Movie Review: Can You Ever Forgive Me – A Darkly Comedic and Introspective Film.

Release Date: Friday, October 19, 2018
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Ben Falcone, Jane Curtin, Anna Deavere Smith
Director: Marielle Heller
Screenplay: Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty (Adaptation of the memoir “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer Lee Israel.)
Running time: 1 hr, 46 min
Rating: R
Reviewer Rating: ★★★★★

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Can You Ever Forgive Me is an engrossing drama sprinkled with dark comedic moments and plenty of sarcasm. There is also tremendous sadness, especially regarding Lee Israel who is played with the utmost aplomb by Melissa McCarthy. As Lee, McCarthy transforms herself into an unapologetic asshole of a human being. Devoid of make-up, minimal fashion sense, and unkempt hair, Lee leans heavily on the pathetic side. She has no one to blame but herself. She pushes people away, has no real friends, and the fact that she’s living in filth and is nose-blind to the foul stench makes her situation even more lamentable. Having sold a few biographies, Lee feels she’s entitled to something grander but has done little to earn any semblance of the respect she so desperately craves. Marjorie (Jane Curtin), her agent, gives her some cold hard facts about why another author is getting “three million” for his work while Lee can’t even command “ten dollars.”

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Going into the screening, I knew very little about Lee Israel. Set in the ‘90s, the film is informative, entertaining, engaging, and the whole drama of Lee’s forgeries is immensely fascinating. She is quite a salty bitch. There are moments where I had no empathy for Lee and her horrible attitude toward people and life in general. But then she shows such love and devotion to her cat, I saw something that resembles a human being. McCarthy’s effulgent performance is award worthy. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. The way McCarthy carries herself in Can You Ever Forgive Me highlights what a magnificently talented actress she is. Her portrayal of Lee Israel is vastly different from the slap-stick and physically comedic roles she’s played in films like Bridesmaids and Spy, and I loved it.

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There is a bevy of supporting characters, including McCarthy’s real-life husband Ben Falcone who plays Alan Schmidt, a purveyor of literary works. Dolly Wells, who plays another store owner and collector named Anna, begins to have feelings for Lee. Then there’s Lee’s friend, of sorts, Jack Hock, played with tremendous mastery by Richard E. Grant. Lee and Jack bond over their mutual affinity of booze, lack of friends and intimate relationships. The pair are not romantically involved due to their respective sexual orientation – Jack is gay and Lee a lesbian. Having met previously at a literary party, their unique friendship isn’t always enviable but in the end, they truly are thick as thieves. The way McCarthy and Grant feed off each other’s performances throughout the film is absolute poetry.

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Grant is extraordinary as Jack. I loved him in Gosford Park and in the Marple series based on Agatha Christie’s books featuring the spinster detective Miss Marple. Jack’s flamboyance and zest for life may be ambitious for someone in his position – having no home, no job, and a terrible drinking and drug problem. Regardless, he wiggles his way into Lee’s life and chisels away a nice little nook in her heart. Desperate to have a friend, both Lee and Jack cling to one another but as always, Lee manages to isolate herself from having real feelings and emotions. Her former partner Elaine (Anna Deavere Smith) points out her lack of openness and willingness to let people in. As Elaine walks away, it forces Lee to face the reality of her situation. It is Lee’s arrogance that ultimately leads to her eventual downfall.

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As things begin to unravel, Lee must come to the realization that her failures in life, even when she thought she was succeeding, are of her own making. Despite the punishment and losing the one thing she loves the most, Lee is still defiant and ballsy. She cleans up her act, and her apartment, but the notes of sarcasm and salty attitude linger.

Can You Ever Forgive Me is a brilliantly adapted and directed film that deserves many awards.

Watch the trailer here.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.