Albert Nobbs (2011)

Albert Nobbs struggles to survive in late 19th century Ireland, where women aren't encouraged to be independent. Posing as a man, so she can work as a butler in Dublin's most posh hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.

Director:

Rodrigo García

Writers:

Glenn Close (screenplay), John Banville (screenplay),

Stars:

Glenn Close, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Mia Wasikowska

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glenn Close	...	Albert Nobbs
Antonia Campbell-Hughes	...	Emmy
Mia Wasikowska	...	Helen
Pauline Collins	...	Margaret 'Madge' Baker
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Mary
Mark Williams	...	Sean Casey
James Greene	...	Patrick
Serena Brabazon	...	Mrs. Moore
Michael McElhatton	...	Mr. Moore
Dolores Mullally	...	Milady
Bonnie McCormack	...	Miss Shaw
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Cavendish
Brendan Gleeson	...	Dr. Holloran
Kenneth Collard	...	Monsieur Pigot
Judy Donovan	...	Madame Pigot

Storyline

In 19th century Dublin, Albert Nobbs, an eccentric man in the latter part of middle age, works as a waiter in Morrison's Hotel run by the stingy and controlling Marge Baker. Albert is hard working and saves his money so that one day he will be able to eke out a better life for himself by owning his own business rather than work at the hotel. Beyond his work colleagues, he is all alone in the world. One day, a man named Hubert Page is hired by Mrs. Baker to paint one of the rooms in the hotel. She forces Hubert to share Albert's bed for the one night he is required to stay to complete the work, much to Albert's horror. Hubert discovers the reason Albert did not want to share a room with him. But rather than the issue being a problem, Hubert shows Albert that he can follow a slightly different life path than the one he envisioned for himself - one closer to the life that Hubert leads with his wife Cathleen - which includes getting married and having a wife to support him emotionally. ...

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | 19th century | ireland | painter | butler | 

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Taglines:

A man with a secret. A woman with a dream.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, brief nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

UK Ireland France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 2012 (France)

Also Known As:

El secreto de Albert Nobbs

Filming Locations:

Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$696,166 (USA) (27 January 2012)

Gross:

$3,014,541 (USA) (11 May 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chrysalis Films, Canal+, Irish Film Board

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The entire film was shot in 34 days in Dublin, Ireland.

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Quotes

Dr. Holloran: Dear Jesus, I don't know what makes people live such miserable lives.

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Connections

Featured in Great Movie Mistakes IV (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Lay Your Head Down"
Music by Brian Byrne
Lyrics by Glenn Close
Performed by Sinéad O'Connor

User Reviews

Masterful Performances All Around

Technically, the film Albert Nobbs won't be released in the United States until late January, and I would think that would disqualify it as a contender for the upcoming Oscars (although the buzz around says otherwise, so I don't know how that works) but it would be a real shame if true because Glenn Close is strictly at her best since Dangerous Liaisons as Albert Nobbs, a male waiter living a secret life. Janet McTeer is a bit more hammy as Hubert Page, another woman living life as a man, and she's not as convincing as Close is as a man, but she still has her moments, like the way she walks all manly on the beach even when wearing a dress. Mia Wasikowska also gives a supporting actress nomination worthy role as sort of what Cécile was to Liaisons. I really hated the ending of this film and would have preferred something a little less Remains of the Day and a little more uplifting and hopeful, so as a film I don't think it is best picture material but Glenn Close certainly deserves her long overdue Oscar for this stunning performance.

I do have to wonder how this got an R rating though. There is nothing R rated in it whatsoever; the only nudity involves two very quick flashes of breasts only to establish that the characters are actually female, and other than that, there is no foul language or violence or anything. The MPPA should reconsider what I believe to be a biased rating that it came up with based only on the fact that the film hints at lesbianism.