May 16, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 21 Glenn Close ably portrays woman living a lie by Dennis Seuling “Albert Nobbs” (Lionsgate), based on a 1980s stage adaptation of the 1918 novella by Irish writer George Moore, stars Glenn Close in the title role of a woman passing for a man. As an orphaned girl, she adopted a male identity to find more remunerative employment, and saves every penny she earns as a waiter in a small Dublin hotel with a goal of setting up a tobacco shop. Albert performs her duties meticulously and humorlessly, her expression blank and emotionless. She seems content until she starts dreaming of a new life with the arrival of a brash, toughtalking house painter named Hubert Page. Hubert discovers Albert’s hidden identity. Rather than exposing her, he encourages her to better herself. Both Close and Janet McTeer received Oscar nominations for their performances. The character-driven story is captivating and successfully captures the “man’s world” of late 1800s Europe, when women were second-class citizens and those who had to work were forced to accept low pay in jobs such as maid, laundress, and governess, or resort to prostitution. Albert leads a sad life, brightened only by the hope of one day becoming a shop owner. Her encounter with Hubert throws her view of the world into turmoil, forcing her to see things in new and frightening ways. Director Rodrigo Garcia has crafted a touching film in which a woman’s self-control and fear of discovery are her guiding forces. Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Pauline Collins, Brenda Fricker, and Brendan Gleeson co-star. Special Blu-ray features include audio commentary with Close and Garcia, deleted scenes, and a theatrical trailer. “The Grey” (Open Road Films) is a survival drama about Ottway (Liam Neeson), whose plane goes down in Mia Wasikowska and Glenn Close in the period drama ‘Albert Nobbs.’ the Alaskan wilderness. Seven men survive the wreckage, but soon have to defend themselves against a pack of wolves who stalk them, picking them off one at a time. The focus is on the men’s state of mind through the grueling ordeal, as they wonder why they are undergoing this living nightmare. Philosophical thoughts are bandied about between wolf attacks, so viewers gain insight into each of the characters. The supporting cast -- Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, and Frank Grillo -- manage to make an impression as more than cliché action-picture “types,” but the film works largely because of Neeson, whose Ottway conveys the strength and intelligence needed to lead the group through desperate circumstances. The two-disc Bluray/DVD combo pack contains deleted scenes, director commentary, and digital copy. “The Grey” is also available as a single-disc DVD. “La Haine” (The Criterion Collection), a tale of alienated youth, focuses on three young men who live in a housing project on the outskirts of Paris. The title translates as “hate,” and the film opens with newsreel footage of various riots in Paris, setting the tone for the unsettling story to follow. Director Mathieu Kassovitz names his characters after the actors. Vincent Cassel is Vinz, a Jewish hothead who feels his reputation can be assured with a found gun; Hubert Kounde is Hubert, a boxer of African descent who serves as the group’s moral voice; and Said Taghmaoui is Said, an easygoing, cheerful Arab. The director relies on episodes and glimpses of life rather than a straightforward narrative. Many of these moments portray conflict of one kind or another, with police, neighbors, friends, or rival thugs. Toughness is mandatory for survival, even among friends. Tension mounts as events take their toll on the protagonists, turning them into ticking time bombs. The film succeeds in making the three central characters real, in addition to being representatives of the wider society. Generous extras include director commentary, introduction by actress Jodie Foster, a documentary that assembles cast and crew 10 years after the film’s release, production footage, deleted and extended scenes, and a booklet containing a critical essay. “Westward the Women” (Warner Archive), based on a story by Frank Capra, details a 2,000-mile migration from Chicago to California in 1851. The men seek gold while the (continued on Crossword page)