‘May December’

A psychological thriller as a sexual scandal 20 years earlier and time in prison is revisited when Gracie hosts the actress slated to play her in a forthcoming film.

A comfortable South Carolina homelife for Gracie (Julianne Moore), husband Joe Yoo (Charles Melton) and teenage kids is upended by the arrival of Elizabeth (Natalie Portman). A film is planned with Gracie looking to ensure she is portrayed accurately or at least sympathetically. Twenty years earlier a pregnant Gracie had been imprisoned for her relationship with a then 13 year-old Joe Yoo, schoolfriend of her son Georgie.

Moral ambiguity lies at the heart of director Todd Haynes’ latest as Elizabeth inveigles her way into the household, talking to family, friends and ex-husband Tom (D.W. Moffett). It’s a precision dissection by the actress in the warm hues of cozy households and balmy nights.

Nominated for the 2024 original screenplay Oscar

Rating: 74%

Director: Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, Carol)

Writer: Samy Burch (Coyote vs. Acme)

Main cast: Natalie Portman (Black Swan, Closer), Julianne Moore (Far From Heaven, Boogie Nights), Charles Melton (Bad Boys For Life, TV’s Riverdale)

‘Call Jane’

More character study than political commentary, Call Jane creates a solid, engaging fiction within the confines of a genuine politic.

The termination of a pregnancy that threatens the life of a 40+ year old married woman is rejected by the board of the local hospital. Joy (Elizabeth Banks – The Hunger Games, The Beanie Bubble), the wife of lawyer Will (Chris Messina – Argo, Air), is reluctantly forced to explore alternatives. This is not America of today but late 1960s – and Joy’s enquiries lead her to the illegal Call Jane organisation, headed by Virginia (Sigourney Weaver – Alien, Avatar). As she becomes more and more involved with the women, so Joy finds herself moving in unexpected directions.

Quietly allowing the narrative to unfold, director Phyllis Nagy (TV movie Mrs Harris) presents as is the story and the organisation’s early history. There’s few bells and whistles but plenty to cheer about with its female empowerment and a confidant performance from Elizabeth Banks, too often cast in the kookie roles of The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect and their like.

Rating: 59%

‘Carol’

Lauded by critics, expected awards by the bagful, the exquisite Carol looks stunning and is superbly acted yet, as a film, is strangely uninvolving.

Helmed by Todd Haynes, it is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel The Price of Salt and very much a companion piece to Haynes’ earlier, similarly 1950s-set Far From Heaven.

A quiet yet incandescent Cate Blanchett as a predatory married woman heads an impressive cast, including Rooney Mara and Sarah Paulson (12 Years a Slave, Mud). But for all the intelligent poise, sophisticated art direction and costumes, impressive  soundtrack  and cinematography, the nuanced storytelling is a little too insular, a little too hidden.

Nominated for 6 Oscars in 2016 (including Blanchett, Rooney and adapted script).

Rating: 64%

Director: Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, I’m Not There)

Writer: Phyllis Nagy (Mrs Harris) – adapted from the Patricia Highsmith novel

Main cast: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, The Aviator), Rooney Mara (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Side Effects), Sarah Paulson (12 Years a Slave, Mud)