An acting tour-de-force by Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman in a complex identity drama, loosely based on the ’90s tabloid scandal of Mary Kay Letourneau, who at age 35 served a prison sentence for rape when her sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy was made public.

Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), a popular television star, has arrived in a tight-knit island community in Savannah, Georgia. She will be doing intimate research for a new part, ingratiating herself into the lives of Gracie (Julianne Moore), whom she will be playing on-screen, and her much younger husband, Joe (Charles Melton), to better understand the psychology and circumstances that more than 20 years ago made them notorious tabloid figures. As Elizabeth attempts to get closer to the family, the uncomfortable facts of their scandal unfurl, causing difficult, long-dormant emotions to resurface. Filmmaker Todd Haynes has made an intricate work that looks at class, scandal, performance, within a society that is fascinated by celebrity status and trauma.

Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman could both be nominated for an Oscar, due to their extraordinary performances in this tale of repression and desire, performance and spectatorship. Todd Haynes has proven himself adept at directing actors to Oscar-nominated roles as he directed Moore (this film is their fifth collaboration) to a Best Actress nomination in 2003 for Far From Heaven. Five years later, Cate Blanchett was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for Haynes’ I’m Not There, and then she received a Best Actress nomination for Carol in 2016. Rooney Mara also earned an Oscar bid, for Best Supporting Actress, for Carol showing that Haynes has a proven track record of earning accolades for his actors. Once again, he has set the stage for Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, who give brilliant lead and supporting performances, so perhaps their talents will be celebrated for May December.

This film should be eligible for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman or both), Best Supporting Actor (Charles Melton), Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.