THE LAST WORD

US, 2017, 108 minutes, Colour.

Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, AnnJewel Lee Julie Dixon, Thomas Sadoski, Philip Baker Hall, Getty Watanabe, Tom Everett Scott, Joel Murray, Anne Heche, Steven Culp, Marshall Bell, Millicent Martin.

Directed by Mark Pellington.

The Last Word in this case consists of the words in obituaries.

This is an unusual story directed by Mark Pellington, Arlington Road and a range of music videos.

It is also a star vehicle for Shirley MacLaine in her early 80s, playing her age. She is complemented by the younger actress, Amanda Seyfried. There are quite a number of American character actors in support including Philip Baker Hall as her husband, Anne Heche as her daughter, Joel Murray as a friend from the advertising firm, Tom Everett Scott as the editor of a paper. There is a cameo by veteran actress Millicent Martin.

But, the focus is on Harriet, a wealthy, very independent woman, dominating in the past, separating from her husband, alienated from her daughter. She is world-weary, taking pills and drink and hospitalised. However, she notices obituaries of people she knows, goes to the paper and demands to see the writer of the obituaries, then hires her to write her own while she is alive.

The bulk of the action is the young journalist’s attempt to find the truth about Harriet who gives her a list of contacts. Her husband is still regretful. Most of her friends and associates have nothing good to say about her – or nothing to say. Harriet then says four questions have to be answered, her relationship with family, friends, concern for somebody in need, and a wildcard.

The action shows the answers to these stories, Harriet eventually meeting with her husband, also meeting with her daughter and learning what her life has become, successful and so Harriet praising herself as a good mother. She does find some friends. She does befriend an underprivileged little girl who has quite a mouth on her, much like Harriet when she was young, and they bond. The wildcard consists of discussion with the journalist about records, giving her LPs to a radio station, and serving as a morning disc jockey.

It might seem all improbable but the strength of the cast and Shirley MacLaine’s screen presence ensure that it is always interesting and entertaining.

1. Obituaries? Written after deaths? Written while subjects are alive? Live obituaries and the possibility for change?
2. The Los Angeles settings, the mansions and interiors, newspaper offices, radio studios, institutes for the underprivileged, travelling the countryside, the funeral service? The musical score? The range of songs, from the past, contemporary?
3. Harriet’s story, played by Shirley MacLaine in her early 80s, her iconic screen presence, age, appearance, style, wardrobe? Introduction, bored, controlling, ticking off the gardener, the hairdresser? Taking the tablets and drinking? In hospital, the reprimand of the doctor, her spurning him? At home, noticing the obituaries, reading them? Giving her a mission in life?
4. And, writing the obituaries, writing her personal essays, her relationship with the editor, is licking her up with Harriet? The interview/interrogation with Harriet? The commission? The list of contacts? A conversation with Harriet’s husband, his memories, his love for her? The collage of associates, their not having anything good to say, or not saying anything, the same with the priest? Her problems in deciding what to write? Visit to her father, memories of the past, her mother’s leaving, her writing and expressing home herself?
5. The discussions with Harriet, Harriet stances, criticisms? Joe coming with the video of her attacking the board of her company, their ousting her? Jo going to Harriet, giving her the original? The repercussions of the end, removing the L from the sign? The staff applauding her?
6. Harriet’s list of what should be in a good obituary? Family, associates, doing good for some underprivileged person, the wildcard?
7. Going to the Institute, the haughty manner, issue of checks, her giving a class to the children, Brenda asking her the question? Later talks with Brenda, the discussion about language, being articulate? Continuing her work with Brenda, Brenda bonding with Harriet? Bringing the records to the radio station? Always present? Going on the visit to Elizabeth? The bonding with Harriet and with an?
8. And, her personal life, Harry comes in to visit her in her apartment, the challenge? Going to the mansion, seeing the records, giving her the information about the radio station and the disc jockey? Harriet marching in, with the records, the morning DJ given the sack, Robin and the discussion, giving her the job, her performance on radio, and’s amazement, the records, her comments, urging people to have a meaningful day? Her pleasure at Robin and and connecting, watching, turning up at the pub and the challenge of the discussion? Being the disc jockey the wildcard for her obituary?
9. And then the challenge to visit family, her going to visit her husband, their talk, her wanting him to talk freely about their married life? Her agreeing to visit Elizabeth, with Anne and Brenda, the restaurant, Elizabeth not talking to her mother for decades, her life, neurologist, marriage, the two children? Her mother’s reaction, laughing, thinking herself a good mother because of her daughter’s success?
10. The visit to the doctor, her heart, not long to live? Discussing this with an? At the house, the dancing, her quietly dying?
11. The funeral, and speaking, all those present? The tribute? Some reparation for her domination, harsh control, hurting people? A second chance?