The Debut : Austin Film Festival Review

As we get older, it feels like we become more and more set in our ways, and the idea of changing, well, that’s often easier said than done. At some point in life, the people around us have already decided who we are. They know us, or at least they think they do, and they’ve created a picture of us that’s pretty hard to change. I honestly don’t know what’s more difficult: changing who you are or changing how the people closest to you see you. Jesse Eisenberg’s new film, The Debut, explores that very idea through one woman who simply wants to try something different, only to discover a whole new side of herself along the way.

Mona (Julianne Moore) used to sing in her church choir, and one day she decides to put that experience to use by auditioning for a role in a neighborhood musical. Unfortunately, she barely registers with the casting director, but Mona really wants the part. When the legendary Serena Cherry (Bernadette Peters) drops out of the production, Mona gets her chance, mostly because she’s the only other person who auditioned.

In her everyday life, Mona is a wife and mother, but she barely seems to exist in her family’s world. They hardly notice her, and that feeling of being invisible is something that has followed her for most of her life. It’s also left Mona a little meek, which isn’t exactly ideal when you’re trying to command a stage. Jerry (Paul Giamatti) certainly isn’t shy about pointing out just how bad she is. Fortunately for Mona, the rest of the cast, led by Stef (Halle Bailey), welcomes her with open arms as she tries to find her footing in this unfamiliar world. Eventually, Jerry realizes he needs to find the key to bringing something out of Mona. And when he does, he unlocks a version of her that just might, against all odds, be a star.

Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, The Debut isn’t quite the movie it initially appears to be. Eisenberg is interested in something much deeper, exploring the complexities of acting in a way I honestly haven’t seen before, all while delivering plenty of laughs. Eisenberg, who earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for A Real Pain, delivers some killer dialogue here, and in the hands of this stellar cast, it brings the world of community theater to life. What makes The Debut work so well is its unpredictability. Just when you think a scene is heading in one direction, Eisenberg takes it somewhere completely different, leaving you never quite sure what’s coming next.

The Debut delivers a beautiful, if somewhat strange, look at what it takes to break free from the person you’ve always been. It does so through a story that’s charming, witty, and genuinely funny, while still knowing exactly when to embrace its more emotional moments. At its heart, the film is about the power of performance and how stepping into someone else’s shoes can sometimes help us discover who we really are. That idea hits even harder thanks to its two leads.

Moore is simply exquisite, delivering some of the best work of her career and reminding everyone just how undeniable she can be when given the right material. Then there’s Giamatti, who is perfectly cast and, as always, more than capable of going toe-to-toe with another powerhouse performer. Together, they take Eisenberg’s script to another level. The rest of the cast is equally impressive, particularly Bailey, who is almost too good to be believable as someone performing in community theater. They complement the two leads beautifully, creating an ensemble that makes every scene feel alive.

I love a movie that makes you feel something, and when it can make you laugh along the way, that’s even better. The Debut manages to do both, delivering something funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly moving. I’ve always liked Eisenberg as an actor, but with films like this, I’m starting to think he’s found his true calling behind the camera. So here’s hoping he skips making any more Now You See Me movies and keeps giving us little gems like this instead.

Brian Taylor

Member of the North Texas Film Critics Association, and lover of all things Cinema