ALBERT NOBBS (Rodrigo Garcia, Lionsgate, 2011)

The titular character in the film ALBERT NOBBS (Rodrigo Garcia, Lionsgate, 2011) is a waiter at a hotel in 19th century Ireland. His job is to preform any functions his specific guests may require. He does so stoically, reserved and unassuming. This character takes time getting started and much as the character goes, so to does the film. By the end of the film you sympathize with Nobbs, you want him to have his shop and his wife, you agonize with him as he sees his plans faltering. But something else's happening with Nobbs. He is emerging; strengthening before our eyes. The film is exactly like this because by films end you have become wrapped within the lives of the characters created within this world. This caring comes about through some good performances by its entire cast. The casting for the entire film is remarkable, each performer contributing to the larger film. It is the two women, Hubert Paine (Janet McAteer) and Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) which take this cast from simply good to really great. McAteer and Close provide nuanced performances. They both show fragility while needing to exude strength to their outside world. It is this world which fascinates me most. Garcia crafts an excellent insight into 19th century life. His portrait is an intimate one. Every aspect of this world is done remarkably well and technical aspects of production shine. The makeup applied to make Close look more like a man was really good. The costumes were good suggesting a great job wardrobe. Those two aspects fall under production design and the world created for the film was authentic and felt real. And the writing and acting captured the essence of how men and women conducted themselves and did a stellar job of showing how influential social class used to be. The film is not for everyone but I rather liked it. It's quirky but real. It gives us real characters from a different era and time yet those characters are as timeless as today.