What holds it together is the suppleness of Eisenberg’s voice as a writer-director (the wit that singes, the story that never stops poking around corners), and the utterly astonishing performance of Julianne Moore, who plays a crumpled-up wallflower in dire need of blooming. Oh, does she bloom.
Source: [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/the-debut-review-julianne-moore-jesse-eisenberg-1236852779/)