Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
Short description
Motherless Brooklyn is a 2019 American neo-noir crime drama film written, produced, and directed by Edward Norton. The film stars Norton, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bobby Cannavale, Cherry Jones, Alec Baldwin and Leslie Mann. It is based on the 1999 novel of the same name by Jonathan Lethem.
The story follows Lionel Essrog (Norton), a private detective with Tourette syndrome who investigates the murder of his mentor and only friend Frank Minna (Willis). As he unravels the mystery of Frank's death, Lionel discovers a much larger conspiracy involving a powerful real estate developer (Baldwin) and his political cronies.
The film is an ambitious undertaking for Norton as it marks his first time directing a feature-length film. He does an admirable job in bringing this complex story to life with its many twists and turns. The performances are all top notch with Norton delivering an especially memorable performance as Lionel. His portrayal of someone living with Tourette syndrome is both heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Dafoe also shines as Tony Vermonte, a mob boss who helps Lionel in his investigation. The rest of the cast also do great work in their respective roles.
The production design is also impressive as it captures the look and feel of 1950s New York City perfectly. From the bustling streets to the seedy back alleys, every scene looks like it was taken straight out of that era. The cinematography by Dick Pope is also excellent as he captures some stunning shots throughout the film that really bring out its noir atmosphere.
Overall Motherless Brooklyn is an excellent crime drama that will keep you guessing until its thrilling conclusion. It's well acted, beautifully shot and has an intriguing story that will keep you hooked until the very end. Highly recommended!