Can You Ever Forgive Me?

In select theaters
October 19^th 2018

106 minutes

English

In CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?, Melissa McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, the best-selling celebrity biographer (and cat lover) who made her living in the 1970’s and 80’s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee finds herself unable to get published because she has fallen out of step with the marketplace, and sliding into middle age with no other skills to fall back on, she lights upon a fresh method of capitalizing on the public's fascination with fame. Teaming up with an old acquaintance (Richard E. Grant) Lee begins selling the stolen and/or forged correspondence of dead writers and actors. The gig is a success but success has a way of drawing unwanted attention. -- Fox Searchlight, TIFF

starring...

Melissa McCarthy

Lee Israel

Richard E. Grant

Jack Hock

Dolly Wells

Anna

Jane Curtain

Marjorie

Ben Falcone

Alan Schmidt

Anna Deavere Smith

Elaine

Director

Marielle Heller

Writer

Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty

Cinematographer

Brandon Trost

Music

Nate Heller

Editing

Anne McCabe

Production Design

Stephen H. Carter

Casting

Jennifer Euston

88% on the CINEMETER

BOS

80% - Oct 21, 2018

Excellent. Gem of a movie. Outstanding. A great character study.
Boston Member

Fabulous musical score.
Boston Member

Melissa brilliant!! Magnificent!!! Well acted; witty and sad. She was so accurate about the effects of shyness and fear.
Boston Member

Standout was Richard Grant.
Boston Member

Academy Award worthy--both for the movie and Melissa McCarthy and Richard Grant.
Boston Member

95% - Oct 21, 2018

Melissa McCarthy was brilliant! Uncomfortable, sad and yet redeemed in the end - great film and story.
Greater New Haven Member

It was so nice to see Melissa McCarthy take on a role like this. Her talent has been wasted on some pretty lousy movies.
Greater New Haven Member

Witty and pithy. The written word endures, and this movie was a poignant reminder.
Greater New Haven Member

Like a good cocktail, this movie works its layers through you over time - an amber mixture of the love of literary talent and the effects of social disconnection, served over romantic images of NYC. McCarthy was superbly authentic in her forgeries.
Greater New Haven Member

Both McCarthy and Grant were excellent, especially McCarthy, whose boorish roles on TV never appealed to me. Great music.
Greater New Haven Member

Amazing acting, incredible directing, and the screenwriter deserves a ton of credit. (Then an apology: "sorry - after a movie about writing, [these comments] are lame.")
Greater New Haven Member

90% - Oct 21, 2018

Amazing how comedy actors can do some of the most moving work! Everyone in the film was perfection for their part.
Washington, DC Member

The film captured another side of literary NY in the time of AIDS - lonely, desperate, made of tiny neighborhoods - small literary businesses. McCarthy & Grant made a marvelous pair of protagonists-caustic, combative and loveable all at once.
Washington, DC Member

Loved it! One of the best new films I’ve seen in years!
Washington, DC Member

Great caper movie. Rich view of the divide between literary successes and struggles.
Washington, DC Member

Loved the score! It demonstrated that the 2 characters both were stuck at an earlier time emotionally. The “look” of NY was perfect, and the acting was a perfect surprise.
Washington, DC Member

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