Julianne Moore goes full Method in Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’

TORONTO – To create a zany world of community theater for his new dark comedy “The Debut,” Jesse Eisenberg just had to look back on his own childhood.

It’s so autobiographical, “this movie takes place 20 minutes from my house in 1990,” the director joked alongside stars Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti during a Sept. 13 Q&A after the premiere of "The Debut" (in theaters Dec. 11) at Toronto International Film Festival.

Ignored by her husband and kids, Mona (Moore) decides to try out for the musical “Nosy Neighbors" at a local New Jersey theater company. She auditions for the part of eccentric building supervisor Miss Danielle, bombs in her first impression for dogmatic director Jerry, and loses the role to a name star (Bernadette Peters). However, when that actress drops out, Mona steps in and immediately butts heads with Jerry, who begins to get Mona on the right path with her character.

Unfortunately, Mona goes too far the other way and becomes obsessed with making her character realistic, changing the lines, going full Method and driving her castmates and director crazy.

Eisenberg started doing community theater when he was around 6. “I was very shy and nervous. And I…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/