Telluride Review Round-Up: Glenn Close Passion Project Albert Nobbs

Based on the Telluride reaction to Glenn Close's long-aborning gender-bender drama Albert Nobbs, the veteran actress has a shot at an Oscar nomination--and so does supporting actress Janet McTeer. Roadside Attractions is planning a late year release--outside the fray--and will push hard for award recognition for Close. The movie played well with the Telluride's audience, especially women, but may face some mixed reviews. The sampling below includes a rave from the NYT's A.O. Scott, which won't hurt.

Here's my Telluride reaction and interview with Close.

NYT's A.O. Scott:

"A lovely and surprising movie…It was hard to believe that the radiant blonde movie star at the microphone [introducing the film] and the taciturn, red-haired, slightly Chaplinesque figure in the movie were the same person, but such incredulity is part of the pleasure we take in great acting."

THR:

"Rodrigo Garcia’s film only intermittently surmounts the limitations of the central character’s parched emotional existence and restricted horizons,..As far as it goes, Close’s characterization is an object of odd fascination; with pale and taut skin, wavy short hair, stiff posture and blank eyes shot through fear, Close entirely expresses the external life of a woman for whom maintaining appearances is truly everything. But unlike the theatrical version, which was a stylized chamber piece, the film cries out for a deeper exploration of this pinched, unrealized human being."

ThePlaylist:

"[Close] creates a male character that is so honestly convincing you find yourself forgetting that you’re looking at Glenn Close in drag. But it’s not just with facial and physical details, posture and gait that Close creates Albert, she also manages to convey the character’s emotions, all the harder because they’re hidden by so many layers of repression. It’s a remarkable immersion of actor into character,..Albert Nobbs has much more to offer than just Close’s performance. But what a performance it is: one that doesn’t merely burnish, but absolutely cements her reputation as one of the finest actresses alive."