The Last Word

Harriet Lauler is a retired businesswoman who once wielded influence with a tight leash on every aspect of her life and the people around her. After facing her own obituaries in the press, she decides to author her own farewell while she still can. She hires a young journalist, Anne Sherman, who sees through Harriet's flawless public image and agrees to help uncover the truth about the woman behind the reputation. As their uneasy collaboration unfolds, Harriet is forced to confront long buried regrets, missteps, and the cost of control. The project triggers a surprise friendship that reshapes Harriet's choices and reveals a different kind of legacy, one built on connection rather than perfection. Changes emerge in quiet, everyday choices.

Directed by Mark Pellington, The Last Word is based on an original screenplay by Stuart Ross Fink. The 2017 drama comedy pairs MacLaine's sharp wit with Seyfried's earnest curiosity, delivering a character-driven story about aging, memory, and unlikely friendship resonates.

The film earned around 1.78 million dollars worldwide, reflecting a modest box office run despite a high-profile cast. Its release timing kept it from major awards buzz, yet audiences connecting with the lead performances kept the film moving broadly overall.

Critics noted the movie mainly as a quiet, character driven drama with humor in small moments. The central themes revolve around aging, personal reinvention, and the power of honest connections to soften rigid self images and reframe what a life well lived can look like. The tone remains humane throughout.

Shirley MacLaine delivers a nuanced portrait of a formidable woman learning to loosen the grip of control. The film's most lasting note is its reminder that memory is a shared project and that the stories we tell about ourselves can begin to heal old rifts. Friendship helps redefine what matters.