So does his newest tale "May December." Yes, the subject matter is a bit more risque than in the 40s. But it's got the typical female firepower with its star Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. This Netflix production which first opened in theaters has Oscar buzz all around it.
It's Georgia 2015 and an actress (Portman) comes to town to do research on a woman (Moore) who gained some tabloid notoriety in jail because she, at the age of 30 or so, got romantically involved with a seventh-grader. Yes, you read that right. Well, now this is going to be made into a film, probably for Lifetime, and Portman wants to learn all about Moore.
Ultimately, Moore's character indeed married Joe, the erstwhile seventh grader, and even had three children with him. In fact, two of the kids are headed to college in the film which is odd given that Joe is barely 35 himself.
That's pretty much the plotline that serves as the impetus for a lot of really interesting acting. With both these women, nothing is as it appears. Or is it? You are kept guessing. Meanwhile, all I could think about throughout was myself in the 7th grade...doing that.
As I wrote about, this is the kind of film that Haynes directs and eats for supper. It is compelling at every turn. And, as good as the two gals are it, the very best acting in the movie comes from Charles Melton as Joe who essentially is both Moore's hubby and child. Melton has won a bunch of awards for his work here and I'm thinking a Supporting Actor Oscar nod is also on the way.
Again, this is the kind of potboiler you would watch on TCM some rainy Sunday. After all, it is TCM that airs all those WB movies from 1942.
LEN'S RATING: Three-and-a-half stars.
Dinner last night: Hawaiian sausage.
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