Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Play trailer

2:34

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

R

2018

1h 46m

Biography

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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 the 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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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

Jens B

@Jens97 5d

I wouldn't have believed it myself, but Melissa McCarthy can actually act when she wants to. What a wonderful film about a life that is, in itself, not particularly remarkable—full of bad decisions and missed opportunities. Bonus points for the cat and Richard E. Grant!

See more

Brad CKA L

@RT22936844 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

@RT51701606 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 T

@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

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

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Marielle Heller

Director

Melissa McCarthy

Lee Israel

Richard E. Grant

Jack Hock

Dolly Wells

Anna

Ben Falcone

Alan Schmidt

Gregory Korostishevsky

Andrei

The Persian Version

84%

93%

The Persian Version

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Persian Version

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

76%

76%

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

Papi chulo

74%

76%

Papi chulo

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Papi chulo

I, Tonya

90%

88%

I, Tonya

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I, Tonya

The Wolf of Wall Street

79%

83%

The Wolf of Wall Street

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Wolf of Wall Street

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Sights and Sounds of Golden Globes Weekend

Oscar Winners 2019: Full List of Academy Awards Winners

Rotten Tomatoes Predicts the Oscar Winners

Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Trailer 1

2:34

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Lee Israel is a frustrated, hard-drinking author who can barely afford to pay her rent or bills in the 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)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings