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 elegant hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.

Director:

Rodrigo García

Writers:

Gabriella Prekop (screenplay), John Banville (screenplay)

Stars:

Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glenn Close	...	Albert Nobbs
Antonia Campbell-Hughes	...	Emmy (as Antonia Campbell Hughes)
Mia Wasikowska	...	Helen
Pauline Collins	...	Mrs. 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:

woman pretending to be a man | hotel | 19th century | painter | waiter | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, brief nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

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 USA:

$696,166, 29 January 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,014,696

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,532,259

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mockingbird Pictures, Trillium Productions, Parallel Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film reunites Glenn Close and Mark Williams who played villains in 101 Dalmatians (1996).

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Goofs

When Glenn Close is running on the beach, she falls down in a spot where it is obvious that the sand was disturbed in a previous shot or rehearsal.

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Quotes

Dr. Holloran: Why aren't you in fancy dress?
Albert Nobbs: Me sir? But I'm a waiter.
Dr. Holloran: Well I'm a doctor. We are both disguised as ourselves. That's a good one, eh?

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Kate Winslet/Mia Wasikowska/Chris Matthews (2015)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Had potential but ultimately mediocre

So-so. Was initially engaging, as you empathise with Albert Nobbs and some of the other characters too. However, the plot struggles to find direction, drifts from a point and ends as a bit of damp squib. The movie had the potential to make a very profound point about women's rights and self-determination, but in the end skirts all these and has a decidedly lacklustre end.

Glenn Close does her best to get an Oscar, and got a nomination for it, but I found her performance too stuffy and uptight. Janet McTeer, on the other hand, gives a superb performance and well deserved her Best Supporting Actress nomination. Good support too from Mia Wasikowska and most of the other supporting cast.