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Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Play trailer 2:34 Poster for Can You Ever Forgive Me? R 2018 1h 46m Biography Comedy Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 318 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Lee Israel is a frustrated, hard-drinking author who can barely afford to pay her rent or bills in 1990s New York. Desperate for money, Israel soon hatches a scheme to forge letters by famous writers and sell them to bookstores and collectors. When the dealers start to catch on, Lee recruits a dubious friend to help her continue her self-destructive cycle of trickery and deceit.
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Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

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Critics Consensus

Deftly directed and laced with dark wit, Can You Ever Forgive Me? proves a compelling showcase for deeply affecting work from Richard E. Grant and Melissa McCarthy.

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Critics Reviews

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Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard 02/04/2019
4/5
This film takes an altogether different view of the imitation game. By embracing frauds and failures, it achieves greatness on the sly. Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Observer (UK) 02/03/2019
4/5
As for McCarthy, her performance is less of a revelation than a confirmation of her talents. Go to Full Review Cath Clarke The Big Issue 02/01/2019
4/5
Israel is anti-social and aggressive but you do find yourself rooting for her. Go to Full Review Calum Cooper Source (Scotland) 07/14/2024
It’s often a tragic tale, but it’s also funny, charming and bittersweet in all the right ways. Here’s hoping it resonates as strongly with creators of all kinds everywhere. Go to Full Review Brian T. Carney Washington Blade 12/07/2022
Melissa McCarthy turns in a great performance as the grouchy writer and Richard Grant is terrific as her gay sidekick. Go to Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/19/2022
3/5
McCarthy and Grant have really nice chemistry and that makes for some entertaining back-and-forths between two otherwise shady people. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Brad CKA L 11/26/2024 Plagiarism isn't funny folks! Melissa McCarthy might be one of the great comedic presences of her generation, but that doesn't make plagiarism funny, dang it! Richard E Grant and that cat on the other hand... pretty funny. Check out my longer review: https://youtu.be/Pb1DfCo-sXM?si=fCewFcZpoffcK6PO See more Kellie G 09/15/2024 Melissa McCarthy gives a phenomenal speech. Richard E Grant is marvelous in support. The film itself is better than many typical vehicles for strong female performances See more Nik @Nikita66 08/09/2024 Great movie, one of my favorites. Nothing extreme, just a 100% realistic story of desperation and crooked creativity. See more 04/12/2024 Decent movie but very slow. Based on a true and one of the few I didn’t flat out love. But this was also about something that doesn’t really interest me. See more Steven James R 03/13/2024 Not Worth Watching To Fall Asleep. Was A 💩 Movie And Still Is, Melissa Mccarthy Has Done Better Movies Than This One. See more Alec B @Alec97 01/05/2024 Lee Israel is the perfect subject for a movie like this. You can't sensationalize the story because her crimes were so esoteric so you have to probe deeper and the results are far more fascinating. McCarthy and Grant are just terrific and the screenplay is filled with wit. See more Read all reviews
Can You Ever Forgive Me?

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Cast & Crew

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Marielle Heller

Director

Melissa McCarthy

Lee Israel

Richard E. Grant

Jack Hock

Dolly Wells

Anna

Ben Falcone

Alan Schmidt

Gregory Korostishevsky

Andrei

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Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Trailer 1 Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Trailer 1 2:34 View more videos
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Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Lee Israel is a frustrated, hard-drinking author who can barely afford to pay her rent or bills in 1990s New York. Desperate for money, Israel soon hatches a scheme to forge letters by famous writers and sell them to bookstores and collectors. When the dealers start to catch on, Lee recruits a dubious friend to help her continue her self-destructive cycle of trickery and deceit.
Director
Marielle Heller
Producer
Anne Carey, Amy Nauiokas, David Yarnell
Screenwriter
Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Production Co
Archer Gray
Rating
R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Some Sexual References)
Genre
Biography, Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 19, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 5, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.8M
Runtime
1h 46m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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