Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Albert Nobbs struggles to survive in late 19th century Ireland, where women aren't encouraged to be independent. Posing as a man, so she can work as a butler in Dublin's most posh hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.
Glenn Close delivers a remarkably restrained and nuanced performance in the title role, earning her an Oscar nomination and representing the film's clear high point. The period cinematography is competent and atmospheric but unremarkable. The plot, while conceptually interesting, moves at a glacial pace and fails to fully explore the rich thematic potential of its gender-disguise premise, feeling thin and underdeveloped. The ending is bleak and somewhat deflating without earning its tragedy dramatically. Novelty is moderate — the gender-passing premise in Victorian Ireland is distinctive enough but the execution follows fairly conventional period drama rhythms.