As you know I usually go into the movies without knowing anything about it. Albert Nobbs was part of a preview festival I went to and apart from a thumbnail of the poster I went in blank. No idea what it was about and who played in it. When the movie started I saw the name Glenn Close show up on the screen and although it vaguely rang a bell I really couldn’t think of a face that matched the name. When the movie started I got an uncomfortable feeling.
The movie is set in a hotel in the 19th century and Albert Nobbs is a butler working there. From the moment he showed up I felt something was wrong with this actor. Why did this man have such a weird face and a voice that also didn’t fit? Then a bit later another man showed up and I couldn’t understand why all these women in the hotel thought he looked beautiful and wanted to know more about him. I thought he looked like a woman. As it turns out my uncomfortable feeling was right as it turns out (as the trailer shows) these men were both women. The story is that these women were not able to get work and that posing as a man would allow them to make some money. Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) has a dream of setting up her own shop and after finding out the secret of another woman posing as a man she wants to do that by marrying a woman and has her eyes set on one of the maids. The movie shows how she tries to reach her goal and deal with hiding her big secret.
This is a movie I really did not enjoy and I can’t understand all the praise Glenn Close has been getting for this role. It seems she has used botox and because of it I had the feeling she couldn’t show much emotion. Surely looking around makes you come across as vulnerable, but it didn’t convince me. The only scene in which I thought she was convincing is one where she goes to the beach (you know which one I’ll mean once you see it). From the outset of the movie I didn’t feel like the premise was very believable which made me feel like a observer who didn’t care much about the characters instead of someone who was feeling what they were going through. Albert Nobbs was a disappointing movie which I wouldn’t recommend.
Score: 4
Unfourtunately I agree entirely. Not only did I not enjoy this film but I actively disliked it; the way that the director treats Nobbs as a joke is rather off putting, especially since we are supposed to be buying into her situation emotionally. Then there is the whole Mia/Aaron subplot which was not only pointless but spoiled the reputations of two of my favorite young actors.
Ugh…
Yeah, it took a while to find out what was actually going on with her, but just like you I really couldn’t connect. Well, the subplot did serve a purpose, but it didn’t feel fully realised.
how did you become a reviewer if you dont know how to understand a movie and the characters being portrayed in the movie?
I understand perfectly what this movie is about as it deals with the situations women had to go through in order to survive. It’s clear that Albert Nobbs has been formed by the difficult times she has gone through making her incapable to explore her emotional side. Once she meets the other woman she sees something she can connects to and dreams of even though that might not be very realistic. I understand this movie and characters perfectly, but the fact remains it is a movie which I could not connect with and therefore did not enjoy as reflected in the score.
Real shame you didn’t enjoy this one, Nostra. I quite liked the look of it, mainly because it’s pretty different to anything else out at the moment. I think the plot is a little unconventional for the film to do well around here and I seriously doubt it’ll be picked up by mainstream cinemas.
I think I’ll still try and see it if I can, mainly out of curiosity than anything else. Great review Nostra!
Yeah, you should give this a look Amy, maybe it’s a movie which women will enjoy more?