Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Glenn CloseAlbert Nobbs
- Mia WasikowskaHelen Dawes
- Aaron Taylor-JohnsonJoe Mackins
- Janet McTeerHubert Page
- Pauline CollinsMargaret Baker
- Brenda FrickerPolly
- Jonathan Rhys MeyersViscount Yarrell
- Brendan GleesonDr. Holloran
- Maria Doyle KennedyMary
- Antonia Campbell-HughesEmmy
Recommendations
- 75
IndieWire
It's no less of an accomplished performance than Hilary Swank's similar turn in "Boys Don't Cry" or newcomer Zoé Herán's delicate achievement as the lead in "Tomboy." Unfortunately, Albert Nobbs traps Close's sizable talent in a simplistic drama--not unlike Nobbs herself who winds up trapped in a restrictive period. - 70
The New York Times
Ms. McTeer's sly, exuberant performance is a pure delight, and the counterpoint between her physical expressiveness and Ms. Close's tightly coiled reserve is a marvel to behold. The rest of the film is a bit too decorous and tidy to count as a major revelation, but it dispenses satisfying doses of humor, pathos and surprise. - 65
Movieline
As Mr. Albert Nobbs, Close wears a discreetly waved cap of cropped ginger hair and the bright, blank expression of a small animal caught mid-nibble. - 63
New York Post
Unfortunately, Albert is so good at being unobtrusive, he nearly disappears from his own story, making it hard for us to get invested in it. - 63
USA Today
The film never gets to the heart of Nobbs - a woman who lives as a man. She comes across as more of a sad, clownish figure than a flesh-and-blood human, playing her emotions so close to the vest that it's hard to care about this stoic character. - 50
The A.V. Club
Say this for Albert Nobbs: It's not some run-of-the-mill "life lived in service" drama. - 40
Time Out
The unintentional hilarity of the whole enterprise - especially when Albert attempts to romance one of the hotel's naive employees (Wasikowska) - at least keeps you engaged, as does the scene-by-scene suspense over which pitiably wide-eyed expression Close will choose to use next. Hopefully, she's practicing her gracious-loser face for awards season. - 40
New York Daily News
Close and McTeer, an evenly matched odd-couple pairing, keep it real. They do the heavy lifting, and are utterly enchanting, whether in bonnets or boots.
