Albert Nobbs

Rating: 4.5/5

One of my favorite albums is "The Stranger" by Billy Joel. I grew up listening to it, and I've seen Mr. Joel himself play most of the album live. So, as most people familiar with the title track do, I get the message of being yourself. But what if someone put on the face of a stranger and became that person permanently? Where would that leave them, especially if they never took off the mask? Uplifting, or tragic? Shakespearean, or Albert Nobbs?

In early 20th century Ireland, there is a hotel. It isn't the fanciest, but it has Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close), the best waiter in the world. Nobbs is always on time, never screws up, always does more than needed, and is respected and well liked. Albert Nobbs is also a woman who has dressed as a man for the past thirty years. A victim of horrible abuse, Albert has retreated completely into her male identity, and harbors a crush on Helen (Mia Wasikowska), a naive young maid. After meeting another, married, crossdresser (Janet McTeer), Albert decides it's high time she realized her dream.

Albert Nobbs is a beautiful tragedy. It has gorgeous cinematography, costumes, and sets, but it is very melancholic. Albert, whose real name is never revealed, has made a prison within her own clothing. We never see Albert without her tuxedo or male pyjamas, and it's sad. This is a sad story about a woman who has learned to survive in her own sad and strange way. Weirdly enough, it's very good. Here we are presented with a rare kind of film that does not drive us away with its sadness.

The real reason to see the movie though, is for Glenn Close in the title role. I am not familiar with her work at all, but wow. She does such a good job here of making a slightly crazy transvestite incredibly endearing and fascinating to watch, I have no words but wow. The rest of the acting, besides a criminally underused Brendan Gleeson, is also great. Like Mickey Rourke in The Wrestlerm Close holds it together.

Albert Nobbs isn't for everyone. It's a bit weird, there are very cheesy moments, and as I said it's melancholy and the ending is really sad. But Glenn Close is so great as Albert it deserves to be seen. There isn't anything else like it currently out, and there won't be in the near future. And to me, in this world of 3D, sequels, reboots, and remakes, that makes it worthwile.