The Last Word

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Susan M Excellent message and great acting by all. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/30/25 Full Review LoLo A. Found it by chance on Netflix. I feel it is worth a watch and makes you take a second thought as to the life you live, how precious time is and how others may view you as you navigate thru your own existence Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/29/25 Full Review Matthew D Amanda Seyfried absolutely delights opposite a snarky Shirley MacLaine! Director Mark Pellington’s indie comedy-drama The Last Word (2017) is quite a nice surprise. I randomly saw this movie stars Amanda Seyfried, and I love her, so I streamed it on Netflix. Pellington’s pleasant direction is very forward with big jokes and nice quiet dramatic moments. He lets his lead actresses really charm with delightful performances. Amanda Seyfried’s sweet writer perfectly juxtaposes Shirley MacLaine’s heinously unlikable old lady. The Last Word is hilarious with very amusing heroines. Writer Stuart Ross Fink came up with a hilarious black comedy premise of an elderly woman Shirley MacLaine plays wanting her obituary written while she is still alive, except she’s a rude control freak. He also gets to the heart of fearing death and how your legacy will be seen by others. He lets poor Amanda Seyfried’s obituary writer get frustrated by MacLaine’s wicked woman. It’s all so funny and a nice light watch. Casting director Heidi Levitt cast a wonderful ensemble of talented actresses, who are very playful and funny. Executive producers Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine really take charge with very commanding performances that let them shine. Amanda Seyfried is amazing as the frustrated obituary writer Anne Sherman. Seyfried is supremely wonderful as the real heroine of the film. She’s so effortlessly gorgeous, funny, nice, and playful. I felt bad for her having to deal with this awful woman bossing her around, but you also get Seyfried to act opposite Shirley MacLaine, which must have been fun for her. Seyfried is phenomenal with her hurt and judgemental reactions that come across as so genuine. Shirley MacLaine is a scream as the unbelievably selfish, constantly controlling, very rude protagonist and really the villain, Harriett Lauler. MacLaine gets to also be the lonely old lady, who isolated everyone around her because of her casual cruelty. MacLaine embodies the stubborn baby boomer generation that is against change and resists anything other than she knows. She’s like Scrooge, who wants to change her life around. She really captures that incessantly interjects her own opinion, then hates everyone else telling her what they really think of her. MacLaine is fantastic as this truly awful degenerate, who cannot stop bossing people around. She is even terrible to her daughter, played by Anne Heche. She is so unlikable, imposing, ungrateful, inconsiderate, cruel, resentful, lonely, and pathetic in The Last Word. Philip Baker Hall is great as the bitter ex-husband Edward. Joel Murray gets a nice cameo as her former co-worker Joe Mueller, who appreciated her forward attitude, feared her meanness, and was guilty over not helping her when it mattered. He gets some enjoyable scenes with MacLaine. Thomas Sadoski is nice as MacLaine’s radio DJ boss Robin Sands when she changes jobs later in life. MacLaine tries to set Robin up with Anne on dates too. It’s insane that MacLaine shows up to the date, but Sadoski plays it very kindly and protective of Amanda Seyfried’s Anne. It was nice to see. Anne Heche gets a strong appearance as Harriett’s bitter daughter Elizabeth. She portrays obsessive personality disorder with a striking realism. Heche complements MacLaine’s controlling mother. She wants her to see a therapist because she was a terrible mother. AnnJewel Lee Dixon is a riot as the at risk youth Brenda, who MacLaine wants to help in order to selfishly increase her legacy’s praise. She is very funny and gets a pretty big role here. Tom Everett Scott is funny as Amanda’s editor boss Ronald Odom, who is intimidated into making Amanda write Harriett’s obituary early. Steven Culp is good as Amanda’s father Sam Sherman. Todd Louiso is fun as Dr. Morgan, who does not take MacLaine’s insults. Editor Julia Wong’s swift cutting gives The Last Word a brisk feel to this cute 108 minute film. Cinematographer Eric Koretz does all these neat perspective close-up and medium shots of Amanda Seyfried going around on interviews. Composer Nathan Matthew David’s film score is very pretty, bright, and understated. I was pleasantly surprised by the upbeat jazz, classical, and old rock pieces herein. Costume designer Alix Hester came up with the cutest preppy outfits for Amanda Seyfried. Her all black leather date costume is also fabulous on Seyfried. In conclusion, Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine are a blast in this wonderful indie film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/26/25 Full Review Yulia K What a great movie. Easy to watch, witty, heartwarming and full of life wisdom, which is just the right amount, not overbearing. I don’t understand the low ratings. I don’t usually rewatch movies, but I would this one! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 48 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $1,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/25/25 Full Review JM L A little slow to start, but became a movie that is hard to forget. Touching & emotional- Shirley Maclaine proves she's still got it. Making audiences feel a certain way & leaving a message that we'll remember. The cast is perfect for the story & moves the story beautifully. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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