Film Review: Albert Nobbs

• Albert Nobbs
Directed by: Rodrigo Garcia
Cast: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Janet McTeer, Jonathan Rees Myers, Brendan Gleeson, Maria Doyle Kennedy
Note: (M) 3 stars

After an initial exploration of the possibilities of the story of George Moore short on stage 30 years ago, Glenn Close has delivered possibly the best performance of his career. Based on the unusual Mr. Nobbs and his (or her) role as a waiter in a hotel in Dublin from the 19th century, Albert Nobbs would be nothing if you could not buy into the deception.

While Janet McTeer looks far too feminine for the role of a painter gruff men, is close in the positive male title role. But looking the part is only a quarter of employment.

A Close the language, manners and clumsy fingertips, and sells really Nobbs as a character delightfully eccentric but tragically naive.

While waiting hand and foot on the motley bunch of people, it collects all the little piece in the hope of one day setting up his own shop.

After meeting with revealing Hubert Page (McTeer), who discovers Nobbs is a woman disguised as a man, she tries to court beautiful young girl, Helen Dawes maid (Mia Wasikowska).

This is where things get a little twisted. We are never sure if Nobbs is generally predisposed to the ladies, or simply trapped in the role so that the court a lady seems as natural as the costume herself into strips every day.

For most, the film avoids the smirking that such a salacious tale of gender bending could easily lend itself. Albert Nobbs is stronger for him, too.

Close is so convincing that it compensates for deficiencies in substance plot. The Oscar may finally be his.

The best thing: the performance of Glenn Close.

Worse: Janet McTeer is a great actress, but unfortunately it does not make the man.