It's a man's world

Joy Jenkins

Circle Cinema continues to roll out screenings of Academy Award nominees with this week’s arrival of “Albert Nobbs.” (And, while we’re talking Oscar, if you haven’t seen “The Artist” at the Circle yet, do it. Now.)

“Albert Nobbs” stars Glenn Close as the title character, a woman posing as a man in 19th century Ireland. Nobbs first donned the disguise in order to find work as a butler in a fancy hotel. But after 30 years masquerading as a man, Nobbs has lived as another person for so long that she doesn’t even remember her actual name.

The film follows this “kind little man,” known as Albert to friends and co-workers, as she finds herself at a crossroads, with her long-held secret on the brink of discovery. Nobbs has been saving her wages and tips in the hopes of opening her own tobacco shop, but when a new housepainter named Hubert (Janet McTeer) arrives, Nobbs is surprised and inspired by this disguised female’s comfort with living as another gender. A chambermaid named Helen (the talented Mia Wasikowska) causes further confusion, as Nobbs sees her as a potential wife and she sees Nobbs as a potential source of money so she can escape with her true love, a boiler man, to America.

Both Close (Actress in a Leading Role) and McTeer (Actress in a Supporting Role) are Academy Award nominees for their performances, and many critics have praised Close’s committed, affecting performance as Albert Nobbs, a role she played in an off-Broadway adaptation in the early 1980s.

Witness this “lively and touching new film,” according to The New York Times, before Oscar night Feb. 26 for a chance to see two talented actresses at the top of their game.

“Albert Nobbs” opens Jan. 27. For more information, visit www.circlecinema.com.

To view the trailer, click here.

Liam Neeson goes "Grey"

It’s not very often that my husband gets excited about going to a movie these days. Let’s face it, today a ticket costs about $8 a person. We can often be found waiting for a movie to be released on DVD before bothering with it.

That is, unless it contains Liam Neeson in fierce, action-hero swagger mode.

When “Taken” was released it became a constant in our DVD player. Neeson has taken on many action roles in the past few years, a departure from his dramatic roles like “Schindler’s List” and "Michael Collins,” for which he garnered much critical acclaim. But with roles in pictures like “Star Wars: Episode One” and the upcoming “Battleship” it seems like he’s caught the action bug, especially with “The Grey.”

Set in the remote Alaskan wilderness, a plane carrying a group of oilrig workers crashes, leaving them desperate for medical attention and in need of supplies. The group starts the trek south, only to realize rogue wolves are stalking them. I must say, if I was stranded in Alaska with wolves thinking I was their next dinner, I wouldn’t mind having Neeson there. Besides his ability to help defend us, I could listen to him with his Irish accent.

I’m sorry, I had to take a moment.

While I’m sure this is not going to be winning any Oscars next year, I’m sure this will be one that will gain infamy for those of us who want to see stunning Arctic views (the film was shot in British Columbia, not Alaska), or have a hankering for some in-your-face action.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, whose other films include “The Fourth Kind,” “Smokin’ Aces” and “The A-Team,” “The Grey” also stars Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo.

Check out the trailer here.

-- Anne Brockman