There are some movies where everything goes right, when all the elements that make for good storytelling are right there, at the right place and at the right time. Albert Nobbs is not one of those movies. Far from it. The problem is that the script and the direction made it hard to believe in the main character or to care for the supporting cast.
Albert Nobbs is set in Ireland in Victorian times. It tells the story of the eponymous protagonist who works as a waiter in a hotel that is struggling to keep its elite clients. It turns out that Albert is really a woman who is trying to make something of herself in a man's world; but her secret is discovered by a stranger, and the unhappy Albert soon realises that happiness could be hers if only she could find ...
So much for the story. As for the production, Glenn Close plays Albert; unfortunately, she does so by wearing a painful expression on her face for most of the movie. Perhaps Albert suffered from wind but had no one to burp her? Whatever it was, it made viewing the movie an uncomfortable experience. In addition, there didn't seem to be adequate explanation or motivation for Albert's actions after her secret was revealed.
In comparison, the character played by Janet McTeer is engaging, likeable and very believable, and this only serves to highlight the shortcomings of Glenn Close's portrayal of Albert and the direction that surrounded it. I would go so far as to say that Janet McTeer's performance is the only note of distinction in the production. Mia Wasikovska and Aaron Johnson give creditable performances as two ill-fated lovers, as does Pauline Collins in the role of the owner of the hotel.
But none of this was enough to redeem the movie for me. I got more fun and satisfaction from mocking-up a fake movie poster for this blog entry. 3/10
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