I went into this film not knowing a single thing about it. I had no idea it was based on a true story, I didn't know who Lee Israel was, and I didn't know if this was going to be a drama, horror, romance, or some kind of coming-of-age type of film. I just didn't know one single thing about it. I'm glad I approached it this way!
With that said, I also put my curiosity about Melissa McCarthy's dramatic debut on hold, not exactly sure I was ready to see such a change. It took me five years after its release to give it a shot. Still, not knowing what it was about.
As the story unfolded, I realized that I was going through all the thoughtful processes of how Lee was going to get herself out of the financial messes she was in, and when I saw the smirk on Melissa's face as she created her first forged letter, I too felt like it was all making sense.
This film is not exciting in the sense that we've seen such physical comedy from McCarthy in her previous projects, nor does 1990s' New York have to be viewed as gritty, though it always appears dark. It's also not constantly riddled with dialogue. It's perfectly paced. This film is purely meant to think, right along side the main characters, and feel for them as we watch them get by in life.
Lee's desperation to make a few dollars just to get out of arrears allows me to cheer on her wrongdoings, but I felt different when it turned into full-fledged crime.
But as much as Melissa McCarthy surprises us all with her dramatic acting ability (think Tom Hanks or Robin Williams as they crossed over, with their underlining wit shining through), for me, the unsung hero is Richard E. Grant, whose character somehow looks and behaves as some strange mixture of Christopher Walken-meets-David Bowie. He's flamboyant, fun, and a beautiful mess all in one. Melissa was obviously great, but Grant truly steals all of the scenes he's in!
This is one of those films where I watched it once and told my friends that "it was OK". Nothing special, I'd say. But I found myself rewatching it shortly thereafter, then reading more about Lee Israel, and now interested enough to read Israel's book that inspired the film.
It's a slow-to-burn type of interest, where I didn't think it was as great as it was upon first viewing. I sit at a 7/10 rating, but I'm sure in time it will eventually become one of my favourite films for the simple fact that it's like a sleeper: Ignored at first, but later regarded as very unexpectedly fantastic.
With that said, I also put my curiosity about Melissa McCarthy's dramatic debut on hold, not exactly sure I was ready to see such a change. It took me five years after its release to give it a shot. Still, not knowing what it was about.
As the story unfolded, I realized that I was going through all the thoughtful processes of how Lee was going to get herself out of the financial messes she was in, and when I saw the smirk on Melissa's face as she created her first forged letter, I too felt like it was all making sense.
This film is not exciting in the sense that we've seen such physical comedy from McCarthy in her previous projects, nor does 1990s' New York have to be viewed as gritty, though it always appears dark. It's also not constantly riddled with dialogue. It's perfectly paced. This film is purely meant to think, right along side the main characters, and feel for them as we watch them get by in life.
Lee's desperation to make a few dollars just to get out of arrears allows me to cheer on her wrongdoings, but I felt different when it turned into full-fledged crime.
But as much as Melissa McCarthy surprises us all with her dramatic acting ability (think Tom Hanks or Robin Williams as they crossed over, with their underlining wit shining through), for me, the unsung hero is Richard E. Grant, whose character somehow looks and behaves as some strange mixture of Christopher Walken-meets-David Bowie. He's flamboyant, fun, and a beautiful mess all in one. Melissa was obviously great, but Grant truly steals all of the scenes he's in!
This is one of those films where I watched it once and told my friends that "it was OK". Nothing special, I'd say. But I found myself rewatching it shortly thereafter, then reading more about Lee Israel, and now interested enough to read Israel's book that inspired the film.
It's a slow-to-burn type of interest, where I didn't think it was as great as it was upon first viewing. I sit at a 7/10 rating, but I'm sure in time it will eventually become one of my favourite films for the simple fact that it's like a sleeper: Ignored at first, but later regarded as very unexpectedly fantastic.