The latest from director Todd Haynes (‘Carol’, ‘Far From Heaven’) is a dark and twisted bit of mind-bendy creepiness that provides stars Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore with plenty of room to strut their best-in-the-business stuff. Moore is Gracie, a woman (based on Mary Kay Letourneau) who had an affair with a seventh grader 20 years ago and has since married and had children with him. Portman plays Elizabeth, an actress prepping to play Gracie in a feature film by shadowing her for a week. The give and take between the two stars is next-level, and they both give it their all in what starts as a simple get-to-know-you but slowly and palpably becomes a borderline-horror film that’ll make you squirm and cringe, even as you marvel at the ridiculous talent on display.
4.5/5 stars