How will Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut be represented at the upcoming Governors Awards

Dear Gossips,

“Rent’s due” and I’m mad.

That’s not quite right. I’m mad, but I’m also excited. Mad because the new trailer for Jesse Eisensberg’s The Debut was released earlier this week, themed around one of the lines from the film (and also the musical that the movie is about) – and it’s a great line, it’s actually a great trailer. But at the same time, it might also give away too much.

The Debut premiered at Telluride and then TIFF, three months before wide release, generating instant Oscar buzz and reports of spontaneous applause from cynical crowds in reaction to one particular scene. It happened at my screening, it’s been happening at every screening. And as wonderfully edited as this trailer is, I kinda wish they held some back because it’ll be so much more fun in December when you see this with an audience and experience it collectively.

As Sarah wrote in her review of The Debut, the movie is “laugh-out-loud funny”. And she wrote this after listening to me go full theatre nerd in her face because I saw it first, so it’s not like she didn’t go in with some expectations. That’s why I’m excited… because I can’t wait to see it again and I can’t wait for more people to see it during the holidays – I have said this too many times but I won’t stop: I LOVE THIS MOVIE, it might be my favourite of the year (so far, check back next week after I see Possible Love).

Back to the Oscar conversation and The Debut’s chances…

The Governors Awards are happening on Sunday, a major campaign stop for contenders and pretenders. The Debut is definitely a contender, in multiple categories, including Best Picture. So I’m interested to see how the film is represented at this event. On nomination day, Jesse Eisenberg could be walking away with three nominations – for Best Picture, Original Screenplay, and Original Song for the track “This City May Have Chewed Me Up (But It Hasn’t Spit Me Out)”, currently considered the frontrunner in that category, although Taylor Swift is doing what she can to close the gap. In terms of total nominations for The Debut, five seems probable, including Best Supporting Actor for Paul Giamatti and, of course, Best Actress for Julianne Moore.

If there is a lock in any acting category this award season, it’s Julianne Moore. Almost every Oscar expert and every prediction site has basically handed it to her, she is that f-cking good in this role. Plus, since the film is about acting and performance and commitment, the Academy won’t be able to resist the performance.

Julianne is one of the cover stories for Elle’s Women in Hollywood issue and they knew what they were doing because she is always excellent in green.

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Julianne’s been on the quieter side the last few weeks, at least in comparison to the other contenders. And that’s good strategy because, again, she is the clear frontrunner – and presumed eventual winner – so she doesn’t need to be perceived as super despo, since she also already has an Oscar.

We’ll be seeing much more of her though, if not at the Governors Awards then during additional press, junkets, premieres, and other FYC events over the next few weeks before the holidays. More Julianne looks are coming.