Movie Review: “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” Doesn’t Attain Absolution

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When Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception. An adaptation of the memoir ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?,’ the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer Lee Israel.

When a filmmaker decides to tackle a true story for a film adaptation, they better make sure that the subject matter is interesting but also the person in which the story is about, is relatable. While director Marielle Heller wastes no time in setting up the movie’s protagonist and her backstory, the character of Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), unfortunately, is so damn unlikable, you just cannot root for her, even in her darkest hour. I give kudos to Ms. McCarthy for straying outside her comedic comfort zone and while she gives the character everything she’s got, sadly, it is not enough to save the film. Both she and Richard E. Grant flourish under Ms. Heller’s direction, infusing the somber story with moments of levity and pathos but from the opening scene, we know exactly where the movie is headed and frame by frame, we must accompany Ms. Israel, a very cantankerous and petulant woman, on her journey of eventual self-discovery.

Melissa McCarthy plays Lee Israel, an American author that had previously written a small handful of biographies about actress Tallulah Bankhead, journalist and game show panelist Dorothy Kilgallen, and cosmetics tycoon Estée Lauder. Her book on Dorothy Kilgallen was a big hit and appeared on The New York Times Best Sellers List. It is New York in the early ’90s and Israel has fallen on hard times as people have lost interest in her writing. Undeterred, while researching for her new biography on actress and singer Fanny Brice, she falls behind on her rent and reluctantly sells a personal letter she received from legendary Hollywood actress, Katharine Hepburn, fetching a nice sum of money. While sifting through books and articles on Fanny Brice at a local bookstore, she comes across a letter Brice wrote years earlier and tucked away inside an old book and she quietly sneaks it out of the store. She tries selling it to the same dealer where she sold her Hepburn letter and while they buy it from her, the price is much lower, the dealer stating that the content of the letter is far less interesting than that of the Hepburn one.

Israel then comes up with the idea of forging letters from deceased famous Hollywood writers and stars, including Noel Coward, adding her own personal touch to them, creating intimate letters filled with scandalous and, at times, controversial subject matter. Naturally, they are received enthusiastically from various book dealers and sellers in the New York area and Israel begins making a lot of money. She is finally able to pay her rent again, buy clothes and groceries, and take care of her sick pet cat. In a bar one afternoon, she meets Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant), an old friend whom she hasn’t seen in years and a smalltime drug dealer. When one of her supposed letters from Noel Coward, is flagged by someone in California who actually knew him and questions its authenticity, her name is put on a Do-Not-Buy list. As more of her letters begin to raise concern, she turns to Jack, filling him in on what she has been doing. She continues writing her letters and has Jack sell them for her instead while taking a small cut for himself. Eventually, the FBI contact Jack and he tells them about Lee’s scheme and they are both arrested.

Lee wound up receiving five years probation and six months of house arrest and would then go on to write a tell-all memoir about her time spent forging letters from the stars and it went on to become a best-seller, receiving critical acclaim. The problem with the film, however, is, quite simply, Lee Israel, presented here, is obnoxious and irksome, and prevents the audience from connecting with her in any way whatsoever. The whole point of a movie, is to present a multitude of various characters, but our protagonist(s) must be able to resonate with us, otherwise, why should we care what happens to them? And that is exactly what transpires here. In the beginning, when her living situation is dire, we do actually feel for her, and understandably so, as nobody should have to live like that but after she begins her scheme, defrauding local, hardworking people, even some she actually cares about, out of thousands of dollars, we stop rooting for her and when she finally gets disciplinary action, we are happy because she deserved it. Not exactly the kind of sentiment the movie would hope for.

Melissa McCarthy is a comedic actress who has made a name for herself playing raucous and unrestrained characters in such films as “The Heat,” “Spy,” and “Ghostbusters,” and while I am not particularly a fan, I understand her desire to reach out and want to do more serious roles. After all, other comedic actors such as Robin Williams, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, and Eddie Murphy, to name but a few, have all gone on to achieve success playing serious roles so why shouldn’t McCarthy follow suit? And while her performance is admirable, it’s just a pity she plays a character that does not resonate with the audience. Richard E. Grant, on the other hand, plays the part of Jack Hock with great flamboyance and splendor, infusing his character with just the right balance of candor and gaiety. He is straightforward, telling Lee early on that he sells small amounts of heroin to get by and while both of them deserve each other, he tends to wear his heart on his sleeve and cares about Lee, which results in her terminating their friendship when things start going badly for her. “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is a bleak and glacial effort filled with splendid performances, it’s just a pity the movie, as a whole, leaves a sour taste in its aftermath.

In theaters nationwide Friday, November 2nd