Can You Ever Forgive Me? - Movie Review
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Plot: When Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception.
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant
Director: Marielle Heller
Certificate: 15 (very strong language, drug misuse)
Runtime: 107 minutes
Release Date: Friday 1st February 2019
Biopics have been strong this awards season. So far we've already had the stories of Freddie Mercury, Dick Cheney, Laurel & Hardy, and we've still got stories of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a touching friendship in Green Book, but Can You Ever Forgive Me presents a understated and quiet take on the biopic format and despite a slower pace not appealing to all, it results in a very charming and enjoyable tale.
Speaking from a personal perspective, I've never been that fond of Melissa McCarthy. She was impressive in her landmark role in Bridesmaids but since then, she has repeatedly played the same loud-mouthed, clumsy and brash character that fails to draw even the slightest of chuckles. Here, McCarthy ditches those traits and delivers a career-best performance as Lee Israel. After fading away from memory, former best-selling biographic author, Lee Israel, in an attempt to gain recognition and money to help fund her rent and poorly cat, turns her hand at forging and embellishing letters from prominent writers and figures and selling them on to collectors. Whilst it may seem like a small crime thriller on paper, Can You Ever Forgive Me is more intent on a intimate and personal character study as well as presenting the frailty of humanity and the unfortunate aspects of loneliness. At points, Israel is a difficult character to empathise with due to the barriers she builds around herself which McCarthy so expertly displays with subtle expressive nuances. Israel has practically shut the world away and insists that the work that once made her famous can still be as popular. This eventually leads her to encounter with former schoolmate, Jack Hock played with sheer excellence and an abundance of energy by Richard E. Grant, who more than earns his Supporting Actor nomination. Hock is a wild spirit that lives where he pleases yet still, identical to Israel, is harbouring many troubles and worries behind his charismatic exterior.
Plot: When Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception.
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant
Director: Marielle Heller
Certificate: 15 (very strong language, drug misuse)
Runtime: 107 minutes
Release Date: Friday 1st February 2019
Biopics have been strong this awards season. So far we've already had the stories of Freddie Mercury, Dick Cheney, Laurel & Hardy, and we've still got stories of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a touching friendship in Green Book, but Can You Ever Forgive Me presents a understated and quiet take on the biopic format and despite a slower pace not appealing to all, it results in a very charming and enjoyable tale.
Speaking from a personal perspective, I've never been that fond of Melissa McCarthy. She was impressive in her landmark role in Bridesmaids but since then, she has repeatedly played the same loud-mouthed, clumsy and brash character that fails to draw even the slightest of chuckles. Here, McCarthy ditches those traits and delivers a career-best performance as Lee Israel. After fading away from memory, former best-selling biographic author, Lee Israel, in an attempt to gain recognition and money to help fund her rent and poorly cat, turns her hand at forging and embellishing letters from prominent writers and figures and selling them on to collectors. Whilst it may seem like a small crime thriller on paper, Can You Ever Forgive Me is more intent on a intimate and personal character study as well as presenting the frailty of humanity and the unfortunate aspects of loneliness. At points, Israel is a difficult character to empathise with due to the barriers she builds around herself which McCarthy so expertly displays with subtle expressive nuances. Israel has practically shut the world away and insists that the work that once made her famous can still be as popular. This eventually leads her to encounter with former schoolmate, Jack Hock played with sheer excellence and an abundance of energy by Richard E. Grant, who more than earns his Supporting Actor nomination. Hock is a wild spirit that lives where he pleases yet still, identical to Israel, is harbouring many troubles and worries behind his charismatic exterior.
It's through Marielle Haller's expert and magnificent direction that we're able to see these exteriors gradually chip away as their innermost fears are revealed and aired for all to see. Haller purposely avoids glitzy and stylish tactics in her direction and deliberately chooses the gentler, kinder and old fashioned approach about telling a story in the best way possible. By the time Israel and Hock are deep into their criminal endeavours, that's when the irresistible chemistry between McCarthy and Grant begins to shine like a beacon of joyful light. Their interactions and shared dry wit makes it seems like the two characters (and actors) have been friends for years. Can You Ever Forgive Me only begins to run into problems in terms of its pace. The film is a deliberate slow burn never wanting to resort to clichéd or generic crime drama elements but by avoiding such clichés, it does unfortunately find complacency in smaller, less interesting moments.
Can You Ever Forgive Me is enjoyable time spent with great direction, brilliant charm and wit and two sensational central performances. There are pacing issues now and again that diminishes the film's rewatchability factor, but the talent on screen is easily worth buying a ticket for.
Luke's Verdict: 7/10
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