Movie titles which ask questions invite answers. My answer to this one is, No. This based-on-a-true story tale follows writer Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) who turns to forgery and fraud when her own career falls flat. She finds a creative outlet in reproducing letters of famous people, which she writes in their styles and then sells to gullible booksellers and antiquities dealers. Eventually she is found out and prosecuted. Then she writes a book about the experience, which, in turn, inspired this movie.
Marielle Heller’s film is certainly empathetic toward Lee Israel, yet does not whitewash her alcoholism nor her horrific housekeeping habits. She loves her cat, and she is a dedicated writer. But nobody cares about her, and when an opportunity presents itself to profit through forgery, Israel takes full advantage of it. She remains unapologetic about her fraud, even when she involves a friend, Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant) to help sell her fanciful literary creations (many of which are quoted in voice-over).
A confession: occasionally movie characters and situations confront me which I find abhorrent and morally despicable. This is one of them. Like Jake LaMotta of Raging Bull, Lee Israel is a real-life person who, in my opinion, did not deserve to have a movie made about him / her. I know, this is snobbery, but it’s how I feel. I hated this woman and what she did. Certainly I felt bad for her and the fate of her cat, but I just couldn’t stand her in this movie. Yes, movies can and should be made about anyone and anything, and flawed people often make the greatest subjects — but this is one biographical story I should have skipped.
The film itself is pretty well made; the performances and strong and the story finds humor and poignancy in Israel’s plight, as well as her sassy rejoinders to poverty and convention. I didn’t care; I hated it. I don’t know how accurate this story is, yet it is not one that I shall ever investigate if I can help it. As a writer (and one time autograph dealer, way back when) I find what she did thoroughly distasteful and immoral. I do not forgive her, and cannot recommend this movie. ☆ ☆. 19 December 2018.