Current Worry: Glenn Close as "Albert Nobbs"
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 5:31PM
NATHANIEL R in Albert Nobbs, Glenn Close, Oscars (11), Rodrigo GarcĂ­a

You may have noticed -- and perhaps been aggrieved by -- the fact that The Film Experience rarely posts those abundantly released clips from upcoming movies. I'm okay with trailers and enjoy writing about them but I tend not to enjoy seeing film scenes out of context unless I've already seen the film. There's a lot of them floating around now for Drive, for example, which I would caution everyone NOT to watch if by chance you've held out this long. For me, one of the absolute greatest pleasures of seeing that particular movie the first time was the sense of discovery I felt at literally every moment. I had successfully only looked at posters, nothing else (not even reviews or the trailer), before seeing it so everything was a surprise. It was a wondrous experience to fully soak in a film's tone and structure and performances with absolutely no preconceived notions about what those things would be look, sound, feel or play out like.

Now, admittedly Drive is a special movie and not many movies would be that much of a revelation if you went in cold. The only other movie this year I've successfully refused any and all knowledge of beyond the super basics is The Skin I Live In. I'm crossing my fingers there, too.

But I couldn't resist seeing Glenn in drag in Albert Nobbs (which I just saw at Awards Daily) since stills and the like have been so scarce and we've been talking about it Oscar-wise for so long.

But curses! Again I'm experiencing the danger of disappointment in seeing scenes out of context. This scene plays as... nothing. It plays so flat. Visually drab, muted to the point of dull performances. Perhaps in the moment within the film, it'll be an interesting, compelling, funny or moving scene. But on its own... not sold.

My only observation: Glenn is very quiet, her Mr. Nobbs a meek meek man. My biggest fear for the film involved the director Rodrigo García. He is admirably committed to actresses (genuine points for that) but he tends to wrap his films in warm narcotized blankets as if he didn't want anything vivid or unruly to wiggle out. Even Naomi Watt's sexual provocations and Annette Bening's thorny social forcefield in Mother and Child, both of which would have felt like shocks to the system with certain directors behind the wheel, felt a smidge drowsy. If Close's whole performance is this restrained can she really make a Best Actress Oscar-win play out of it?

New Readers Note: Why is this post titled "worry"? If you're just joining us I worry because I've been rooting for Glenn Close to win an Oscar since 1987. I want this to be great.

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