Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Edward NortonLionel Essrog
- Bruce WillisFrank Minna
- Gugu Mbatha-RawLaura Rose
- Alec BaldwinMoses Randolph
- Willem DafoePaul Randolph
- Bobby CannavaleTony Vermonte
- Cherry JonesGabby Horowitz
- Michael Kenneth WilliamsTrumpet Man
- Leslie MannJulia Minna
- Ethan SupleeGilbert Coney
Recommendations
- 85
TheWrap
As Motherless Brooklyn reaches back in time to explore racism and New York City’s history, it also brings us urgently back to right now — how we look at politics and leadership, what offenses we’re willing to accept, what ideals are still worth fighting for. - 83
Original-Cin
Motherless Brooklyn is the sort of risk-taking effort that deserves kudos whether it works or not. As it happens, this lengthy film-noir labour of love by writer, director and star Edward Norton, is well worth the ride. - 75
Entertainment Weekly
If it all sometimes feels trapped in the amber of his intentions, Brooklyn still casts a quiet sort of spell: a meticulously, lovingly made mood piece, full of empathy for the ones who can’t speak — at least not always the way they want to — for themselves. - 75
The A.V. Club
This passion project also lets Norton indulge in the kind of tic-heavy acting challenge he embraced early in his career. - 70
Variety
Lionel’s mannerisms could have gotten obnoxious in a hurry, but Norton calibrates the performance so that the character remains unpredictable without becoming unbearable. - 67
IndieWire
Despite some pacing troubles and myriad undeveloped characters, Motherless Brooklyn functions well enough as a throwback to the intelligent, atmospheric studio private investigator dramas to which it tips a velvety fedora, and shows evidence that this dormant genre still has legs. - 60
The Guardian
It’s a heavy meal to digest, but this is a strong, vehement film with a real sense of time and place. - 50
The Hollywood Reporter
Ultimately, frustration and fatigue prevail over the film’s intellectual acuity and political insight; neither is any true emotion ever forthcoming. This is odd and disappointing.
