It’s hard to imagine that the story of a reporter writing the obituary about an unloved woman would work as a comedy. Well, Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine sure hope it does, as that’s the premise of their newest film, “The Last Word.”
Seyfried plays Anne, the local newspaper’s obituary writer who is tasked to write a piece about a local woman who hasn’t died yet. Harriet, played by MacLaine, is a retired businesswoman who likes to control everything, including the wording of her obituary. The hilarity ensues when Anne looks into Harriet’s life and desperately tries to find anyone willing to say something nice about her. Here’s the official synopsis:
In THE LAST WORD, Shirley MacLaine is Harriet Lauler, a once successful businesswoman in tight control of every aspect of her life. As she reflects upon her accomplishments, she’s suddenly inspired to engage a young local writer, Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried), to pen her life’s story. When the initial result doesn’t meet Harriet’s high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she is remembered, with Anne dragged along as an unwilling accomplice. As the journey unfolds, the two women develop a unique bond which alters not only Harriet’s legacy, but also Anne’s future.
The film looks like it could be a sweet trifle, with MacLaine showing a similar gruffness and grumpiness that Lily Tomlin gave us in last year’s “Grandma.”
“The Last Word” is directed by Mark Pellington (“Arlington Road,” “The Mothman Prophecies“) and will debut at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival before opening in theaters on March 3rd.
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