Review of Albert Nobbs (2011) by Jc E — 18 Jun 2012

I'm confused. So, Albert is a transvestite and a lesbian, or just a transvestite? You can't deny that Glenn Close (Evening) didn't pour her heart and soul into this performance, but it's confusing as to why she chose this was her labor of love.

The story (which Close also helped write) is not really accessible, and it's pretty predictable, honestly. That's not to say that the efforts of those involved didn't put their best foot forward.

Close and the supporting cast - including Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre), Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (From Paris with Love) - give it their best shot with the material they were given.

Maybe Close just thought that this was her last real shot at Oscar glory, you know, playing a role that Academy voters would eat up. But was it really that great of a role for her or fellow gender-bender Janet McTeer? No, not really.

This isn't a 'Boys Don't Cry' kind of flick, but it's kind of disturbing in its own right, and actually harbors some complex questions about homosexual/transvestite motives. It tries to explain these questions away, but it never does so convincingly.

Overall, Close almost got what she wanted, snagging a nomination for Best Actress (and McTeer for Supporting Actress), but there were several other performances by leading ladies (and supporting ladies, for that matter) last year that were more deserving.