Can You Ever Forgive Me? 2018

Movie · 107 min · English · September 1, 2018

Directed by Marielle HellerWritten by Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty

Starring Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Jane Curtin, Ben Falcone

A 2018 American biographical drama film, Can You Ever Forgive Me? was directed by Marielle Heller and adapted for the screen by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty from Lee Israel's 2008 memoir. The story centers on Israel, played by Melissa McCarthy, who tries to save her struggling writing career by creating fake letters from famous authors and playwrights. The film includes Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Jane Curtin, Anna Deavere Smith, Stephen Spinella, and Ben Falcone in supporting roles. Israel’s title comes from a line in one of her forgeries, a note she wrote while impersonating Dorothy Parker.

The movie made its debut at the Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2018 and opened in the U.S. on October 19, 2018 through Fox Searchlight Pictures. It earned $12 million at the box office, despite a production cost of $10 million. Critics praised the film, with the National Board of Review ranking it among the top ten films of 2018. Leading actress McCarthy and supporting actor Grant were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor at the 91st Academy Awards, the 76th Golden Globe Awards, and the 72nd British Academy Film Awards. Screenplay writers Holofcener and Whitty received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.