I didn't expect to enjoy this movie as much as i did. glenn Close is Albert Nobbs and she is a phenomenal actress. Mr. Nobbs is a woman disguised as a man and working as a butler in 19th Century Ireland in a hotel. Besides this film being about class distinctions and social status and being a lesbian and employment, it is also a love story but one without any gooey sentimentality.
Albert is saving money to buy a shop. He is a very withdrawn, isolated, emotionless person; in large part, to make sure she/he is not 'discovered.' The hotel's owner hires a painter, Mr. Page, who shares a room with Nobbs. Lo and behold! Mr. Page is a woman also and through that relationship, Nobbs finds out about actually living in the world as a lesbian and having a lover and mate.
This results in Nobbs pursuing a maid (not a disguised female but a 'real' girl) so they can be married and live together. But the maid, Helen, is attracted to a less than ethical and moral character who is the maintenance man at the hotel.
The plot twists and turns and certainly did not end up the way i thought it would. There was no predictability in it at all. A lot of the hotel scenes where the staff would eat together or prepare food for the guests (all insufferably pompous) reminded me a lot of that great movie by Robert Altman - Gosford Park starring Clive Owens).
Bill gave this movie a 9 (and he really really did NOT want to see it) and i gave it an 8.5.
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