As with any bio-pic, you have to wonder how much of it actually happened and how much is dramatized for effect. You could argue that if it’s an entertaining movie than it shouldn’t matter that much. But I still wonder about this: the story of Lee Israel and how it all went down. Be that as it may this is a very well-acted drama about a desperate (or was she?) and alcoholic author who’s strapped for cash and willing to swindle some collectors so she can take her cat to the vet. The main character is such an unlikable grouch that the movie runs the risk of not working, if not for the complicated and careful performance by Melissa McCarthy, who nails it. The story also dives into to an unfamiliar but surprisingly interesting sub-culture of collectable, old letters written by famous people. It’s like baseball cards for literary types and the world therein can be dark and seedy! Kudos to Richard E. Grant here, too, who shines as a breezy con-artist who conspires to hock the counterfeit goods. A strong and intimate character study well worth the time.
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