MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN
US, 2019, 144 minutes, Colour.
Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha- Raw, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, Ethan Suplee, Cherry Jones, Dallas Roberts, Josh Pais, Fisher Stevens, Robert Wisdom, Michael Kenneth Williams.
Directed by Edward Norton.
Motherless Brooklyn is a story of political and financial corruption in New York City (with memory references to 19 century corruption and wheeler dealing, and memories of Gangs of New York). It is a story of violence and deception.
The original novel was published in 1999 by Jonathan Letham (further films based on his novels, Tonight at Noon and You Don’t Love Me Yet). The film is a labour of love for Edward Norton who worked on the screenplay, produced and directed and plays the central role of a young man, working as a private eye, afflicted, often unexpectedly, with a variation of Tourette’s Syndrome. Running time is long – and some critics and audiences found it too long.
The setting of the novel has been changed from the more recent past, going back to the 1950s, the experience of the city in the aftermath of World War II, veterans returning, jobs, elections, promises, the pulling down of harsh and poor neighbourhoods, possibilities for gentrification in the city at the expense of those turned out of the old areas, principally black neighbourhoods.
The initial focus is on Bruce Willis as a detective, Frank, with Lionel as his protégé. Lionel hears Frank negotiating on the phone and then hears him being shot. At the hospital, Frank whispers in his ear. Lionel is not sure but devotes himself to investigating, at times pretending to be a newspaper journalist, ingratiating himself into some people’s confidence.
When the new mayor is elected, giving an earnest public speech then gathering with cronies behind-the-scenes, the major developer, Moses Randolph, enters and demands different lucrative portfolios. He is played with relentless cynicism by Alec Baldwin.
There are further complications for Lionel leading him to a nightclub, the address on a box of matches belonging to Frank. This introduces him to a jazz world and jazz players as well as the young woman, Laura, Gugu Mbatha Raw, who is involved in social protests and social research under the guidance of a rather formidable campaigner played by Cherry Jones.
Enter also a mysterious character played by Willem Dafoe who has dreams of what New York City might be like. Through him Lionel is led to quite a tangle of unanticipated relationships between the central characters as well as a relationship with Laura.
There are also a number of betrayals, especially concerning Frank’s widow and the boss of Lionel’s small group of detectives, Tony (Bobby Cannavale).
When Lionel suddenly discovers some key evidence (in the brim of Frank’s hat), there are even more dangerous complications, verbal confrontation with Moses, physical confrontation with thugs.
On the one hand, the film is full of regret about this kind of corruption in New York City. On the other hand, it is a picture of a one-man crusade and its dangerous consequences.
1. The title? The nickname for Lionel? The background story, in the orphanage with his friends? The friendship of Frank, freeing them? The career and situations?
2. New York City, Brooklyn, the setting of the 1950s, the memories of the war, Frank and others returning, tribute to their service, finding a different New York, crime and exploitation, violence?
3. The streets of Brooklyn, the buildings, the apartments? Clubs? Political socials? Business offices? The atmosphere? The musical score?
4. The introduction to Frank, Bruce Willis’s presence, his detective work, patron of Lionel and his friends? The case, his investigations, the business exploitation, the confrontations, Lionel listening on the phone? His being shot? Hospital, Lionel going to see him, the final whispers? Lionel taking his hat – and the later discovery of the ticket in the lining of the hat? The matches on the jazz club? His reappearances in Lionel’s imagination? And the discovery that he was a flawed character in his dealings?
5. Lionel, his group, Tony taking charge of the enterprise, the role of the other two friends? Accompanying Lionel? Julia and her relationship with Tony? Attitude towards Frank? The later revelations about Tony, the relationship with Julia, his connections, issues of greed, Capitalism and greed?
6. The political situation? The mayor, his speech and declaration, sceptical audiences? Dividing up his departments and heads, the club and the sinister plans? Moses, intervening, tough stances and his demands? Their permitting? The issues of plans, the development of the city, the destruction of neighbourhoods? Public acclaim, yet the impact on the poor? Lieberman and his place in the group, supporting Moses Randolph, yet the betrayal, his death? And Lionel using this to get to Moses?
7. Gabby Horowitz, strong-minded, the voice of the poor, the speeches, presence, attitude towards Moses Randolph? Laura, working with her, the research?
8. Lionel, the Tourette Syndrome, the effect on him, his manner, people put off, accepting it? His explanations? Yet his sharp mind and memory?
9. Lionel his work, following in Frank’s footsteps, investigating Frank’s death? The journalist card, his pretending, interviewing various people? The attraction to Laura? The dates, the dancing?
10. Laura, the story of her father, mother? The mystery? Frank and the jazz club connection? Lionel going, the encounters, Billy having him bashed? Saved by the trumpeter?
11. Paul Randolph, in himself, his eccentricities, communicating with Lionel, his ideals, plans for the city, the discussions? The revelation that he was Moses’ brother? The clash between the two? The revelations about Laura and paternity, Billy acting as her father, her thinking that Paul was her father, the reality of Moses Randolph raping her mother? Paul and his reluctance to go into action, using people to get to his brother?
12. Moses and Lionel, the discussions, the brothers and their origins, characters, plans, Moses ruthless, the revelation about the paternity of Laura? His promise about Paul’s plans – and then reneging?
13. The range of hired toughs, the threats?
14. Frank’s hat, tab, Lionel going to the pen station, discovery of the documents, hiding them, his use of them?
15. The buildup to the confrontation, Laura in danger, Lionel intervening, the violence and brutality? The trumpeter and his help? The future?
16. The New York story, the history of government and manipulation in New York in the 19th century, continuing over into the 20th century?
