Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant gave extraordinary performances in this otherwise rather light biopic of novelist/forgery felon Lee Israel. This dramedy lacked drama and emotional heft, and its lead character, although purposely unlikable, did not seem to have much sense. Nonetheless, it was McCarthy's against-type performance, coupled with great on-screen and comedic chemistry with a terrific Grant, that really helped to provide the laughs and tide through a seemingly too-long 107 minutes.
Director Marielle Heller made the stranger-than-fiction real life story into a straight-telling film that ran accordingly but lacked depth. Both in terms of character and narrative depth. Writers Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty ably adapted Israel's memoirs but unlike Israel herself did not seem to able to inhabit fully the character(s) they are writing for.
This film really hinged on McCarthy's star power and acting, and perhaps she may have a shot at an Oscar nomination for this. The film itself may actually soften her chances. Nonetheless, her transformation was commendable and she delivered the caustic, biting wit of Israel's perfectly. But it all seemed very superficial with just the occasional glimmer of emotional complexity, which seemed more of McCarthy's own doing rather than a writing/directing choice.
Grant, on the other hand, really deserved a Best Supporting Actor nod. His scenes were the highlights and his absence keenly felt, especially in the latter half of the film. His chemistry with McCarthy was perfect and there is a buddy-comedy somewhere between these two needs to be made.
The film would really have been better if we explored the person that was Lee Israel rather than making this a mish-mash of a biopic and a criminal/heist exploit.
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