The Last Word

A retired, very successful, and notoriously controlling businesswoman decides to draft her own obituary while still alive. In doing so, she enlists the help of a young obituary writer to interview people in her life to get the full picture of her legacy. The process leads to unexpected revelations and forces her to confront her past and re-evaluate her relationships.

The Last Word received mixed to positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried, as well as the film's emotional core. However, some critics found the narrative to be somewhat predictable and uneven in its tone.

• Shirley MacLaine delivers a commanding performance that anchors the film.
• The dynamic between MacLaine and Seyfried provides emotional depth.
• The story sometimes struggles to find a consistent balance between humor and pathos.

Google audience: Audience reviews generally appreciated the film for its touching performances and themes of self-reflection and legacy, though some found the plot a bit formulaic.

Director Mark Pellington was inspired to make the film after his own father's death and the realization of how much of a person's life is often defined by the stories told about them after they're gone.