Joey Magidson
If Jesse Eisenberg had just done a live action riff on “A Streetcar Named Marge,” the classic episode of The Simpsons, I would have been delighted. The fact that The Debut only begins that way, before morphing into something surprisingly weird and even a bit bizarre, well that’s just a bonus. Eisenberg follows up A Real Pain with a movie that’s light and enjoyable, yet just as deep. World Premiering at the Telluride Film Festival, I was blown away by how much of a joy and a riot this one is.
The Debut is hardly just a showcase for Eisenberg, who in addition to writing and directing, also appears in the cast, as well as penned all of the original songs. It’s also, for my money, the best performance I’ve ever seen from Julianne Moore, as well as one of Paul Giamatti‘s best. The way the three are able to surprise you, while consistently delighting here, is an absolute treasure. I had a smile plastered on my face the entire time, even as it becomes downright surreal.
Mona Friedman is a New Jersey homemaker who is under-appreciated at home, to the point where she’s barely even noticed. The desire to be seen fuels her to audition for a small role in a local community theater production. Initially dismissed by Jerry (Giamatti), the musical’s director, she can’t comprehend this plan not having worked out for her. Then, big fish in a small pond actress Serena Cherry (Bernadette Peters) drops out. Having been the only other person to audition, Jerry has to give Mona the part. Initially, she’s quite bad, even though she’s overwhelmed with joy to be there. She may love her costars, and especially her leading lady (Halle Bailey), but the performance appears to be beyond her capabilities.
Jerry won’t have it. This may be a silly musical called “Nosy Neighbors” and Mona may be playing a superfluous part in building superintendent Miss Danielle, but he’s going to work her like anyone else. When an exercise together leads to a breakthrough, Mona makes some progress. That unlocks something in her, and this connection to the role begins to become her very identity. Soon, she’s fighting with Jerry over the contents of the script, trying to make it all about the truth of her character. Oh, and she’s also taken to living in a run down motel, trying to fix leaks like a super would. It only gets weirder from there.
Julianne Moore has never been better than she is here as Mona. At this premiere screening here in Telluride, the centerpiece acting exercise sequence between her and Paul Giamatti drew a spontaneous standing ovation. She’s that good, yes. This performance is absolute perfection. The way Moore depicts a shrinking violet and bad actress getting better while falling apart is a sight to behold. She’s often hilarious, while still getting to be deeply weird, especially in the third act. Giamatti finds the heart but also the razor wit of a taskmaster director who knows he’s not even a big fish in a small pond at this point. Their chemistry together is amazing. In addition to a nice Halle Bailey and the aforementioned Bernadette Peters cameo, the supporting players include Craig Bierko, Patrick Fabian, K. Todd Freeman, Havana Rose Liu, and more, as well as Eisenberg himself.
Jesse Eisenberg wears all the hats her, building off of A Real Pain to make his third outing behind the camera his best one yet. There’s a playful visual nature to the film, with surprisingly long takes and a fluid camera. Eisenberg’s direction is super assured, while his script will make anyone fall in love with the lunacy of local community theater. The big surprise? How charming his original songs are, which feel perfect for the show he’s created within the flick.
This has Oscar tailor made for it. Julianne Moore is instantly the frontrunner in Best Actress, while Paul Giamatti could be right there with her in Best Supporting Actor, with Jesse Eisenberg feeling like a big contender in Best Original Screenplay. A Best Picture nomination is highly likely, while Eisenberg could well show up in Best Director and even Best Original Song as well. A24 has a player here, no doubt about it.
The Debut is one of the best films playing at Telluride and one of the best films of the year. This is a movie with something to offer anyone willing to get a little bit weird. I absolutely loved it. Julianne Moore is coming for another Oscar, while Jesse Eisenberg has proven that he’s one of the premiere actor/filmmakers operating today. Bravo!
SCORE: ★★★1/2
Yes The Oscars will be lit this year
Glad you’re excited.