The Debut

Ever felt like nobody can see you? That’s a daily reality for housewife Mona Friedman (Julianne Moore). She’s not literally invisible, mind you, but she’s constantly overlooked. Her kids barely register her existence, and people doing their shopping push her out of the way. At dinner, her husband and friends talk over her as if she’s not even there. 

In Jesse Eisenberg’s wildly entertaining The Debut, Mona may have found the thing that makes people take notice: a role in a community theatre production. She has to audition for show director Jerry (Paul Giamatti), whom a fellow auditioner tells Mona is ‘the biggest name’ on the scene. When Mona gets the role, she’s thrust into the spotlight and forced to confront her demons to become a star. If she doesn’t want to face them? Too bad. Jerry’s going to push her to greatness, no matter the cost.

Eisenberg paces the film in a way that perfectly reflects the nerves, preparation and giddy anticipation of the theatre scene. He’s proven his talent as a director twice previously (When You Finish Saving the World, which also starred Moore, and A Real Pain), but The Debut is his most accomplished film to date. It’s whip-smart and exceptionally funny.

It’s whip-smart and exceptionally funny

It’s impossible to talk about The Debut without talking about Moore. She’s been so great for so long, winning an Oscar for 2014’s Still Alice, and picking up multiple nominations through her 30-plus-year career. She has an inimitable ability to slip into her characters and make you forget you’re staring at a world-famous actor. That’s a skill she needs to play such a blossoming wallflower, and for the entirety of The Debut, you forget Moore exists. There is only Mona – though she’d probably prefer you’d refer to her as her character, Miss Danielle. Everything hinges on her, and she’s utterly dazzling. Watching Mona come to life and become obsessed with every minute detail of her performance is why we go to the movies.

There is no Mona, however, without Jerry. Jerry tells Mona that one of the scenes is his favourite because it confirms that the two main characters really need each other. And just as the characters in their play need each other, so do Jerry and Mona. She needs him to discover herself and be the greatest actor she can be, and he needs her to complete his show and prove to himself that he is the best name in Jersey theatre. 

Giamatti is every bit as brilliant despite a less showy role, breathing thrilling life into the theatre director. Their chemistry is key to what makes The Debut such a mesmerising success.

The Debut premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. It’s out in US theaters Dec 11, and UK and Ireland cinemas Jan 15, 2027.