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Motherless Brooklyn
2019 145 min United States of America R 18+
★6.7
Drama, Thriller
Director: Edward Norton
🎭 Based on
«Motherless Brooklyn»
byJonathan Lethem
Trailers
Description
New York City, 1957. Lionel Essrog, a private detective living with Tourette syndrome, tries to solve the murder of his mentor and best friend, armed only with vague clues and the strength of his obsessive mind.
Budget:
$26M
US Gross:
$9.28M
Worldwide:
$18.38M
Starring
Edward Norton
Actor
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Actor
Alec Baldwin
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2020
— Best Original Score
Key opinion
Motherless Brooklyn is a visually immersive and atmospheric neo-noir that captures 1950s New York with meticulous care. However, the film is polarized by its excessive runtime and Edward Norton’s ambitious, yet divisive, portrayal of a detective with Tourette’s syndrome.
| Production | The production design and cinematography effectively recreate a moody, authentic 1950s New York atmosphere. | |
| Score | The jazz-inflected score is a standout element that successfully enhances the film's noir tone. | |
| Acting | Alec Baldwin delivers a strong, memorable performance as a complex antagonist. | |
| Runtime | The film's excessive two-and-a-half-hour runtime creates a slow, often exhausting experience for viewers seeking a tighter narrative. | |
| Acting | Edward Norton’s performance as Lionel Essrog is debated: some see it as a compelling and unique character study, while others find it distracting or bordering on parody. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for being overly convoluted and failing to balance its various plot threads, often prioritizing style over a coherent mystery. |