There were three Academy Award nominations this year for the sobering, yet entertaining film, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Melissa McCarthy was nominated for Best Actress playing writer Lee Israel, Richard E. Grant was nominated for Best Supporting Actor as her friend and partner in crime, Jack Hock, and a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay based on Lee’s memoir of the same name rounded out the accolades.
The film is rated R for language, including some sexual references, and brief drug use. It is based on the true story of Lee Israel, an author who had some success in publishing, but later very much lost her way. I enjoyed watching this film. It was very well done, and didn’t minimize the troubles Lee found herself in due to drinking, depression and poor choices.
Melissa McCarthy has made her career shine as a comedic actress, yet in playing Lee, she fully embraces the serious side of her abilities. She plays Lee bravely and without making her seem like a pathetic person. Lee was fully aware of her choices, and came out in the end without paying too much of a price for her deceptions and the forgery she excelled at.
The film depicted the times of the early 1990’s true to the era, and the relationship between Lee and Jack is believable and complete. I highly recommend Can You Ever Forgive Me?
How would you feel if you were a writer and suddenly couldn’t get published anymore? Probably you wouldn’t go to the lengths Lee did, but where would you draw the line to make ends meet? Did you see the film, and what did you think of it?
I really enjoyed this film and thought she did an excellent job but I loved Richard E Grant in his role and thought he deserved the Oscar since Mahershala Ali should have been in best Actor category. This person was so acerbic and I know someone like this. Overall, loved this film
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. Lee was kind of an anti-hero, a really complex character, and Richard was really stellar as her sidekick.
DeleteHi Sue - I missed this one ... so many to see via our Film Society ... this one went by the by! Thanks for the review - I was sorry to have missed it ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYou might like to see it sometime. Good acting in an interesting story.
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