Directed by Marielle Heller
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. October 21, 2018 5:45 PM
The title of Marielle Heller's brilliantly witty and superbly acted biographical drama, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" comes from an apology letter that Lee Israel invented that was supposed to have been written by Dorothy Parker. This is also the title of Israel's memoir that covers her time as a once successful New York writer of books on high-profile women before falling on hard times and getting involved in a scam of selling forged letters by deceased writers and actors that she actually wrote.
Melissa McCarthy impressively delivers the best screen performance of her career as the dour Israel that utilizes her incredible gift of comedy with a lesser-seen-but-equally-great dramatic ability. The film also gives veteran British actor, Richard E. Grant a terrific opportunity to shine in the role of Israel's dubious friend and eventual partner-in-crime.
When we first meet Israel (McCarthy), she has just been fired from a copy-editing job for drinking while at work and cursing out a co-worker. This only adds to her mounting financial problems. Lee is now definitely unable to pay her overdue rent and her beloved, twelve-year old cat (whose company she greatly prefers over anyone human) is sick but can't take to the vet until she covers at least part of an outstanding bill.
Lee finally gets a meeting with her book agent, Marjorie (an excellent Jane Curtin), who had been avoiding her, and insists that she get her an advance for a book she wants to write about stage-star, Fanny Brice. But Marjorie has to set her straight that nobody wants to read that book let alone pay her a dime to write it.
Drowning her frustrations at a local gay bar, Lee is seized upon by Jack Hock (Grant), an exuberant English dandy who claims to have met her at a party. After finally remembering him (and the appalling act he committed in a highly inebriated state), the two bond, spending the evening conversing and carousing through the city.
While at the New York library continuing to do research for her book, Lee stumbles upon a letter written by Fanny Brice and decides to steal it. She takes the letter to a book dealer, owned by a sweet and flirtatious, Anna (Dolly Wells), in order to sell. Anna purchases the letter for a decent sum but informs Lee that she might have gotten more if it had contained more interesting subject matter. This inspires Lee to invent correspondence from noted figures like Noël Coward and Parker yet with intriguing content. So begins Israel on an elaborate crime spree of composing hundreds of fake letters where she is able to express herself creatively while comfortably make a nice living. However, it doesn't take long for someone to become suspicious of her activities and gets the F.B.I. involved to investigate.
Julianne Moore was initially cast as Lee Israel before later dropping out of this project. And while I think she's an amazing and capable actress, Ms Moore was definitely miscast. After seeing Ms McCartney's exceptional portrayal of the criminal writer, I can't imagine anyone else in this role. Grumpy, ill-tempered and self-involved, Israel would not be considered much of a sympathetic protagonist. Yet we can still understand her outrage and resentment of being dismissed as a writer with McCarthy subtly revealing her rarely seen vulnerable and insecure side. As she struggles mostly in isolation and lost in a drunken haze, Israel has become oblivious to the filth and cat shit surrounding her in the tiny apartment.
Lighter in spirit yet still dark in soul, Mr. Grant's Hock is the perfect foil to McCarthy's acerbic Israel. The actor has been around for a while, reliably delivering solid supporting work in many films and with "Can You Ever Forgive Me?", Mr. Grant been given an excellent opportunity to remind people just how really good he can be. But the most delightful surprise is the brief yet highly effective appearance of Ms. Curtin, who is best remembered as one of the original cast members of the long-running, comedy sketch series, "Saturday Night Live". She brings an astute sharp tongue to her part as Israel's agent and holds her own against her formidable client.
Ms Heller began her career as an actress, mostly appearing in supporting roles in films and television before deciding to venture behind the camera. Her first feature, "The Diary of a Teenage Girl", which she adapted from a graphic novel, tells the story of a curious fifteen year girl exploring her sexuality before ending up in an unfortunate affair with her mother's 35-year-old boyfriend. This was one of my favorite films of 2015 and what I admired most is how Ms Heller impressively displayed a craft and vision that was fully formed as a filmmaker. With "Can You Ever Forgive Me?", the director has managed to have become even more deft and confident, further exploring the merging of dark, mournful drama with surprising bursts of laugh-out-loud humor.
With a winning script by playwright, Jeffrey Whitty and filmmaker, Nicole Holofcener (who was attached to direct in the early stages of development), "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" is a remarkable achievement of heartfelt drama and wicked comedy anchored by stand-out, award-worthy performances by Ms McCarthy and Mr. Grant. And Ms Heller proves to be a singular artist who is more than capable of bridging indie-minded cinema with mainstream appeal.
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