THE DEBUT is a pure and utter delight from beginning to end. Jesse Eisenberg continues to level up as a director, taking big swings while getting phenomenal performances out of his actors. Julianne Moore is flat out amazing as a naive, perky, blissful woman who is wearing a mask through her sad life (There’s one scene where she deservedly got a huge applause from the Telluride audience). And Giamatti is splendid as the tough but encouraging theater director who pushes Moore’s character to redefine herself, even if she takes things too far. A total joy of a film celebrating the theater community, working through anxiety, and the indescribable feeling of losing yourself on stage. Wonderful comedic editing, charming songs from Eisenberg, and a playful score from Emile Mosser.
