying on graduation dresses, perfectly happy with a dress that honestly looked so beautiful on her, only for Gracie to make a cruel comment about her arms. “I want to commend you for being so brave and showing your arms like that” indirectly leading her daughter to change the dress as she became self conscious about her appearance due to the comments made by her own mother. Suppressing and constantly mothering those around her until they do things in the way that suit her own liking. It’s these scenes that demonstrate what we would have likely seen in the interactions between Joe and Gracie when he was 13 and she was 36, a manipulative and controlling relationship that she convinced herself was “normal”.

Elizabeth’s character for me was representative of the blurring of lines between fiction and reality. This woman who attempts to take on the personality and physical appearance of Gracie, from her speech, make-up, to even the clothes she wears at the end of the film. It felt eery to see Elizabeth almost consuming her own entire persona into the identity of Gracie. The monologue honestly made me want to breath, watching Elizabeth place herself completely in the shoes of Gracie, that if this wasn’t at the end of the film i would have felt convinced that Elizabeth was actually Gracie.

Now finally, focusing on the character of Joe, played so heartbreakingly beautifully by Charles Melton. Even though in the film at this stage, Joe is now a 36 year old man with one child already in college, and the other two about to graduate from high school, yet every single scene I felt like he was even younger than his kids. Charles’ mannerisms and body language in scenes were honestly so heartbreaking yet I was in awe watching him. To take on the role of this 36 year old man, left emotionally stunted through the abuse and trauma he’s gone through in his life. The way he presented his physicality and this innocence, i truly have no words to explain just how awe-inspiring his performance was. Specifically the scene where we see him the most vulnerable, confronting Gracie, after all these years coming to a realisation of the significance of what he went through at the young age of just 13 years old. Even the scene where he cries on the shoulder of his son, filled with nothing but worry for his children, this internal awareness of his reality and not wanting his own kids to ever succumb to such a life.

The scene at the end, where Joe watches on behind a fence as his children graduate, tears running down his face as he visibly looks broken honestly made me feel emotional. I felt that scene was so cleverly carried out, Joe stuck behind this fence, full of grief and essentially mourning the loss of the experiences he realises he never had the opportunities to take on.

Todd Haynes I believe truly structured and created this film in the most perfect way. Treating the subject of such sensitive topics from trauma, to manipulation, to grooming, in away that as viewers allows us to feel so many different emotions. Uncomfortable, furious, disappointed, heartbroken, and most of all feel the impact of this cyclical abuse that makes you want to crawl out of your own skin. Also, give Charles Melton the Academy award for Best Supporting actor right now. I will personally be running that campaign for him.