20 Best Movies Of 2023
5. May December
As surely the year's most discomforting film, May December tackles its tricky subject matter with gallows humour and almost horror-tinged undertones, grounding its unsettling drama in the transformative performances of Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and a breakout Charles Melton.
The story of an actress (Portman) researching the role of a lifetime, Todd Haynes' haunting character study concerns a teacher (Moore) who married her student (Melton) after their "relationship" started when he just thirteen. Ambiguous, surprising, tender and unnerving, it's a difficult sit rife with twists and big questions.
A film that requires its audience to push through what's presented on-screen and what's actually taking place, May December is as deceptive as its central character, but also as heartbreaking as the boy at the centre of her life. It's a daring, fact-based melodrama, and features an unforgettable trio of performances.