MovieChat Forums > Albert Nobbs (2012) Discussion > Mixed feelings about the ending

Mixed feelings about the ending

posted 12 years ago by Ken-120
10 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone else feel rather ambivalent about the ending of the story where Mrs. Baker finds Albert Nobb's money cache after her death and taking it for herself?

The first feeling I felt was a loathing for that woman stealing poor Albert's money and using it for her own gain. Yet, Albert was an introvert who has no family and Hubert certainly couldn't come forward about her friendship. That means that the money has no legal heir, so where would that money have gone otherwise?

Of course, for Mrs. Baker to take the money and still badmouth Albert at the same time is despicable as well as her abominable treatment of Helen. I just glad Hubert will be getting a big work contract out of the circumstance and having the equivalent sized heart for that girl.

[–] SwingBatta 12 years ago

Oh, yeah. That, combined with her prattling to Dr. Holloran about her being a "good Christian," made me want to punch Mrs. Baker through the screen. (His reply "You'll do no such thing" was just perfect.)

But as you said, I think in the end Hubert was secretly the big winner, which left some sense of satisfaction. I recently saw the film for a second time and got all teary-eyed up once more during the closing scene with him and Helen.

Challah if you hear me

[–] Waigon 12 years ago

I was furious. But as my mum said: "There's a special place in hell for her, and not Albert."

CDEGFEDCC. (Shhh!)

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 11 years ago

I was furious. But as my mum said: "There's a special place in hell for her, and not Albert."

Pardon me for saying so -- but that is a little harsh, a little too harsh. No one should wish hell on anyone... I can understand someone like Albert wishing it on her, because Albert would have been personally affected by her. But, only those personally affected really have an excuse for such anger. Everyone else should be more understanding or, at least forgiving...

In the grand scheme of things, all of us are screwed up. Just like what Glenn Close says in her TV show, "Damages" -- anyone is capable of anything. What makes you or I think that we are any better? When put in the right circumstances, anyone of us could become a jerk. But the catch is -- we all have different braking points, so we all go around thinking that so-and-so is worse than we are.

To be a really good person though, we should realize that only God (assuming you believe in him, since you mentioned Hell) should do the judging. And, I hope to God that He is not quite so harsh.

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

[–] Rooto 12 years ago

When I was watching Albert Knobbs hopefully counting his money and dreaming of the future I kept thinking that it was going to have an extremely sad ending. It was not as sad as I thought it would be though as Albert dies lost in his fantasy, which may even be preferable to the the reality in which Helen might marry him out of desperation and be repulsed by him, reveal his secret and ruin his life. If Helen didn't marry him, then he'd end up being the boss of his own shop, but it might not necessarily be successful and he might find himself still just as lonely. It would have been nice to see him live his dreams though and finally have something good happen to him.

As for the money, I think Albert would have wanted it to go to Helen and Hubert, particularly if Hubert ended up looking after her. I wonder if perhaps he saw himself in Helen. He may have though of all sexual relationships being abusive after what happened to him as a young woman and been desperate to protect Helen and show her that there are other ways to live. Although he had obviously misjudged her, she named her son after him and I still think the money should have gone to her. She did after all need it. Hopefully Hubert will overcharge Mrs. Baker and use that money for Helen and her son.

Protector of Percy. He is grand and not at all bad. Honest

[–] tcd_71 9 years ago

I saw the film last night. I found Mrs Baker's behavior at the end shocking. The final scenes led me to believe that Hubert had put two and two together about Albert's money and as a result was going to charge Mrs Baker well in excess of his original quote to get the job done. Also, Hubert was going to find a way to look after Helen and her baby. I got the impression that post childbirth, Helen was not the same person she was earlier in the film. We get a hint of this in her choice of baby names. A happy (if bleak) ending, of sorts.

[–] HarlowMGM 8 years ago

I hated the mean old bitch getting Albert's money but then she didn't kill him so she was only guilty of taking money somebody else would have eventually. Still hated her getting it and wish perhaps Hubert had found it doing renovations (though of course he wouldn't have been called to do them had Mrs. Baker not found the money.) I agree with you, Hubert clearly realizes the old bat has found the hidden stash (he knew Albert was saving and knew she didn't have money enough prior for major work to be done) and will overcharge her. At least she won't have as much to spend as she pleases. I also think Hubert realizes Helen was the girl Albert loved and he will look after her, maybe even fall in love with her himself so it's a happy ending for them at least if not poor Albert.

[–] SenaShetani 12 years ago

I really disliked how callous Ms. Baker was about the whole ordeal but I would expect as much from a woman like her.

I did like that Hubert found another woman and possibly now a child of his own. Albert would of wanted it that way for Hubert to takes his place.

[–] cool_splash1 11 years ago

That ending reminded me of Upstairs Downstairs which the lady who plays Mrs. Baker was in no less. Where one of the maids commits suicide and it's like oh stupid girl, oh well life goes on.

[–] DooleyNoted 12 years ago

I, too, had mixed feelings but as I sit with it, the ending seems about as happy a one as could be managed from the situation.

I was just glad that Albert never discovered his stash emptied -- and Joseph/Helen gone off to America or wherever (which is what I expecting for most of the film).

All in all, a sweet, sad and lovely movie.

Well done, Glenn & company!

[–] la_cinematheque 11 years ago

I disliked not only that, but the final bit with Hubert and Helen too. I've seen others describe that as a happy ending, but why?

Helen was an immature, dishonest brat. She was shown to be after a rich husband from the very beginning, went along easily with Joe's plan to cheat Albert out of his money, was mean to Albert whevever they were together, and just generally never showed any good qualities at all. She would be open to making a life with Hubert only out of desparation. That's a major downgrade for him, as he seemed to have a genuinely loving relationship with his last wife. And it's also pretty creepy how he latched onto Helen so quickly. Both he and Albert only liked her because she was young and pretty. It made me dislike the both of them, knowing they were so shallow.

The whole ending was so depressing. Mrs. Baker, Hubert, and Helen were all greedy, manipulative, or dishonest in their final moments on screen and the title character was dead, but financing all these bums' futures. Just awful.