May December
| May December | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Todd Haynes |
| Screenplay by | Samy Burch |
| Story by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Christopher Blauvelt |
| Edited by | Affonso Gonçalves |
| Music by | Marcelo Zarvos |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
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Running time | 117 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million[2] |
| Box office | $645,782[3] |
May December is a 2023 American drama film directed by Todd Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik. Loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, it stars Natalie Portman as an actress who travels to Savannah, Georgia, to meet and study the life of the controversial woman (Julianne Moore) she is set to play in a film—the woman being infamous for her 23-year-long relationship with her husband (Charles Melton), which began when he was 13 years old.[4][5]
The film was announced in June 2021, with Portman and Moore joining the cast. Filming took place in mid-2022 in Savannah. It premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023, where Netflix acquired the North American distribution rights.
May December was released in select theaters in the United States on November 17, 2023, before streaming on Netflix on December 1. It received critical acclaim and various accolades, including nominations for four Golden Globe Awards, and was named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the American Film Institute.[6]
Plot
In 2015, actress Elizabeth Berry arrives in Savannah, Georgia, to research her upcoming role in an indie film. Elizabeth will be playing Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who, in 1992 at the age of 36, was caught having sex with 13-year-old Joe Yoo, a schoolmate of her son Georgie, at the pet store where they both worked. During a prison sentence, Gracie gave birth to Joe's child. 23 years later, Gracie and Joe are married with three children: Honor, who is at college, and twins Charlie and Mary, who are about to graduate from high school.
Elizabeth interviews Gracie and Joe about their relationship and assures them that she intends to portray their story honestly. Visiting the pet store where the couple met and worked, Elizabeth sees the stock room where Gracie and Joe were caught having sex and reenacts the scene alone. She also speaks with Tom, Gracie's first husband, her son Georgie, who is now a musician, and her defense lawyer. They portray Gracie in varying ways, depicting her as naïve and passive, while also showing how destructive her actions were. Elizabeth attends more family events leading up to the twins' high school graduation.
Joe engages in a private text conversation with a friend from a Facebook group dedicated to his hobby of rearing monarch butterflies. At one point, Joe proposes they take a vacation together, but she rebuffs him by reminding him that he is married. When visiting his father, Joe ponders what life will be like with Gracie once all their children have left for college.
Elizabeth participates in a Q&A at a drama class at the twins' high school and discusses the intimacy actors and crew members feel when shooting a sex scene. When Elizabeth says she enjoys playing morally ambiguous characters, Mary is visibly offended. Charlie shares a cannabis joint with Joe, who reveals to his son he has never tried cannabis before. High, Joe has a breakdown and weeps in Charlie's arms.
Honor returns home from college and the family, accompanied by Elizabeth, go out to dinner to celebrate the twins' graduation. At the restaurant, they have an awkward encounter with Tom, Georgie, and the rest of Gracie's old family. Georgie speaks to Elizabeth in private and proposes that she get him a job as a music supervisor on the film in exchange for details about Gracie's life; he claims that he read Gracie's diary and discovered there that her older brothers had sexually abused her. Georgie also threatens that if not given the job, he will disparage the film to the press when it is released. Elizabeth unconvincingly says she will "look into it" and then gets a ride home from Joe.
Elizabeth invites Joe to her accommodation, where he gives her a letter Gracie wrote him early in their relationship. The two have sex, and Elizabeth tells Joe that he still has time to start a new life. However, Joe leaves once Elizabeth refers to his experiences as a "story," saying that story is "his life." Joe tearfully confronts Gracie about the start of their relationship, wondering whether he was "too young." Gracie insists he seduced her, and repeatedly asks who was in control. Elizabeth reads the letter Joe gave her as a monologue to practice her performance as Gracie.
The morning of graduation, one of Joe's butterflies emerges from its chrysalis. Later, the whole family watches Charlie and Mary graduate while Joe weeps alone at the edge of the crowd. As Elizabeth prepares to leave, Gracie tells her that Georgie fabricated the story of abuse by her brothers, and that she and Georgie spoke daily.
On the set of the film, Elizabeth films multiple takes of a scene depicting Gracie grooming Joe at the pet store. While the director is satisfied, she asks to film another take, insisting that the scene is "getting more real."
Cast
- Natalie Portman as Elizabeth
- Julianne Moore as Gracie
- Charles Melton as Joe Yoo
- Cory Michael Smith as Georgie
- Elizabeth Yu as Mary Atherton-Yoo
- Gabriel Chung as Charlie Atherton-Yoo
- Piper Curda as Honor Atherton-Yoo
- D. W. Moffett as Tom Atherton
- Lawrence Arancio as Morris Sperber
Production
Screenwriter Samy Burch outlined the script with her husband, Alex Mechanik, and completed the screenplay on Memorial Day, 2019. Producer Jessica Elbaum came onboard after reading the screenplay.[7] In June 2021, it was announced that Portman and Moore were cast in the film.[8] Portman recruited Todd Haynes to direct.[7] In September 2022, Melton joined the cast.[9] In January 2023, it was reported that Piper Curda, Elizabeth Yu, and Gabriel Chung had joined the cast.[10]
Principal photography took place in Savannah, Georgia,[11] and wrapped after 23 days in November 2022.[12][13] Edward Lachman was initially going to serve as cinematographer but was replaced by Christopher Blauvelt due to Lachman's hip injury.[12][11] The script, which is set in Savannah, was originally set in Camden, Maine.[14]
Haynes said the film is partly inspired by the Ingmar Bergman films Persona (1966) and Winter Light (1963).[15]
Music
Marcelo Zarvos's score for the film is an adaptation and reorchestration of Michel Legrand's music for The Go-Between.[15] Haynes originally played Legrand's score on set and during editing for inspiration until eventually the team "ended up embracing so many aspects of the original score that Marcelo adapted and added original music to it and then re-orchestrated it."[16] Legrand was credited along with Zarvos.
Release
In February 2023, Sky Cinema acquired the UK distribution rights.[17] The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival,[18] where it premiered on May 20, 2023.[19][20] In May 2023, Netflix acquired the North American distribution rights at the Marché du Film for $11 million.[21] The film also screened as the "Opening Night Film" at the 2023 New York Film Festival on September 29.[22]
The film was released in select U.S. theaters on November 17, 2023, before streaming on Netflix in the U.S. and Canada on December 1.[22][23] It was released by Sky Cinema in the United Kingdom on December 8.[24]
Reception
Critical response
May December received critical acclaim.[a] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 275 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Swaddling its difficult fact-based story in a blanket of campy humor, May December is a seductively discomforting watch."[37] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 85 out of 100, based on 52 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[38]
In his review following its Cannes premiere, Peter Debruge of Variety called May December an "endlessly fascinating movie" and added, "As layered and infinitely open-to-interpretation as any of [Haynes's] films, it's also the most generous and direct […] The potential for passion, transformation and subversion hangs heavy in the air".[39] David Ehrlich of IndieWire called the film "a heartbreakingly sincere piece of high camp that teases real human drama from the stuff of tabloid sensationalism", and praised Melton's "well-modulated and eventually rather moving performance" and Moore's "predictably sensational, soft-hard performance".[40] The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw found the film "amusing and elegant […] delivered with a cool, shrewd precision by Todd Haynes" and described Portman and Moore's performances as containing "a potent frenmity".[41]
Bilge Ebiri of Vulture called May December "very funny and light on its feet, but also a deeply uncomfortable movie", writing that Haynes "uses the trappings of camp to draw attention to the disconnect between what's happening onscreen and our response to it", and concluding: "It feels at times like the director himself [is] looking for the right tone with which to tell this story. He doesn’t know exactly how to feel about all this. So he feels all the things, and makes sure we do, too."[42]
Rolling Stone's CT Jones praised Melton's performance, noting his skill and physicality in the role. "It's an inscrutable well of interpersonal grievances, power imbalances, and history, a perfect breeding ground for sharp work from screen icons Portman and Moore, the latter in her fifth film with Haynes," they wrote. "But while the two are competing to see how much cringe and humor one can conceivably fit into a movie about sexual assault and grooming, there’s Melton off to the side, quietly stealing the show."[43]
Accolades
May December was ranked tenth in Sight and Sound's list of the 50 best films of 2023, out of 363 films nominated by 106 British and international participants.[44]
Notes
- ^ Attributed to multiple references:[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]
- ^ Shared with American Fiction, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- ^ Shared with The Zone of Interest.
- ^ Shared with Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer.
- ^ Shared with Emma Stone for Poor Things and Sandra Hüller for Anatomy of a Fall.
- ^ Shared with Mark Ruffalo for Poor Things and Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer.
- ^ Shared with Nicole Holofcener for You Hurt My Feelings.
- ^ Shared with Robert De Niro for Killers of the Flower Moon, Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer, and Glenn Howerton and BlackBerry.
- ^ Shared with Dominic Sessa for The Holdovers.
References
- ^ "May December (15)". British Board of Film Classification. October 20, 2023. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Anne Thompson; Brian Welk (May 12, 2023). "Here's the 20 Hottest Titles for Sale at Cannes". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "May December (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (May 21, 2023). "Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman Are Both Lead-Actress Oscar Worthy in Todd Haynes' Delicious May December". Variety. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ "How Netflix's 'May December' Mirrors the Mary Kay Letourneau Tabloid Sex Scandal". variety. December 2023.
- ^ https://www.afi.com/award/afi-awards-2023/
- ^ a b Jones, Marcus (December 4, 2023). "Screenwriter Samy Burch on Building to That Final 'Funny Punchline' of 'May December'". Indiewire. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (June 11, 2021). "Natalie Portman And Julianne Moore To Star In Todd Haynes' 'May December' – Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 14, 2022). "'May December' Helmer Todd Haynes Sets Charles Melton To Star With Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Donnelly, Matt (January 17, 2023). "Todd Haynes Drama 'May December' Adds Three Actors as Kids of Julianne Moore and Charles Melton (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Tangcay, Jazz (November 7, 2022). "Cinematographer Ed Lachman Had to Exit Todd Haynes Drama 'May December' After Breaking His Hip". Variety. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Lattanzio, Ryan (November 21, 2022). "Todd Haynes' 'May December' with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore Wraps Production". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Frost, Caroline (May 21, 2023). "May December Stars Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore Talk Unfair Expectations On Women "Even At Cannes"; Todd Haynes Quips On Macron – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
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- ^ a b Gillis, Drew (September 23, 2023). "Todd Haynes explains how Mary Kay Letourneau, Ingmar Bergman, and Turner Classic Movies inspired May December". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "How Todd Haynes' May December channeled Mary Kay Letourneau and classic female melodramas". Entertainment Weekly. September 26, 2023. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Parfitt, Orlando (February 1, 2023). "Sky adds Michael Mann, Todd Haynes films to 2023 originals slate". Screen International. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "The films of the Official Selection 2023". Festival de Cannes. April 13, 2023. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ mraultpauillac (May 10, 2023). "The Screenings Guide of the 76th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (May 21, 2023). "Cannes: Todd Haynes Movie May December Gets Warm Reception". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Wiseman, Andreas (May 23, 2023). "Netflix Lands Todd Haynes' Buzzy Cannes Competition Film 'May December' In Splashy $11M North American Rights Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (July 11, 2023). "'May December,' Starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, to Open New York Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ "Peek Inside 'May December' with an Eerie New Trailer". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ Simmons, Roxy (November 30, 2023). "Everything new on Sky and NOW in December 2023 from Genie to A Very Brassic Christmas". Yahoo! News. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Brueggemann, Tom (December 11, 2023). "'Killers of the Flower Moon' Goes to PVOD Before AppleTV+, Ousting 'Oppenheimer' as #1". IndieWire. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ Tabberer, Jamie (December 8, 2023). "May December's Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore on films about films and their dream roles". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Brueggemann, Tom (December 8, 2023). "From 'Poor Things' to 'American Fiction,' 2023 Gives the Specialized Platform Release Its Last, Best Shot". IndieWire. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Cremona, Patrick (December 8, 2023). "Julianne Moore on exploring her "challenging" May December character". Radio Times. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Wong, Brittany (December 8, 2023). "How 'May December' Unpacks The Insidious Way Grooming Works". HuffPost. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (December 2, 2023). "Netflix users confused as 'masterpiece' movie arrives in US – but not in UK". The Independent. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ McNab, Kaitlyn (December 1, 2023). "Here's Everything Coming to Netflix in December". Teen Vogue. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Caruso, Skyler (November 30, 2023). "Everything to Know About May December". People. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Cremona, Patrick; Hibbs, James (November 29, 2023). "New on Netflix UK December 2023: All the upcoming shows and films". Radio Times. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Barquin, Juan (November 15, 2023). "May December Director Todd Haynes on the Dangers of Attraction". Them. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Chase, Stephanie (September 5, 2023). "First teaser for Natalie Portman's critically acclaimed new movie May December". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Waheed, Jabeen (June 1, 2023). "May December is the controversial age-gap melodrama that has won Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore Oscar buzz". Glamour. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ "May December". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ "May December". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (May 20, 2023). "May December Review: Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore Play Different Angles on a Tabloid Enigma". Variety. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (May 20, 2023). "May December Review: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore Get Reflective in Haynes' Deliciously Campy Drama". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (May 21, 2023). "May December review – Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman potent in Highsmithian drama". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Ebiri, Bilge (May 22, 2023). "Todd Haynes's May December Is a Deeply Uncomfortable Movie". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ Jones, CT (December 6, 2023). "Charles Melton Is the Biggest Surprise This Awards Season". Rolling Stone. Penske Media. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "The 50 best films of 2023". BFI. December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
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External links
- May December at IMDb
- May December on Netflix
- 2023 films
- 2023 independent films
- 2023 romantic drama films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- American films based on actual events
- American independent films
- American romantic drama films
- English-language romantic drama films
- Netflix original films
- Films about actors
- Films about child sexual abuse
- Films directed by Todd Haynes
- Films produced by Christine Vachon
- Films produced by Natalie Portman
- Films produced by Will Ferrell
- Films scored by Marcelo Zarvos
- Films set in 2015
- Films set in Savannah, Georgia
- Films shot in Savannah, Georgia
- Gloria Sanchez Productions films
- Killer Films films
- Romantic drama films based on actual events
- Films about scandalous teacher–student relationships