Coming Soon to Sawtell Cinema
Albert Nobbs
Rating: M Running Time: 1 hrs 48 mins
Commencing: 16th Feb 2012
Synopsis:Rating: M Running Time: 1 hrs 48 mins
Commencing: 16th Feb 2012
Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close), is a reserved and punctilious butler with a secret, at 19th century Dublin's Morrison Hotel: 'he' is a woman who has had to dress and behave as a man all her life in order to escape a life of poverty. When the house painter Hubert Page (Janet McTeer) arrives at the hotel, Albert discovers Hubert's own secret and is inspired to try and escape the false life she has created for herself. She gathers her nerve to court Helen (Mia Wisakowska), a beautiful maid in whom she thinks she's found a soul-mate - but Helen's eye is on handsome, bad-boy Joe (Aaron Johnson), the new handy-man.
Review by Louise Keller:
The extraordinary and haunting presence of Glenn Close is what remains with us in this poignant drama, set in 19th century Ireland about a woman whose livelihood depends on her presenting herself as a man. The fact that it is a man's world is one of the issues canvassed in George Moore's short story, yet the story is far more complicated than can be imagined, as the film explores the times, the situations and the characters. The sad and lonely world of Albert Nobbs is filled with secrets - secrets from the past, secrets concealed everyday and secret dreams for the future. There's a bitter-sweet resonance about the story that perfectly pitches its characters and humdrum reality as we become involved it the Upstairs Downstairs scenario at Dublin's luxurious Morrison's hotel.
When we first see Close, short cropped mousy hair, dressed as a butler, it is a shock. Stripped of any make-up or veneer, this is a brave performance. But even more impressive is the nuance and delicacy with which she embraces the role. It is understated and powerful. It is obviously a role to which she feels aligned, having played the role in a theatre adaptation over 20 years ago.
At first we get a glimpse of life at the swish hotel, with its elegant dinners, fancy dress parties and up-market clientele, demanding the best and tipping accordingly. Those hard-earned tips, counted each night by Nobbs, are hidden under the floorboards and represent the means to his dream of buying a shop. It's good to see Pauline Collins (Shirley Valentine) back on screen in a role worthy of her talents; here she plays the devious hotel owner Mrs Baker, who insists the casual painter Hubert (Janet McTeer, stunning) shares Nobbs' bedroom for the night. Everything changes after that night, when Hubert discovers the serious, conscientious butler who sees everything but remains detached, is not what he appears to be.
Director Rodrigo García (Nine Lives, Mother and Child) beautifully describes the reality of the staff at the Morrison and I especially like those scenes in the kitchen where they get together on a daily basis with no pretences. Mia Wasikowska is excellent as the gullible Helen, attracted by the handsome features of the apprentice boiler guy, Joe (Aaron Johnson), and who does not hesitate to use Nobbs for her own gains. The relationship between Nobbs and Helen may be the film's great flaw - I could not understand why Nobbs fails to see the flaws of this selfish and self serving girl.
Things do not play out as you might expect. There are surprises and twists in store and the poignancy of the tale is not revealed until the very end. Close is not the only one to shine brightly; McTeer is a revelation as Hubert, who has his own secrets. Garcia's direction drags at times, as a result of which the film suffers, but this is a superb drama, skilfully played, leaving us with plenty on which to ponder.