The Debut

Two years ago, we previewed Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature as director, A Real Pain, which was wonderful. Now we have his third film, another preview, about the stage debut of a meek and undervalued housewife, played by the luminous Julianne Moore. Out of the blue, she decides to audition for a musical comedy at the local theatre, and in the absence of any competition, gets a part. However, lurking in her path is the play’s director, played by Paul Giamatti, who has no time for weak-willed pussyfooting, and tells he that he will rescue her to rubble before rebuilding her new self; which, as you may imagine, translates from her stage life to her real life. Moore and Giamatti are a dream pair of actors who bring humour, grit and authenticity to their characters, while Eisenberg himself appears as one of the cast. He is revealing himself to be one of the most original and adept new filmmakers working today.