Can You Ever Forgive Me 2018

     This film is an adaptation of a memoir written by Lee Israel published in 2008.  The setting is in the 1970-80’s in New York.  Lee Israel was a writer but she’s fallen on hard times and she’s been fired from her current job.  Her publisher tells her than no one is interested at this time in a Lee Israel book?  If Lee would stop being so obnoxious, stop drinking and being constantly disheveled, someone might be interested in a novel.  Lee is doing research for a novel on Fanny Bryce and she discovers a letter in a book written by Fanny Bryce.  She learns it wouldn’t bring much money as is but if she tweaks it a little she can sell the letter.  Lee is behind on her rent and all her bills and this can be an income source?

     Lee Israel began a career as a freelance writer in the 1960’s.  She had a profile piece in Esquire magazine of 1967 about Katharine Hepburn shortly before Spencer Tracy died.  Her magazine career continued into the 1970’s.  Also in the 1970’s, she published biographies of actress Tallulah Bankhead, game-show panelist Dorothy Kilgallen and cosmetics tycoon Estee Lauder.  The Kilgallen piece was well received and was on The New York Times Best Seller List.  By 1992, her career as a writer of books and magazine articles had ended.  She tried to earn money from wage jobs but she failed.

     This film has received many awards for Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Director Marielle Heller and the Screenwriters Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty.  McCarthy has put herself out there with her very frumpy appearance and bad attitude.  She only loves her cat and not any other people.  There is not much to like about Lee either!!  Maybe her best friend is alcohol?  Some of Israel’s favorite songs play in the background.  I had never heard of Lee Israel before watching this film.  There is a different edge and angle to this film.  There is also the jarring fact that Israel was able to profit from her crimes later when she wrote a novel about her cons?  3 1/2* (I liked this movie) 

106 min, Bio directed by Marielle Heller with Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Ben Falcone, Gregory Korostishevsky, Jane Curtin, Stephen Spinella, Christian Navarro, Pun Bandhu, Erik LaRay Havery, Brandon Scott Jones, Shae D‘lyn, Rosal Colon, Anna Deavere Smith, Marc Evan Jackson.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Mark Kermode, EmpireOnline 4* out of 5* Ian Freer, Metacritic 87 out of 100 with 53 critics 7.4 out of 10 with 109 user scores, Independent 5* Geoffrey Macnab, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 446 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed on West 1th Street, West 81^st Street, East 59^th Street, 126 Crosby Street, 99 St. Mark’s Place, Central Park, New York City, New York.  Automobiles from the 21-century are sometimes in the background of some scenes?  Richard E. Grant portrays an alcoholic but he’s allergic to alcohol.  Originally Sam Rockwell and Chris O’Dowd were cast in the role played by Richard E. Grant as Jack Hock.  Ben Falcone, the husband of Melissa McCarthy is in the role of Alan Schmidt.