"Albert Nobbs" Movie Review

"Albert Nobbs" movie poster.

Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs.

"In 19th century Dublin, Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close), an eccentric man in the latter part of middle age, works as a waiter in Morrison's Hotel run by the stingy and controlling Marge Baker (Pauline Collins). Albert is hard working and saves his money so that one day he will be able to eke out a better life for himself by owning his own business rather than work at the hotel. Beyond his work colleagues, he is all alone in the world. One day, a man named Hubert Page (Maria Doyle Kennedy) is hired by Mrs. Baker to paint one of the rooms in the hotel. She forces Hubert to share Albert's bed for the one night he is required to stay to complete the work, much to Albert's horror. Hubert discovers the reason Albert did not want to share a room with him. But rather than the issue being a problem, Hubert shows Albert that he can follow a slightly different life path than the one he envisioned for himself - one closer to the life that Hubert leads with his wife Cathleen (Bronagh Gallagher) - which includes getting married and having a wife to support him emotionally. Albert's choice as a bride is his younger flirtatious co-worker Helen Dawes (Mia Wasikowska), who, unknown to Albert, is already in a sexual relationship with the brusque and sly Joe Mackins (Aaron Johnson), another co-worker recently arrived to Morrison's. As Albert, Helen and Joe play their respective games of courtship, Albert may find that what seemed to come naturally to Hubert may be more difficult for him." (Link below.)

"Albert Nobbs"
movie poster.

This film has quite a cast! Even Jonathan Rhys Meyers shows up for two minutes. I was delighted when I saw Mr. Weasley, I mean, Mark Williams and Mad-Eye Moody, I mean, Brandon Gleeson. (I'm a Harry Potter freak.....)

I also had no idea that Glenn Close was one of the main screenwriters for this movie. I totally thought she deserved the Oscar nomination for her role in this. She was very convincing as a man. If I had not already known about that before watching the movie, I think I would've been very surprised. 

Maria Doyle Kennedy
as Hubert Page.

I thought the story was compelling, I mean I certainly felt for the character, especially with times like the ones in which we are living where work is hard to find and the pay is not that great. The costumes were great and, in particular, the makeup was astounding. It was a very good film. It was bit quiet but the drama was huge. Not only was this based on a short story by George Moore, it was more or less based on actual happenings involving real women hiding their identities so they could get a job and live. I'd love to read the short story one of these days.

I give this movie 4.5 stars.

Script available here: http://albertnobbs-themovie.com/AlbertNobbs.pdf.

Mia Wasikowska (L) and Glenn Close.

Favorite Lines:

Dr. Holloran: Why aren't you in fancy dress? 

Albert Nobbs: I'm a waiter. 

Dr. Holloran: Well I'm a doctor. We are both disguised as ourselves.

Helen: You are the strangest man I have ever met.

Dr. Holloran: Dear Jesus, I don't know what makes people live such miserable lives.

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602098/synopsis.