The dream for many writers to become successful and earn their living solely via their pen or their computer. The reality is that only a small percentage of writers reach that level of fame and success. The rest of us have to earn our income via a regular job and write in the evenings and on the weekends.
In the new movie, Can You Ever Forgive Me? (based upon the book of the same name), Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) is a New York City based writer whose professional glory days are long gone. She is out of work and needs money fast. While doing research in the library for her next book, she finds a letter from a famous writer and sells it. This leads Lee down the path of forging letters of famous writers who have passed on. Her cohort in this deception is Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant). Though Lee is making bank, time is running out on her con game. Will she get caught and if she does, what will her punishment be?
Other reviewers have stated that it is Melissa McCarthy’s best performance since Bridesmaids. I couldn’t agree more. Lee is crass, rude and has an alcohol problem. She is grasping at straws in attempt to revive her career and is desperate enough to do something stupid/illegal to regain that career. If Lee brings the serious moments to this film, Jack brings in the jokes and the lighter moments, with a slightly adult and sardonic sense of humor.
I absolutely recommend it.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? is presently in theaters.
Writergurlny 