Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a biographical film directed by Marielle Heller. The screenplay is by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, based on Lee Israel’s 2008 memoir of the same name. Can You Ever Forgive Me? tells the true story of a writer who has fallen on hard times and turns to illegal methods of making ends meet. This movie has flown way under the radar, as it appears to have been looked on as the book Lee Israel wrote in the movie. I’m so glad I got to see Can You Ever Forgive Me? it’s truly a block buster in it’s own right.
**** SOME SPOILERS ****
Following the critical and commercial failure of her biography of Estée Lauder, author Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) is struggling with financial troubles, writer’s block and alcoholism. Because her agent Marjorie (Jane Curtain), is unable to secure Lee with an advance for a new biography, she is forced to find another way to make money. Lee lugs a ton of heavy books to a pawn shop for books but can only get $2.00 and some nasty attitude for all her effort. Further, her beloved cat is sick and needs medication. Lee decides to sell a personal letter she received from Katharine Hepburn to Anna (Dolly Wells), a local book dealer in order to cover her expenses.
While at the library conducting research about Fanny Brice, for a novel she’s planning to write, Lee happens upon an actual letter from Ms. Brice folded in the book. She swipes the letter and offers to sell it to Anna, who can’t give much due to the letter’s lack of interesting content. That’s when Lee begins to forge and sell letters by deceased writers, playwrights and actors, by embellishing them with juicy, intimate details that command a higher price. Anna, who is a fan of Lee’s writing as an author, attempts to initiate a relationship with her. Lee being very private and unfriendly most of the time, rejects the relationship with Anna.
When one of Lee’s letters written by Noël Coward raises suspicion for its unguarded discussion of his sexuality, she is blacklisted by her buyers. Unable to sell the forgeries herself, she has her new best friend, Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant) sell the letters for her. While Lee was away attempting to enhance her forgery business, she trusted Jack to take care of her apartment and her cat. Upon her return, she ends their relationship after finding her apartment trashed and her cat dead. Later Jack and Lee are served with a court summons by the FBI for forgery.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? is based on a true story and presents a nice change and a nice rest from all the action movies. There are times when you think Lee is going to do something predictable, then surprised when she does something totally opposite. Although I’ve told much of the story, I’ve also left out much of the story. Melissa McCarthy has given a fantastic performance if not her best performance. She is completely believable and convincing as the writer, Lee Israel. Richard E. Grant was absolutely brilliant as Jack Hock, a friendly gay man with a secret. I was thoroughly entertained and learned a thing or two about the world of authentic letter buying. For me, this movie is what going to the movies is all about. Excellent story — Brilliant acting — Check It Out!
[Can You Ever Forgive Me? is Oscar nominated for Best: Actress, Supporting Actor and Adapted Screenplay]
I don’t usually review foreign films, but Ida was available to watch and received a couple of Oscar nods, so I decided to give it a shot. I must say, Ida, which takes place in the 1960s, is sad and somewhat dark but very informative. Ida (Agata Trzebuchowska) grew up in a convent in Poland as Anna and was all set to take her vows as a nun when she was ordered to go and visit her only living relative, an aunt on her mother’s side named Wanda Gruz (Agata Kulesza). There she would find out the truth about her heritage and a little knowledge about the world in general. No information was divulged to Ida, which meant she was going into an unknown situation blindly. My guest is, they wanted her to be sure that being a nun was really what she wanted, given the unique circumstances she didn’t know about yet. Through her aunt Wanda, a hard-drinking, sexually promiscuous judge, it is revealed that Anna’s actual name is Ida. Many other secrets are brought to light and many decisions are made by all. Ida’s parents were killed and buried somewhere in Poland. Aunt Wanda and Ida set out to find the graves and the story of their demise. IDA won several awards already and is a very well told story.
A Million Ways to Die in the West is one of the funniest movie to hit the theaters since “The Wedding Crashers”. I genuinely laughed my head off. I grant you, the entire movie wasn’t rip roaring funny but the many scenes that were funny, were really funny. A dorky sheep farmer/cowboy (Albert played by Seth MacFarlane) who is cowardly and afraid to defend himself in any gunfight, is in love with a society seeker who eventually breaks up with him. She (Louise played by Amanda Seyfried) moves on immediately to a semi-quasi wealthy owner of a local store (Foy played by Neil Patrick Harris). In the meanwhile, Albert meets the wife (Anna played by Charlez Theron) of the fastest gun in the west (Clinch played by Liam Neeson) and they fall in love. Of course I can’t reveal what happens but you’re in for some good entertainment. Since this is a comedy, anything I say will give away what makes this movie so great so I will just say “check this one out” it’s worth the time and money.
Downton Abbey is one of my most favorite series. I love period pieces. This one is before World War I and is brilliantly told. The series revolves around a British, aristocratic family and their servants. The family presently includes Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Robert’s mother, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. The major servants include Head of all servants, Mr. Carson, Mrs Hughes, Head of kitchen staff, Mrs. Patmore, John and Anna Bates, Valet to Lord Grantham and Lady Maid to Lady Mary, respectively. The personal stories that take place between the staff and the Crawley family and friends makes for a fascinating series. I’ve been mesmerized by Downton Abbey since it first started. Just to see how the upper crust behaves in Britain — one wonders whose idea was it to have maids dress you every day. The whole setup is rather complicated, so I’ve displayed a couple of charts that show the actors, characters they play and the positions they hold at Downton Abbey. Just perusing the charts, gives you an idea of how the story flows. Learning the positions and hierarchy of the staff will be challenge. Overall, Downton Abbey takes you away to a world we don’t really know but can find entertainment and fun in watching.
CAROL's WORLDS 