Review of Albert Nobbs (2011) by Walter M — 14 May 2013

Albert Nobbs(Glenn Close, who also co-wrote the screenplay) works as a butler at Morrison's Hotel in Dublin which is managed by Mrs. Baker(Pauline Collins). Summarily dismissed in his last job, Joe Mackins(Aaron Johnson) bluffs his way to a job there by claiming to know his way around a boiler. Hubert Page(Janet McTeer) definitely knows what he is talking about as a handyman, but Albert balks when Hubert is assigned to share his bed for a night as Hubert discovers that Albert is in reality a woman. Then, Hubert makes it perfectly clear to Albert that he is not alone...

So, what do you do with a movie like "Albert Nobbs?" It is a nice enough movie about dreams, even if it is kind of slow. Even worse, it also suffers from a terminal lack of ambition, as it cannot even be bothered to tackle sexual ignorance in Victorian Dublin. Look, I am not asking for a steampunk adventure involving a six foot tall female lizard and her maid(at least, not here) but anything more significant than the usual life of quiet desperation would have been neat. In fact, there were times when I had serious doubts about Albert Nobbs being the central character, as Hubert definitely seems to have the more interesting life. Part of which might have to do with Glenn Close being overshadowed by the rest of the cast, especially Janet McTeer who is simply tremendous.