“This is the best life I’ve lived,” said 82-year-old Oscar-winner Shirley MacLaine at a Beverly Hills press conference to promote her new film, “The Last Word.”
Miss MacLaine, noted for her belief in reincarnation, said she worked on the new film, which deals with mortality and finding the meaning within one’s life, so that “older people wouldn’t be ignored.”
In the low-budget indie, Miss MacLaine stars as Harriet, a divorced and tough-minded career woman.
Following a near-death experience Harriet takes stock of her life and dislikes what she sees. She soon visits the offices of a newspaper to insist that obituary beat reporter Anne (Amanda Seyfried) write — then rewrite — her print epitaph. However, Anne is unable to find anyone to say a good word about the notorious control freak, and when Harriet micromanages her reportage, Anne fumes, “She puts the ’bitch’ into obituary!”
“I learned from the film about taking risks … and that I’m not stupid,” said Miss Seyfried, who also appeared at the press event alongside co-stars Thomas Sadoski (“Wild,” HBO’s “Newsroom”), newcomer Ann’Jewel Lee and director Mark Pellington (“The Mothman Prophecies”).
In the film Anne eventually forges a close relationship with Harriet, who seeks to leave a lasting legacy and enhance how she’s viewed by others. In doing so, Harriet barges into Anne’s favorite radio station, airing indie label rock, and becomes a DJ. Together with Anne, they then embark on a road trip to meet with Harriet’s estranged daughter, Elizabeth (Anne Heche).
In the process, Harriet improves burnishes her image so that Anne can glowingly memorialize her — literally giving Miss MacLaine’s character the titular last word.
Asked if it was true that Marlon Brando introduced her to activism while she was frying eggs, as she wrote in her 1995 memoir “My Lucky Stars,” Miss MacLaine — who actually cooks, including eggs, in “The Last Word — whimsically replied: “I wish Marlon would come back.”
At the Oscars ceremony Feb. 26, Miss MacLaine presented the best foreign language film award to “The Salesman,” however, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi was not present at the ceremony to accept his award, and a statement was read by engineer Anousheh Ansari, the first Iranian in space.
“My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of the other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S.,” Mr. Farhadi’s statement read, touching upon President Trump’s controversial “travel ban.”
“It speaks for itself,” Miss MacLaine said of Mr. Farhadi’s controversial remarks. “It needed to be said.”
Miss MacLaine was also asked about the best picture announcement snafu, when her younger brother, Warren Beatty, was apparently given the wrong envelope, and his co-presenter, Faye Dunaway, mistakenly announced that “La La Land” instead of “Moonlight” had won moviedom’s highest honor. Miss MacLaine expressed disgust over the entire blunder and annoyance at the suggestion that age — Mr. Beatty turns 80 this month — caused the faux pas.
Since Harriet starts a new career as a morning drive time disc jockey in the film, “The Last Word” cast was queried about their favorite music. A big fan of Bruce Springsteen, the pregnant Miss Seyfried said, “I hope when my baby is born, Bruce Springsteen will be playing.”
“The Last Word” opens Friday.
Ed Rampell is an L.A.-based film critic and historian who co-wrote The Hawaii Movie and Television Book.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.