A chaotic film sometimes requires a chaotic review—fair warning: my thoughts will likely be a little more scattered even than the film itself, as I attempt to parse through this Goldbergian mystery caper with a brain already well-used this week. First thing's first: writer, director, and lead actor Edward Norton's clear strength is in the 1-on-1, man-to-man, display-of-power scenes. I think it'd be a disservice to call his writing "Sorkin-esque" in these moments, but it possesses the same quality of poetic rhythm and verbal gymnastics, without the pompous self-showcasing and "look how well I speak" bravado. There's an elegance in the way Norton writes his characters to undermine, subvert, and react to one another. It's far from naturalistic, and yet wholly convincing in the hands of this stellar cast.
Motherless Brooklyn
Motherless Brooklyn
Motherless Brooklyn
A chaotic film sometimes requires a chaotic review—fair warning: my thoughts will likely be a little more scattered even than the film itself, as I attempt to parse through this Goldbergian mystery caper with a brain already well-used this week. First thing's first: writer, director, and lead actor Edward Norton's clear strength is in the 1-on-1, man-to-man, display-of-power scenes. I think it'd be a disservice to call his writing "Sorkin-esque" in these moments, but it possesses the same quality of poetic rhythm and verbal gymnastics, without the pompous self-showcasing and "look how well I speak" bravado. There's an elegance in the way Norton writes his characters to undermine, subvert, and react to one another. It's far from naturalistic, and yet wholly convincing in the hands of this stellar cast.