By Amanda Gilmore

Jesse Eisenberg’s third feature is an unmissable crowd-pleaser.

Mona Friedman (Julianne Moore) is a stuck suburban housewife. Her husband and children pay her no attention she might as well be a ghost in their house. So, when a role with a community theatre company arises, she leaps at the opportunity to audition. Lacking the talent and confidence for the part, she doesn’t land it…at first. But when the actor who did drops out, she finally gets to take centre stage.

The Debut is a brilliant dark comedy that hits every mark. What has become Eisenberg’s signature humour works perfectly in this delightful story about how art can be a mirror to see ourselves through. Mona is the type of woman who would apologize for sneezing. Quiet as a church mouse, devoted wife, a kind of sacrificial lamb. But all that changes once she discovers the community theatre world.

The role Mona is playing is the polar opposite of who she is. Theatre director Jerry (a fantastic Paul Giamatti) doesn’t believe Mona has what it takes and pushes her to test the limits of what she can bring to the role. This sends her on a journey through the method acting rabbit hole that will change her life forever. Mona is perfectly portrayed by Moore, who gives an astounding performance loaded with heart, humour, and pain.

With The Debut, Eisenberg pays tribute to the self-seriousness of community theatre, the power of art, and how it’s never too late to change your life. Do not miss this!

The Debut screens at TIFF ’26:

Sun. Sept 13 @ 6:15 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Mon. Sept 14 @ 8:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Thur. Sept 17 @ 2 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Elevation Pictures release THE DEBUT, coming soon! Below we have a new Trailer!

Written & Directed by: Jesse Eisenberg
Starring: Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Jesse Eisenberg

When Mona Friedman is cast in a bit part at a small community theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role—even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director.

Searchlight Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see A REAL PAIN.

Advance screenings will be held Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 7 pm in: 

• Montreal (EN): Cinéma Cineplex Forum et VIP
• Vancouver: International Village Cinemas

Synopsis:

Mismatched cousins David and Benji tour Poland to honor their grandmother. Their adventure becomes complicated as old tensions resurface while exploring their family history.

Directed by:

Jesse Eisenberg

Cast:

Kieran Culkin, Banner Eisenberg, Jesse Eisenberg, Jennifer Grey, Will Sharpe, Liza Sadovy, Ellora Torchia, and Kurt Egyiawan

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Please indicate in the comments which City you’re attending.

Rules and regulations here.

Searchlight Pictures release A REAL PAIN Friday, November 15, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

A REAL PAIN, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Only in theaters this fall. #ARealPain Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes

Searchlight Pictures release November 1, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin star in A REAL PAIN, coming to theatres October 18, 2024 via Searchlight Pictures.

Synopsis:
Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Written & Directed by: Jesse Eisenberg
Produced by: Dave McCary, Ali Herting, Emma Stone, Jennifer Semler, Ewa Puszczyńska
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Jesse Eisenberg and Claire Danes star in upcoming Disney+ series FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE.

Synopsis:

“Fleishman Is In Trouble” is the story of recently divorced 41-year-old ‘Toby Fleishman’ (Jesse Eisenberg), who dives into the brave new world of app-based dating with the kind of success he never had dating in his youth, before he got married at the tail end of medical school. But just at the start of his first summer of sexual freedom, his ex-wife, ‘Rachel’ (Claire Danes), disappears, leaving him with 11-year-old ‘Hannah’ (Meara Mahoney Gross) and 9-year-old ‘Solly’ (Maxim Swinton) and no hint of where she is or whether she plans to return. As he balances parenting, the return of old friends ‘Libby’ (Lizzy Caplan) and ‘Seth’ (Adam Brody), a potential promotion at the hospital that is a long time coming — and all the eligible women that Manhattan has to offer — he realizes that he’ll never be able to figure out what happened to ‘Rachel’ until he can finally face what happened to their marriage in the first place.

The series was created for television by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who adapts from her acclaimed novel and executive produces alongside Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Susannah Grant of Sage Lane Productions. Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Battle of the Sexes”) also executive produce as well as direct multiple episodes across the series. “Fleishman Is In Trouble” is produced by ABC Signature.

FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE arrives Thursday, November 17, 2022 exclusively on Disney+ in Canada. The premiere will feature the first two episodes of the eight-episode series. A new episode will be available each subsequent Thursday. 

(Photo/video credit: Disney+)

By David Baldwin

Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard) is a high school student who performs original Folk tunes online for his worldwide audience of 20,000 people. His overbearing mother Evelyn (Oscar-winner Julianne Moore) runs a shelter for domestic abuse survivors. Despite the greatness of their shared memories, they do not get along and only interact in passing. With Ziggy’s time taken-up trying to become more politically savvy to impress a girl, Evelyn takes to one of the shelter’s new residents who reminds her of Ziggy, and who she desperately wants to help succeed in the future.

First-time Writer/Director Jesse Eisenberg (yes, it is who you are thinking of) adapts his award-winning Audible Original podcast to mixed effect here. It has dashes of humour sprinkled throughout, and a well-composed look that shows how much Eisenberg has learned from his contemporaries over his two plus decades of acting. The characters feel lived in and the performances from just about everyone are good, with Wolfhard standing in as an obvious avatar for his Director (even down to his inflections and mannerisms). Where WHEN YOU FINISH SAVING THE WORLD stumbles is in how inconsequential all of Ziggy and Evelyn’s actions feel, and how their narcissistic qualities obscure many of the more interesting things happening in the margins. Why did Eisenberg feel the need to make all of the supporting characters so much more interesting than the two leads? What is he trying to say about these characters and their journeys? I felt like the Film does not answer either of these questions, and just over-convolutes its overarching message and obvious conclusion.

Eisenberg shows promise as a Writer and Director with WHEN YOU FINISH SAVING THE WORLD. I just hope he makes his next project less dry, and have a whole lot more purpose.

WHEN YOU FINISH SAVING THE WORLD screens at Sundance as follows:

PREMIERE Jan 20 7:30PM EST Available Until Jan 20 10:30PM EST

SECOND SCREENING Jan 22 10:00AM EST Available Until Jan 23 10:00AM EST

Jesse Eisenberg x Ed Harris both star in RESISTANCE. Check-out the new Trailer!

Synopsis:
Before he was the world-famous mime Marcel Marceau, he was Marcel Mangel, an aspiring Jewish actor who joined the French Resistance to save the lives of thousands of children orphaned at the hands of the Nazis. As a young man growing up in Nazi-occupied Europe, Marcel has no intention of getting involved in the war – his pursuits include impersonating Charlie Chaplin in burlesque clubs, painting backdrops for his plays, and antagonizing his obstinate father. However, his life is thrown into upheaval when he is recruited into the French Resistance, putting his acting skills to the ultimate test in teaching orphaned Jewish children how to survive in the horrifying reality of the Holocaust.

See the Trailer:

Game Theory Films release RESISTANCE on iTunes Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Game Theory Films)

Pacific Northwest Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to an screening in Toronto of THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE on Monday, July 15, 2019.

Synopsis:
Casey (Jesse Eisenberg), a meek and timid man, is attacked at random on the street. He subsequently enrolls at a local dojo led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei (Alessandro Nivola), in an effort to learn how to defend himself.

What he uncovers is a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a woman (Imogen Poots) fighting for her place in it. Casey undertakes a journey, both frightening and darkly funny, that will place him squarely in the sights of his enigmatic new mentor.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK.

Pacific Northwest Pictures release THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE Friday, July 19, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

After Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) gets brutally beaten on a suburban street he decides to learn how to defend himself by taking karate classes.

Writer-Director Riley Stearns has created a dark-comedy with dead-pan humour that makes for one fun ride. There are funny shocking twists that happen throughout which continue the story along, however, it really is Eisenberg who masters the Film. He’s completely committed no matter what happens in each scene and he’s in a role he seems destined to play. The Supporting Cast, including Imogen Poots and Alessandro Nivola are perfectly cast.

The Art of Self-Defense screens at SXSW on March 10 at 2:45 PM at The Paramount Theatre, March 12 at 11 AM at Atom Theatre,
March 14 at 10:30 PM at Alamo Lamar A, and March 15 at 7:45 PM at Stateside.