First thought on MAY DECEMBER is can we have a movie that doesn’t have a character in the entertainment industry in it? Hollywood has become an ouroboros
7th grade is an interesting choice. Still two years before even ancient Jews considered a boy a man. A few years older and it’s an age where the idea is a popular SNL skit starring Pete Davidson. And the age President Macron of France was when he started an affair with his 40 year old teacher who became his wife. 7th grade is a choice that makes it clear they didn’t want anyone thinking about the morality of age difference. And they just wanted to focus on the character study.
It does raise some questions on the morality of Juliane Moore’s friends though. Which is a great question for a character driven movie which this clearly is. I’m hoping by the end we see how Natalie Portman chooses to play her.
I get that the story is solemn. But I think a more realistic portrayal is if people were making off color jokes. Like make it clear that some people find it cringe. But this store owner could be a good place for that. Maybe a scene in a bar later. Maybe talking to the kids’ schoolmates. But I feel like this town would have a ton of local jokes about them. There should even be a line or something about still getting looks sometimes. That’s always been something I found unrealistic somber movies.
Nice touch earlier showing Natalie Portman mirroring Moore. This scene where she’s dry humping the air in the stock room seems over the top. But I just heard Margo Robbie in an interview with Cillian Murphy talk about her animal work for BARBIE. And she said something like no matter how much she pretended to be a flamingo she couldn’t find the character. So I’m buying that actors are weirder than I would give them credit for.
They still do it too much. But the movie actor researching a role is a great way to create the vignettes with each character.
I wonder if they’re going to explore anymore that Portman’s answer about the sex scenes was obviously sensual in front of these teens.
Oh yeah, that lawyer was played exceptionally well. Disarming at first with the compliment. And seemingly almost non-judgemental at first. But then clearly judgemental. Just a sophisticated man talking about his ex-client. And it was on the page. But the lines were perfectly delivered. Also, in general just really great dialog.
Oh, and the nod to all the stuff that we’re not seeing was appreciated. This is a very contained view. I’ll be far less miffed now if they don’t actually depict it.
I never realized how intimate women putting make up on each other is. Like obviously they’re playing it up for dramatic tension. But even in cultures where homosexuality is so prohibited that men can hold hands in public and no one thinks there’s a possibility of a sexual relationship there’s nothing close to this.
The scene with the acting class is making the butterfly scene a bit more confusing. Like he’s obviously emotionally stunted. And they did a good job showing her flirting in the doctor’s office to put him on his back foot and open up. But then her mildly throwing it at the class makes this scene where he’s like a kid telling a pretty girl about his hobbies… IDK I don’t think Portman’s supposed to be genuinely into him obviously. But I’m just not sure how the acting class contributes to what’s obviously a sensual vibe here.
No scene lasts a second too long or a second too short. They all end very intentionally jarringly. Constantly keeps you off balance in a great way that really mimics how Portman is feeling in these conversations.
Julianne Moore is really giving a tour de force performance. Subtle and loud in all the right places. Portman too. But as the tour guide character there’s not as much there. As obviously there shouldn’t be. We’re not watching a movie about how an actress creates a performance.
Speaking of which the movie making aspect, that Moore is putting on performance for Portman, actually brings a lightness in what could be Lifetime fare. Which they can just dip into. The alternative is a movie of 90% domestic mundaneness with highly dramatic scenes interspersed.
OK, they’re doing a parallel between Portman and Moore’s character. Which seems a bit out of place in this story. Like they felt they had to. But seems a little writerly. Definitely not hiding the hand of the artist.
Oh, with the dress I get it now. It’s more kinda flamingo acting stuff. She’s doing an acting version of SINGLE WHITE FEMALE.
Jesus, that “It’s all I do” line hit hard.
I’m fully expecting him to make a move. But I’m going to be disappointed if she hooks up with Joe.
A little Lifetime. But it needed a dramatic climax. I think the kids would have been a better choice.
OK, still a little Lifetime but the character payoff is worth that tradeoff.
A little weird since Portman doesn’t give off that femme fatale vibe. Like I could see Angelina Jolie seducing him for the role and giving the “that’s what grownups do” line and me just buying it.
Hmm, I thought 7th grade was 11
Their last exchange was way too much. Especially since they had the very on the nose ending with the snake. Still. One miss in an otherwise great movie.
POST: The cheesiness of what the actual movie turned out to be I think was there to show just how much her entire visit was a waste of everyone’s time and just a cruel violation. I guess it has to be because all of her actions, and presence to begin with is so psychotic.