Can You Ever Forgive Me?

4/5

On the face of it, ‘Can you ever forgive me?’ is an enthralling tale of forgery, deception and loneliness. However, it is the screenplay, acting and brilliant casting that makes this film so special.

The film follows the life of Lee Israel, played by Mellissa McCarthy, a previously successful biographer who’s fallen on hard times as her more recent projects struggle to get a publisher. She is a miser, in every sense of the word, (think Ebenezer Scrooge level) and her only lasting relationship is with her aging cat. With bills racking up and her cat sick, Lee decides to sell one of her prized possessions, a letter from Katharine Hepburn. After falling fortuitously into possession of another letter by her most recent book subject, Fanny Brice, she is told that the letter would be worth more if the subject were punchier. Lee decides to start forging letters and signatures from literary legends and selling them to cover her debts. As suspicion rises she involves her new acquaintance and only friend Jack Hock, played by Richard E. Grant, who takes to the con man role expertly.

The casting is perfect, with both McCarthy and Grant nominated for Oscars. McCarthy’s return to dramatic roles from her more recent comedic outings is being heralded as a revelation, and rightly so. The piece is perfect for her as she portrays Lee with a large amount of wit, whilst her awkward frumpy posture and subtle facial reactions throughout the film really bring across the loneliness behind the character’s spikey exterior.

Grant, essentially returning to his portrayal of Withnail from cult classic ‘Withnail & I’, is delightedly outlandish, charismatic and delusional. His portrayal of Jack Hock is as funny as McCarthy’s and there is such chemistry between the two of them it’s a joy to watch.

The film’s screenplay, written by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty (also nominated for an Oscar), is what really stands out and makes this film memorable. The interchanges between Jack and Lee feel so real. The two characters share a friendship in which they are rude and downbeat and seem to only share a love of booze. But through all the obscenities, there’s a sense of respect and understanding that really brings the emotion to the piece, especially during their final conversation of the film which falls between heart wrenching and amusing.

Ultimately this film success is due to its capability to remain highly entertaining and funny whilst providing a truly sombre and believable insight into loneliness and despair. A definite must see.