Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance, a married couple buckle under the pressure when a Hollywood actress meets them to do research for a film about their past.

Ms Portman plays Elizabeth, an actor preparing to play Gracie (Julianne Moore), who years ago was the subject of scandal played out in the tabloid papers. The more time Elizabeth spends in Gracie's life, the more the lines blur between the two characters. At times it feels like Todd Haynes has morphed the social scandal-laden films of Douglas Sirk with the Persona era films of Ingmar Bergman. Mighty praise indeed.

As the year's "Top Ten Lists" and award season nominations approach, now is the time to see May December. -Peter H