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 movie was close to be filmed in the early '90s with István Szabó directing.

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Quotes

Albert Nobbs: A life without decency is unbearable.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Woman in Black (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

A different Glenn Close at her best....

Glenn Close's portrayal of the title character was excellent! She was at her best in this picture. Perhaps the reason why other people who saw the movie felt that the movie is draggy and her portrayal is so-so was because there wasn't any hysteria in it. There wasn't any grandstanding scene. There wasn't a shouting match. No loud confrontations. No slapping and hair-pulling scenes. It's a quiet movie so unlike of Close's other known portrayals.

But one can't simply ignore the greatness she has shown in her eyes. You can feel the sadness, the pain, the fears and the hope in her eyes. It was a quiet, restrained performance that is quite haunting that stays in your mind even after watching it. And that's what happened to me. Hours after watching it, the scenes and her story still lingers in my mind.

Everyone in the movie gave worthy performances.... Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Pauline Collins, Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Myers (even though he was in 3-4 scenes only) and most especially, Janet McTeer.

McTeer's characterization was superb. Her body built helped a lot in her portrayal of Hubert Page. But i don't believe that she upstaged Close's here. Her character was quite different from the character that Glenn Close was portraying. And both did quite well in giving justice to the roles they played in the movie.

The beach scene was excellent... quiet, yet conveys so much feelings...

How i wish that those who've seen the movie and saw it differently will watch it again and see the story from Albert Nobbs' point of view. See the expressions in 'his' eyes and feel the tragedy of the life 'he' has gone through.

Glenn Close really deserves to win the Oscar's Best Actress plum with this movie.