Ireland, the land of Joyce, Jameson, and Gingers, is the
setting for Rodrigo Garcia's big screen adaptation of Simone Benmussa's beloved
stage play. In 1982 Glenn Close starred
in the leading role at the Manhattan Theater Club, and for almost thirty years
she has worked to bring the beloved Albert Nobbs to theaters. Her labor is now well justified as she
returns to give the performance of her career.
The film's central story revolves
around a young woman who disguises herself as a male during Ireland's
depression. Everyday he serves as
a butler in a high-end hotel, interacting with many interesting people,
including the hotel's owner.
Albert works hard to be punctual, meticulously dressed and extremely
careful with him manners. The film
is very similar in fashion as it keeps a straight course, refusing to break any
rules. The end result is something
quite predictable, but I found myself engaged and entertained as I witnessed a
woman transform herself for mere survival.
The film excels with its scenery
and costumes as director Rodrigo Garcia ensures that every detail is as
authentic as possible. It doesn't
hurt that the film was shot on location in Dublin, Ireland, or that the cast
was absolutely brilliant.
As
it was originally a stage production, the focus of the film is heavily placed
on the actors. Theater actress
Janet McTeer stars opposite Close as Hubert, a painter who befriends Nobbs
after learning her secret. Much
like Nobbs, the role alone is pure Oscar bate, and McTeer gives a stellar performance
that should garner quite a bit of attention come awards season.
Ultimately, with such a small
budget, I was impressed by how Garcia was able to pull together all the
elements and create a great film that shows a woman living in 19th
century Ireland and the constraints that came with it. Come Oscar night I will be rooting for both
Close and McTeer to walk up and accept their first golden statue.
