Review: The Last Word
Shirley MacLaine is one of the last great movie stars standing, so it's always a pleasure to be graced by her presence even if the films she appears in don't always do justice to her formidable talents. The last time she had a genuinely great role was in 1990's Postcards from the Edge, though one could make strong cases for 1994's Guarding Tess and 2011's Bernie. Her latest role as the feisty and commanding Harriet Lauler in The Last Word is certainly one that the semi-retired octogenarian could do in her sleep, but it doesn't dilute the pleasure of watching a master at work.
Harriet is the type of character that one admires from afar but probably would never want to encounter in real life. Controlling and curmudgeonly, she's a woman who has to have everything done her way and is not above doing things herself, much to the exasperation of those around her. She's divorced from her husband Edward (Philip Baker Hall), estranged from her daughter Elizabeth (Anne Heche), long retired from her job as a ball-busting advertising head, and rattling around her beautiful home in the town of Bristol. Predictably, this grinch has a heart of gold and uncovering it is tasked to Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried).
Ostensibly, Anne's task is to write Harriet's obituary whilst Harriet is still alive. After accidentally on purpose overdosing on sedatives and red wine and reading a glowing obituary of an old enemy, Harriet decides that she wants to have the last word on how she is to be remembered. Unfortunately, as Anne soon discovers, this is easier said than done since everyone she interviews has nary a kind word to say about Harriet. Her hairdresser likens her to a "human black cloud," her gynaecologist states that she has "the angriest vagina this side of China," and her priest calls her "a hateful, hateful woman."
Since she wants her obituary to be a glowing tribute, Harriet decides to do a couple of things to burnish her image. One is to mentor Brenda (AnnJewel Lee Dixon), a sassy nine-year-old at-risk girl from the projects. The other is to install herself as a DJ in the town's independent local radio station on the strength of impressive music knowledge. She also gets a chance to play matchmaker for Anne and the radio station's manager (Thomas Sadoski). It's all very cute and predictable, sometimes not in the best way, but MacLaine is such a ball of fire that she nearly sells the claptrap.
The one and only time The Last Word truly sparks any interest is during the reunion between Harriet and Elizabeth, who proves to be more like her mother than she would care to admit. MacLaine and Heche are both so terrific and the dynamic between the characters so intriguing that one wishes screenwriter Stuart Ross Fink would have done away with all the frippery and focused on these two strong, intelligent, prickly, and complex women instead.
The Last Word
Directed by: Mark Pellington
Written by: Stuart Ross Fink
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Heche, Tom Everett Scott, Thomas Sadoski, Joel Murray, Adina Porter, Phillip Baker Hall
