Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Marielle Heller's Can You Ever Forgive Me?, adapted from the Lee Israel memoir by Jeff Whitty and Nicole Holofcener, is an engaging look at a struggling New York writer who resorts to forging literary memorabilia in order to stay afloat financially during the early 90s. Impersonated by Melissa McCarthy at her most frugly, Israel is a cat loving lesbian misanthrope with alcoholic tendencies. Freed from the cycle of idiotic comedies that the success of Bridesmaids made inevitable, McCarthy gives her most assured big screen performance; though her acting chops are no surprise to this Gilmore Girls fan. She is well matched with the always entertaining Richard E. Grant, who plays a flamboyant, though somewhat dim, gay male who bonds over drinks with Israel and then becomes her partner in crime.

Besides the amusing rapport between the two leads, the charm of the film lies in its portrait of the book stores, watering holes and restaurants of the déclassé Upper East side. Heller gives the film a true grounding in its setting, something that was not as effective in her previous feature, The Diary of a Teenage Girl. As in that film, the acting is a plus: Jane Curtin, Dolly Wells, Christian Navarro, Stephen Spinella, Ben Falcone and, especially, Anna Deavere Smith, all provide memorable moments. While sometimes suffering from a case of the cutes, Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a step up for Heller after her debut. (3/6/19)