Depicting a real-life person, especially one doing bad deeds, in a film can be difficult. In the case of Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the film’s lead character is Lee Israel, a struggling biographer who forges fake celebrity letters and sells them to collectors. While it may seem hard to root for a figure like her, both Heller and star Melissa McCarthy manage to make her sympathetic and compelling. In turn, both women make Can You Ever Forgive Me? a breezy, but entertaining caper.

The one stand-out element is McCarthy herself. Her introductory scene, where she goes to a party with other writers is the perfect example of her talents. The screenplay, written by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, is full of snarky and dry remarks, as Israel is portrayed as an asocial outsider. Not only is McCarthy funny throughout, she also shows Israel as a woman trying to get by. She hates being around people, and yet does nothing but write about the lives of people. She’s had bad luck with romance, so she just lives with her cat (The cat is phenomenal by the way. Give him an Oscar). There’s a real sadness to her story, but she isn’t pitiful. In many ways, despite being cold, she’s oddly likable. One strangely wishes she will get away with her forgeries.

To contrast the moody Israel is her friend Jack Hock, played by Richard E. Grant. Hock’s lively, bouncy, suave and charming, and Grant sells it. He’s incredibly likable, and his subplot focusing on his romantic life is a fun one. He also helps contribute to Israel’s schemes, showing the two really care and look after one another. McCarthy and Grant have fantastic chemistry, as both play off one another both for comedy and for story purposes. It’s absolutely wondrous when the two are together on screen and it’s nice to see Marielle Heller allow these two talents to breathe.

But what Heller really excels at with this film is, again, Lee Israel’s character. Her actions are criminal, and she isn’t portrayed in a positive light. But the film doesn’t treat her like a villain. A lesser director would have made Israel more slimy. A lesser director would have made McCarthy’s performance far less subtle. But Heller and McCarthy (alongside Holofcener and Whitty) give Israel dimension and humanity. She may do bad things, but she just wants to get by. She’s not a people person, but she’s trying her best. She isn’t perfect, but who is? It’s clear Heller has a lot of respect for Israel as a person, and it’s wonderful to see Heller tell her story in an authentic manner.

Through sublime performances and Heller’s sympathetic portrayal of its conflicting lead character, there’s a lot to appreciate in Can You Ever Forgive Me? It manages to tow the line between celebratory and critical when it comes to its real-life figure, and passes with flying colors. It’s definitely a strong film for a fascinating woman.