In regards to Todd Haynes’ latest film, MAY DECEMBER, the use of the score to The Go Between by Michel Legrand is proving to be as contentious as the subject matter of a cougar grooming a cub for inter-generational carnality.

The lifting of Michel Legrand’s lush soundtrack has been reinterpreted, re orchestrated by Marcelo Zarvos to legitimate effect.

MAY DECEMBER is a kind of go between movie, ostensibly about an actress researching a role, rummaging around the facts to employ in a work of fiction.

Natalie Portman plays Elizabeth, the actress assigned to portray Gracie, played by Julianne More. The reason for the role is an upcoming dramatisation of events that occurred twenty years ago when the then 36-year old Gracie and 13-year old Joe had a sexual relationship that resulted in her impregnation and imprisonment on child sex charges.

The couple married and now lead a seemingly picture-perfect suburban life. As Elizabeth ingratiates herself into the everyday lives of Gracie and Joe, the uncomfortable facts of their scandal unfurl, causing long dormant emotions to resurface.

Back in May, when the film premiered at Cannes and all through December in the lead up to the award season, MAY DECEMBER was trumpeted as a contender with a predicted swag of Oscar nominations, particularly for its two leads, Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, who are excellent. Come February and MAY DECEMBER is up for only one Academy award, the sassy, saucy sizzling screenplay by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik.

This may seem a snub by the Academy but as screenplays are the bedrock of any motion picture it is clearly a positive imprimatur. After all, that’s what Thelma & Louise won its Oscar for.

Make a date with MAY DECEMBER, put it in your calendar for this month’s movie outing.