Charles Melton went from hunk to hulk in ‘May December’ and could win an Oscar for his efforts
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Charles Melton is having his breakout moment in Todd Haynes‘ newest movie “May December,” which just released in theaters in the USA on November 17. Melton is best known for playing Reggie Mantle in the TV teen drama “Riverdale” but he’s now flexed his dramatic acting muscles in Haynes’ superb melodrama opposite Oscar winners Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore.
Portman plays Elizabeth — an actress who visits a couple played by Melton (Joe) and Moore (Gracie). Elizabeth is doing research on the couple for a film based on their scandalous past — they previously struck up an affair when Joe was just 13 and Gracie was much older. Elizabeth’s visit brings up the whole ordeal again and there are so many deliciously dramatic moments littered throughout the lush film.
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While the drama sears, the picture is also very, very funny. The comedy comes mostly from Portman and Moore, however, while Melton carries the burden of most of the drama. And he handles it well, providing the most heartbreaking performance in the film. Catch the film on the big screen to see for yourself, or head to Netflix on December 1 to stream it. For now, take the words of these critics about how good Melton is.
Matt Dougherty (Awards Daily) observed: “It’s Melton who steals the show as Joe becomes the soul of the film. He represents the truth in a swirl of real-world lies, gaslighting, and the smoke and mirrors of Hollywood, and his truth is nothing short of disturbing. For all the daggers and barbs that make ‘May December’ such a delicious watch, it’s Melton that ascends it into something genuinely affecting.”
Esther Zuckerman (The Daily Beast) proclaimed: “Melton is the surprise here. Though he projects swagger as Reggie on The CW, he tamps down his heartthrob qualities to play a man who is both old for his age and young. With one kid away at college and two more graduating high school, he holds the posture of a middle-aged dad while at the same time maintaining the innocence of someone still stuck in childhood. It’s a heartbreaking turn that complements and adds weight to an intentionally mannered universe.”
Ema Sasic (Next Best Picture) noted: “It is Melton who really gets the moving beats in this film. He was taken advantage of at a young age, but it’s not until Elizabeth’s visit and his children’s high school graduation that he fully processes it. He didn’t get to experience doing stupid stuff with his friends or slowly become an adult because his youth and innocence were taken away from him… Melton holds his own against these heavy hitters to provide a devastating performance that leaves the audience wanting more.”
Melton has been on the edges of our predicted five nominees for Best Supporting Actor for some time, according to our Oscars odds chart. Our predicted five nominees at the time of writing are: Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”), Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”), Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”), and Willem Dafoe (“Poor Things”). Sure, those actors are far more experienced and are bigger names, but Melton is just as deserving.
He dialed back the charisma he displayed in “Riverdale,” added 40 pounds to his athletic frame and delivers a far more measured performance. Voters will be impressed with all of that. Plenty of actors have been nominated in this category for roles that feel like a 180 from how we usually see them: Sacha Baron Cohen (in 2021 for “The Trial of the Chicago 7”), Dev Patel (in 2017 for “Lion”), and Jonah Hill (in 2012 for “Moneyball”) are just a few examples.
Voters will also like how Melton has gone from the star of a teenage drama to a serious actor in a major project from an auteur like Haynes. Johnny Depp used to be in “21 Jump Street” before he carved out a career for himself as a Hollywood star, landing three Oscar nominations along the way. It’s early on, of course, but Melton could have that same trajectory.
The role is also full of “Oscar moments.” There’s one scene when Joe, who is routinely, subtly controlled by Gracie, summons up the courage to confront her about their past. Melton’s body language and physicality here are excellent — Joe is almost hunched over in fear, writhing his hands, his words choking in his throat as he tries to be brave enough to speak up. Another scene features Joe with Elizabeth (no spoilers here) and again, it’s just heartbreaking. It’s so clear that Joe, despite being 36 now, is still a child in many ways. Even his teenage son seems older than him.
Melton not only holds his own against the might of Moore and Portman but — dare I say it? — he even outshines them in certain scenes. I’m reminded of Paul Dano, who starred in a supporting role opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s “There Will Be Blood.” Day-Lewis won Best Actor for that film in 2008 but Dano missed out on a Best Supporting Actor nomination. My theory is that Dano, who only had a couple of weeks to prepare for the movie, was good in the role but just couldn’t quite match the overwhelming talent of Day-Lewis. Like the characters in the film, Day-Lewis consumed Dano. But Melton matches Moore and Portman beat for beat and voters should take notice of that.
Finally, it’s important to note the interesting change in this category. Typically, Supporting Actor has been a ripe field for veterans and more experienced actors to plow, hence our predicted nominees of Downey Jr., De Niro, and Dafoe. However, more recently, younger actors in breakout roles have also found success in this category. Barry Keoghan was nominated last year for “The Banshees of Inisherin.” In 2022, Kodi Smit-McPhee was nominated for “The Power of the Dog.” And, in 2017, Dev Patel was nominated for “Lion” and Lucas Hedges was nominated for “Manchester by the Sea.” Melton fits in with those players.
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