We’re deep in the heart of awards season, which means deep stories with strong emotions. That’s certainly the case with May December, which is loosely based on the narrative of Mary Kay Letourneau, the teacher who had an affair with a middle school student.

In this new film from Todd Haynes, an actress (Natalie Portman) has been cast as the lead in a film about a Georgia woman (Julianne Moore) who had an affair with a 13-year-old boy (Charles Melton). Now, nearly 24 years later, the woman and the boy are married, and their children are about to graduate from high school. It’s a time of reflection for the couple, and into that delicate period comes this actress who is digging into their lives, past and present. Will it bring them to a breaking point?

There are a lot of aspects of the real-life story that are worth considering, especially when it comes to what that kind of spotlight and relationship would do to the emotional and mental development of a young man. We see some of those aspects explored in this film. It’s also at times an exploration of what would lead a 36-year-old woman to commit to a relationship with a 13-year-old child. And, at times, it’s the story of a scheming actress who would do anything—and push anyone—in order to craft a richer performance.

The problem is the film doesn’t seem to know what it wants to focus on. With all those possibilities in the midst of this film, we don’t get enough depth or resolution for any of them. That is a shame.

What does work here is some of the craft. I enjoyed a number of the shots and sequences in this film. The cinematography draws you in even if the score feels misplaced at times. The visuals help craft the world and the mood.

I also appreciated the performances. Moore is solid but she’s largely overshadowed here. I was more taken with the layered and devious performance of Portman, who acts as an igniting engine throughout most of the film. At times it almost feels like, most of all, this is her story. And yet, the best performance belongs to Melton. I wish we’d gotten more time to examine the complex stew of emotions for this character. Still, Melton makes the most of his opportunities to shine. She should be in the supporting actor conversation.

There was potential and some good elements here, but it doesn’t all come together as I’d hoped. There are great moments, but the final product is a bit under-whelming.

May December streams on Netflix beginning Friday, December 1.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.