Albert Nobbs is set in turn-of-the-19th century Dublin, and revolves around the titular main character (Glenn Close), a cross dressing waiter who hides her female gender as a means of sustaining employment at a posh hotel. Friendless except for a cordial relationship with hard-drinking physician Dr Holloran (Brendan Gleeson) and a workman Hubert (Janet McTeer), she soon gets embroiled in a Bizarre Love Triangle (-cue Frente-) with a much younger employee (Mia Wasikowska) and her scurrilous cad of a boyfriend (Aaron Johnson).
Close plays her character with a finesse that keeps us both hooked and perplexed in equal measures. Her Academy-worthy performance leaves one wondering at the level of self-manipulation conditioned into Albert Nobbs, a character that cannot seem to stop performing, from both force of habit and tortured history. McTeer puts in an equally impressive, albeit less complex, performance.
Unfortunately, the narrative suffers from a plodding pace, and resolves itself in some improbably lazy third act cop-outs, a waste given the visual aesthetics and thespian talent that the film has been blessed with. The character-driven nature of the film does, however, make these minor shortcomings tolerable.
Some critics may dismiss Albert Nobbs as typical Oscar-bait, while others may find its poignance…well, pretty pointless. These trivial charges aside though, Albert Nobbs is a heartfelt character drama for those with a taste for introspection.
Summary: Mind-boggling gender bender that may be too sedate for some.
Rating: 3.5/5
– Raphael Lim
Albert Nobbs comes out of the closet on 16 February 2012.