Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Catching up on films I didn’t see at the cinema carries on and looks like it will do for sometime to come. Next up is “Can you ever forgive me?” Marielle Heller’s take on the true life story of Lee Israel a frustrated writer who finds a career forging letters of famous literary figures.

Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant turn in oscar nominated performances as Israel and her friend and accomplice Jack Hock.

It’s a fascinating story and McCarthy, better known for her comedy roles, shows she has much more to her, turning in a fantastic performance as the shy, frustrated, lonely Israel, a women who struggles to develop any kind of relationship and is hugely frustrated by the seeming success of, in her opinion, very average writers peddling rubbish.

Grant supports her well portraying her suave, fantasist friend who is equally vulnerable and lonely.

It is a surprisingly charming story with two character’s you warm to for all of there loneliness and desperation, there is a charm and sweetness to them and their relationship. The story intrigues throughout and is nicely paced and told.

The story is a great example of someone with talent but lacked belief in it, preferring to hide behind the stories and words of others and McCarthy really shines in the lead role. Worth a watch and if you don’t like it can you ever forgive me?