Glenn Close delivers a notably compelling performance in one of her most interesting films recently. While Glenn Close is certainly a talented actress—she’s earned considerable respect, despite consistently being overlooked by the Academy Awards with eight nominations and no wins—I've seen many of her roles where she clearly invested a great deal of effort, and this film continues that trend. She had previously portrayed the same character on stage, but in this instance, beyond acting, she also contributed to the scriptwriting, production, and other aspects of the project, so the entire film reflects the work of this accomplished artist. The movie is based on a fictional story and introduces us to an older woman who, after experiencing hardships throughout her life, chose to conceal her gender by presenting herself as a man in order to find employment. Albert Nobbs is a reserved and withdrawn woman whose existence has been limited due to this deception. Her goal is to accumulate enough money to start her own business. She eventually encounters someone facing a similar situation and finds the courage to pursue Helen Dawes, a chambermaid at the same hotel where she works—though Helen’s receptiveness isn't entirely genuine; she has a boyfriend who is interested in Nobbs’ savings. The film starts with an intriguing concept that functions effectively, but ultimately the characters feel too heavy for what I would consider a “light drama,” given its failure to create a more intense or serious atmosphere. To compound this issue, the pacing is very slow and most of the characters fail to elicit any empathy, nor do they seem particularly well-developed. The film’s greatest strength lies in Close's extensive involvement, which includes composing a song for the film, assisting with the screenplay, producing, and still acting exceptionally well. She brings a typically British demeanor and quiet shyness to Nobbs that I felt was appropriate for the character. Mia Wasikowska does her best and utilizes her beauty and charm, but the character comes across as superficial and uninteresting. Aaron Johnson isn't bad either, but he, along with Pauline Collins and Janet McTeer, had very limited screen time; they were essentially sidelined actors. Technically, the film has understated production values and successfully attempts to recreate Dublin in the late 19th century. The props, costumes, and sets are what one would expect from a decent movie. The cinematography is unremarkable, the editing isn't great, the dialogue is adequate but not particularly memorable, and the soundtrack contains moments of quality and inspiration.

Source on TMDB