The Last Word (2017)

Fresh and Exciting

Absolutely brilliant

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

I smiled, laughed, danced, cried, got some lessons for life and felt inspired. What more could I ask for? Shirley MacLaine is gorgeous as ever, Amanda Seyfried is cute as ever, the young lady (sorry I don't remember that name atm) is the topping. Good acting, good script and the music/soundtrack is outstanding. I felt extremly good entertained. If you love Shirley MacLaine like I do, this is a must. I can absolutely recommend it.

Thought the script and direction REALLY uneven. Mildly interesting for first 15 minutes or so, then I was jazzed that MacLaine rallied and decided to do something. ***SPOILERS*** Best part of the movie was the reporter's evolution from defensive, abandoned little girl to outward/forward-looking woman (indeed I cried at the end, moved by the fact that MacLaine, bitch or not, challenged the young woman to stop pitying herself and get on with it, LIVE, take risks). I liked how the male characters (ex-hubby and ex-employee) regarded MacLaine, with kindness and understanding (indeed, there were many perceptive, compassionate, thoughtful men in the story- the owner of the radio station, the newspaper editor, Anne's father too). I love Philip Baker Hall and he shone as usual in a small role as MacLaine's ex-husband.I read scads of reviews after watching and pretty much agree with them ALL, good and bad (so rarely the case)! Yes, the young black actress, AnnJewel Lee Dixon, had personality galore, a star in the making, but her character was stereotypical, paper-thin and undeveloped. Yes, though I ADORE Shirley MacLaine (since I saw her in The Apartment years ago), I thought she phoned it in, playing the same character as in Steel Magnolias, Terms of Endearment, etc. Many plot points were predictable and ridiculous- the road trip, the dip in the river, the singing and dancing around- PLEASE. Others were preposterous- Shirley becoming a DJ? The vandalism of her former company with no apparent repercussions later? The use of the F-word didn't matter to me one way or the other, but it was inconsistent that MacLaine should discourage its use then act like it's no big deal when used later.I liked the message that we can learn something from difficult people. Harriet wasn't a nice, sympathetic person; she had high standards and expected others to do their best, as she'd always done- and challenged them to do so. She was unnecessarily rude, though, to most. I thought Amanda Seyfried was TERRIFIC. In less able hands that problematic character could have been a hot mess. Indeed, I would say that the film succeeding a much as it does is thanks to her. As a Trekkie I was delighted to see Dr. Phlox from Star Trek Enterprise (John Billingsley) playing the vicar at the funeral.Overall I thought The Last Word, despite its flaws, was meaningful, interesting, and worth watching. Provocative, thought-provoking, about the kind of person you opt to be throughout life and into old age, and what your legacy will be. And while I wasn't tremendously affected during the course of the film, I WAS absorbed, and for me the ending was the payoff- it packed a powerful emotional wallop I won't forget it any time soon.

Many of the reviewers of this movie take it on face value. The theme, characters played by.. and how they did. All of what they was said was true.I think these reviews missed the depth of it.It was about moms, dads, and how they are affects us and how we affect them.It was about a women who takes risks for what she wanted and spoke her mind, and in the end found what truly mattered to her. Love, from some very unexpected people and situations.It's about how each person views themselves, and how they find out that their vision is typical in that their peripheral view is not showing them all sides to themselves.True Harriet is controlling, but if you look closer, she is brilliant and teaches sometimes glaringly and sometimes unwittingly many people. Many people missed that she doubted much of what she did and felt regret on several things that she did.Though many people hated her, more admired her for being a strong and willful person who went after what she wanted, and didn't deserve what happens to her.Many reviewers miss that this is not only educational for the people on the screen but also to many of the viewers. Do these reviewers belief they take risks to get what they want or are bold enough to walk into a place where they want something and prove to someone they are worthy of what they are requesting? How many of these people are strong enough to risk falling spectacularly on their faces. These people did not take the deeper motivational meaning behind the story.Many people today watch movies with their minds and not their hearts and do not try to find information that might be pertinent to their own lives or those of others in their lives.To the writer:This writing is so relevant in today's society, many people who are older wonder if they accomplished what they set out to, or have many regrets regarding their dreams they did not take risks to reach, and they do not get the opportunity to have fun and be happy near the end. The young people of today need inspiration to reach for the stars and take risks, not only does that message come through, but it also shows how to do it.Bravo on a script extremely well written.

This review of The Last Word is spoiler free** (2/5)AS WITH EVERY other film were an octogenarian is the lead, The Last Word opens with a set of photos and a kick-back retro song to show the life that they once had. Here the octogenarian is Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine who at 83 years old has had one stunning career, from Billy Wilder's The Apartment to James L. Brooks' Tears of Endearment she's been in it all. And every time she's given stunning performances, she's no stranger to the spotlight. In her latest starrer The Last Word she plays Harriet Lauler, a retired businesswoman who likes to control everything and everyone, in turn leading her to be one of the most hated people.We open with her alone in her lavish manor, she's sad, almost tear-filled and for a while the sympathetic feeling this leaves is effective. She decides that she wants her obituary written, she employs young journalist Anne (Seyfried) to write it for her. Who learns the truth about Harriet's life, asking people what she's like as a person, it's much the same answer; she's mean, controlling, angry and hated, thus ending the sympathy we feel for in the opening. Anne decides to tell Harriet the truth, and she makes an attempt to change her life.MacLaine is the polishing appearance, giving an honest and brave performance she makes you feel for her, she's a loving grandmother type figure to her young high-spirited intern Brenda (Lee Dixon) and she's a good friend to Anne, as the lead it takes a while to warm up to her. By the time she warms up to her sympathetic measures – it goes away. To be fair, you can't blame director Mark Pellington who has had many big screen hits since his 1997 debut Going All The Way, it's the material that's to blame, it's predictable, clichéd and misguided – it doesn't work as a comedy. There are elements of comedy that spark there are a couple of gags more notably expressed from Brenda, this little girl brings heart to the film, she's energetic and has a lovable attitude, using her extensive f-bombs to change Harriet's ways of life. The third act brings the most life to MacLaine's shining star power, when she's on her last words she shows strength of being a good person, something that the previous hour muddled up. The Last Word is an un-funny, predictable, clichéd, misguided and a sort of trashy excuse for a redemption story that doesn't deserve the polished star power of a long-lived Hollywood legend. VERDICT: Although MacLaine fiercely gives her all, this is a misguidedly dim comedy-drama with fiery good intentions that push it through its ideas, but not enough heart to complete them.