Movie review: Albert Nobbs

A great performance by Glenn Close, just a so-so film.

Whether by choice or circumstance, Glenn Close has been absent from the big screen in any meaningful way for quite some time. Her biggest presence has been on television as of late (Damages, The Shield), and her film experience since she reprised Cruella de Vil in 2000's 102 Dalmatians has mostly been voiceover work, supporting roles, and independent films.

Her latest, Albert Nobbs (which was just nominated for three Oscars, including a Best Actress nod for Close), is still in an independent film, only costing around $8 million, but it does put her back in a starring role that audiences had become accustomed to during her movie prime. And what a return: Close plays the title character, a woman in 19th century Ireland who has chosen to dress as a man for many years in order to be able to work in the male-dominated society. Nobbs works as a waiter at a hotel, and has no trouble hiding her real identity from guests and staff thanks to a gruff voice, short haircut, and separate staff rooms.

But after so many years as a man, she has lost much of herself. A chance encounter with Hubert (Janet McTeer), a woman who also dresses as a man but who otherwise leads a much more liberated life, inspires Nobbs to try to go after her dreams. These include opening her own tobacco shop, using money she has squirreled away for years, and finding someone with whom to share her life. The object of her affections is Helen (Mia Wasikowska), a young and somewhat flighty maid who happens to be spending her time with local bad boy Joe (Aaron Johnson).

There are a lot of layers to Albert Nobbs, and not just the ones that keep Nobbs' gender from being discovered. How and why Nobbs came to be who she is remains a mystery for much of the film. The notion of Nobbs courting a woman and not a man goes against the grain of most gender-bending films, especially since a topic like homosexuality wasn't defined in those times. And then there are the peculiarities of the staff and guests at Nobbs' hotel, which would make an interesting movie irrespective of Nobbs' situation.

Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs

Close, who co-wrote the film with John Banville and Gabriella Prekop, and director Rodrigo Garcia (Mother and Child), have done a nice job of making a period drama that's not overly stuffy. Although the formal nature of society life is shown, the focus is on the hotel's staff and other outsiders, making the film much less serious than it could have been. However, because the film often has a light tone, it also makes it a tad more difficult to adjust to more dramatic moments, especially those concerning Nobbs.

Close's transformation into Nobbs is masterful, which is both good and bad for the film. Close is so believable as a man that the few times we're reminded she's actually a woman, it comes as somewhat of a shock. However, that believability is also detrimental toward fully investing in Nobbs' story. Her situation is a tenuous one, and has been for many years, a fact that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. And aside from the tobacco shop, it's never exactly clear what Nobbs wants out of life. Consequently, the emotional connection with her story that should be there is never quite achieved.

Close is not alone in delivering a good performance. McTeer is close to Close's equal, and actually surpasses her at times. Wasikowska makes good on her up-and-coming status, while supporting stars like Brendan Gleeson, Brenda Fricker, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers keep the film humming whenever they appear on screen.

To see a great actress back on screen and at the top of her game is a great thing. If only the story could have matched the level of acting.

For showtimes for Albert Nobbs, click here.