Right off the top, this was not a movie I “needed “ or “really wanted “ to see. As MoviePass is being difficult, this was the first movie available in the last 14 DAYS and we wanted them to pay big. No, we did not go to the early $6 showing, we went Prime late afternoon showing $14.50 a ticket. Take that MoviePass!
You may not of heard of this movie, it’s competition is Bohemian Rhapsody for Pete’s sake
Melissa McCarthy is the lead, playing real life author Lee Israel who was a celebrity biographer in the 1980’s. Melissa starred in two comedies earlier this year, Life Of The Party (my rating B) and who could forget the porn loving puppets of Happytime Murders ( my rating C). Both were comedies because everyone knows Melissa McCarthy is a comedian right? Well hello, our favorite Ms Melissa is a fabulous, I mean fabulous dramatic actress.
As stated, this movie, based on real life, follows Lee Israel a down on her luck celebrity biographer who’s books now gather dust on the super clearance section in book stores. She’s a miserable, nasty alcoholic who’s only friend in life is a sick cat. Her agent tells her to find a new way to make a living, which as you can imagine, was not received well. She has $14 to her name, is three months behind on rent and her veterinarian won’t see her cat because she has a $84 outstanding bill. Lee decides to continue writing a book which is already rejected by her agent. While researching the book she discovers a historic letter by Noel Coward. She brings the letter to a collector and is thrilled to receive $60. She is told the letter would have been more valuable of the subject matter wasn’t so mundane.
And that begins Lee’s career as a master forget of collectible letters. She is soon purchasing several different types of old manual typewriters, to create unique and curious letters from celebrities long dead, and aging paper in the oven to have the correct patina to the letters. She is soon rolling in the cash. Along the way Lee pairs up with fellow alcoholic Gary. As Lee is becoming too well known to collectors who begin to question her ability to “find “ her collectible treasures, she employs Gary to sell his “grandmothers estate.” I can’t put my finger on it, but this movie intrigued me. This is our 40th movie since February and it is refreshingly different than anything we’ve seen this year.
Melissa’s performance was remarkable, she was not a comedian doing drama, she is an actress who mastered her role. It is a shame this movie received such little press, and is being swallowed up by Bohemian Rhapsody. If you are looking for a different type of movie, not romantic comedy, not a hack’em up, not a fabulous sound track, this is your movie.
Can You Ever Forgive Me rates a solid B. See it soon, I don’t think it will be in theaters long, which is a shame.
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