Women Playing Men

Albert-Nobbs-poster

When I first saw the pictures of Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs, I did not think anything of them other than the lack of makeup shows her true age, and kudos to her for being so bold to show it in this world of plasticized women on a mission to retain their youth as long as humanly possible.

Then I went to a screening last night.  I was on the fence, unsure if I really wanted to see the movie because the trailer didn’t grab me, and I have finally admitted to myself that I find Rodrigo Garcia’s movies delightfully boring, regardless of his praised portrayals of women.  In fact, during the course of the screening, I considered leaving a few times primarily due to the story not grabbing me, and the disturbing notion that Glenn Close in drag looks an awful lot like Robin Williams.

    Am I wrong here?  I found it utterly distracting.

According to the IMDB synopsis, Albert Nobbs is the story of a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men’s clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making.

Mia Wasikowska as Helen and Aaron Johnson as Joe

I actually believe after seeing the movie, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making the thirty years prior when she donned that first suit for a waiter position. She is not the only one masquerading as a man, she discovers, when Janet McTeer’s character, Hubert Page , arrives at the hotel (where Albert is employed) to paint the laundry room. If anyone sees this movie for anybody, it’s Janet McTeer, not Close as Nobbs, not Mia Wasikowska as naive maid, Helen, not Aaron Johnson as the rogue-ish, uneducated Joe, nor any of the underused talents of Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Brenda Fricker. Janet McTeer embodies and relishes her role as Hubert.

Glenn Glose as Albert Nobbs and Janet McTeer as Hubert Page

Hubert becomes the unwitting role model for Close’s pitiful Albert because he is living the life Albert always wanted.  His encouragement creates adverse results, but Albert has never known someone living the same lie as he.  Page learns too late how unworldly Nobbs truly is.

I know this project is very much a labor of love by Glenn Close.  She played Albert on stage and does a lovely job as she always does in any role  portraying him.  However, I do not feel she shines the way McTeer does as a man.  Sure, we see how uncomfortable Albert is in his own skin, but if any Oscar nominations should be happening for Albert Nobbs, it should indeed be for Janet McTeer’s portrayal of Hubert Page.  She kept me in that theater ’til the bitter end.

Albert Nobbs will be in limited release over the holidays for the awards crowd with the official release date set for January 27, 2012.

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