Rated: R
Director: Marielle Heller
Based on a true story, Can You Ever Forgive Me? is the tale of writer Lee Israel (a wonderful, quietly-understated Melissa McCarthy), who after having a few NYT bestsellers writing celebrity biographies in the 1970's (Israel's talent was in always being able to catch her subject's voice on paper), suddenly finds herself and her writing out of touch with the times, unable to write and with no one - not even her agent (Jane Curtin) - interested in her current output. About to lose her NYC apartment and having already lost her livelihood (not to mention her sick cat), Lee grudgingly breaks down and sells a letter she once received from Katharine Hepburn, still matted and framed on her wall, for cash ... then before long, the idea strikes Lee to use her creative talents in quite a different way. Soon she is doing her research and producing "lost" personal correspondence from the likes of Dorothy Parker, Noel Coward, Fanny Brice, and many more deceased literary and film icons, selling them to local dealers and antique bookstores throughout New York aided by her good friend Jack (Richard E. Grant), putting to good use again her talent for being able to write in a myriad of other people's voices. McCarthy deserves her Oscar nom here, no doubt, but is unlikely to win as Oscar tends to like flashier roles; here, her Lee Israel is more a silent, angry brooder whom McCarthy captures brilliantly. The showier role belongs to Richard E. Grant, who absolutely shines here. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (the title taken from a Dorothy Parker quote) might be too slow-paced for some, but if up for watching a pair of truly outstanding, Jedi-level acting performances unfold on film - or simply curious for a little insight into this side of collectibles and autograph collecting - you could do a lot worse than this well-made/well-cast Oscar nominee. 8/10 stars
Based on a true story, Can You Ever Forgive Me? is the tale of writer Lee Israel (a wonderful, quietly-understated Melissa McCarthy), who after having a few NYT bestsellers writing celebrity biographies in the 1970's (Israel's talent was in always being able to catch her subject's voice on paper), suddenly finds herself and her writing out of touch with the times, unable to write and with no one - not even her agent (Jane Curtin) - interested in her current output. About to lose her NYC apartment and having already lost her livelihood (not to mention her sick cat), Lee grudgingly breaks down and sells a letter she once received from Katharine Hepburn, still matted and framed on her wall, for cash ... then before long, the idea strikes Lee to use her creative talents in quite a different way. Soon she is doing her research and producing "lost" personal correspondence from the likes of Dorothy Parker, Noel Coward, Fanny Brice, and many more deceased literary and film icons, selling them to local dealers and antique bookstores throughout New York aided by her good friend Jack (Richard E. Grant), putting to good use again her talent for being able to write in a myriad of other people's voices. McCarthy deserves her Oscar nom here, no doubt, but is unlikely to win as Oscar tends to like flashier roles; here, her Lee Israel is more a silent, angry brooder whom McCarthy captures brilliantly. The showier role belongs to Richard E. Grant, who absolutely shines here. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (the title taken from a Dorothy Parker quote) might be too slow-paced for some, but if up for watching a pair of truly outstanding, Jedi-level acting performances unfold on film - or simply curious for a little insight into this side of collectibles and autograph collecting - you could do a lot worse than this well-made/well-cast Oscar nominee. 8/10 stars
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