To say that May December is an exploration of “morally grey characters” is to give the movie – or perhaps the people in it, too much credit. Sure, May December spends a lot of time trying to conceptualize actions that very clearly fall on the side of wrong instead of somewhere in the shades of grey the movie attempts to place them in. But despite the movie sometimes playing fast and loose with morality for the sake of storytelling, it always feels like the movie understands that there is a line that has been crossed as much as some of the characters do.
Perhaps that’s what makes the fact that the movie ultimately leaves the moral decision up to the viewer so ultimately unsatisfying. Some actions – some stories – require an unequivocal moral stance. This is one of them.
May December isn’t all that interested in that, however. It mostly works as a showcase for three fantastic actors, though the movie is perhaps intended to be a showcase for two. That Charles Melton ends up stealing the show – and at times, provides the most raw and compelling performance in a movie that is more about him than anyone else – feels more like a fluke than authorial intent.
But that shouldn’t take away from Melton’s fantastic performance. The way he cycles from certainty to vulnerability to certainty once again isn’t just believable, it’s understandable. The tension in the family unit is palpable in every second, and yet there’s also a real sense of happiness in every scene involving Joe and his kids. The situation is what it is – and as viewers, it’s hard not to judge and to feel anger, but the emotions of the people involved in it are also very real and complicated.
Portman and Moore are as compelling as expected as Elizabeth and Gracie, but there’s very little warmth in their back and forth. The psychological thriller part of May December is the weakest part of the film. Sure, at times the movie tries to dig deep into Gracie, but does anyone care about Gracie’s reasons? Even Elizabeth, who is presumably there to understand her, and who has a certain morbid fascination with “morally grey” characters, has very little sympathy for Gracie. The same goes for the viewers.
Overall, May December isn’t really all that memorable or compelling. It’s just a movie about a messed-up situation that’s elevated by outstanding performances. If, at times, the movie does a good job at making you consider why we, as a society, are more fascinated than horrified by some things, then at least that’s something. There isn’t much more than that.
May December is available to stream on Netflix.