Motherless Brooklyn
A forgotten modern classic
film synopsis: "Lionel Essrog is a lonely private detective who doesn't let Tourette's syndrome stand in the way of his job. Gifted with a few clues and an obsessive mind, Lionel sets out to solve the murder of Frank Minna -- his mentor and only friend. Scouring the jazz clubs and slums of Brooklyn and Harlem, Essrog soon uncovers a web of secrets while contending with thugs, corruption and the most dangerous man in the city." - google reviews
It took many tries for my Mother to finally convince me to watch this film. I was resistant at first as I feared it would be boring (and in a way it was) but though it is slow and steady, it maintains its engagement, is beautifully crafted and serves a well told story made by exceedingly talented people.
Ed Norton used mood boards to perfect the visual aesthetic which is why the colouring and setting are so absolute. Stylistically it is just a beautiful film to watch, but the writing and direction are just as strong.
Though the plot reveals itself gradually and you would definitely have to class it as a slow burner, it keeps you relatively engaged from the start, and manages to gently build momentum- until you are entirely gripped into the action towards the end.
Ed Norton is (as ever) entirely convincing in his role, but Gugu Mbatha Raw is stellar in her ability to play Laura. She makes the character beautiful, in both her looks and her gentle approach to the role. You manage to sympathise with, but not pity her character because she possesses such strength. The magnetic chemistry between her and Ed Norton’s character connects the viewer to the plot (more than I think they anticipated).
There is a tenderness to the film in how Norton so elegantly casts the spotlight on the experience of 'the underdog', the downtrodden and bruised members of that 1950s Brooklyn community. The use of Jazz to connect the two communities is a perfect way to blend the black and white, the score certainly helped this, and it was fantastic to see a film that is so self aware in regards to how they present the disadvantaged black Community and portray the discrimination they face. The disservice done to that community by a Government (supposedly built to protect them) highlights the flaws within the makeup of American society, which to this day manages to rear its ugly head.
The importance in the fact the character is mixed race, and how the casting remains true to that fact was especially heartwarming to see as a young mixed-race woman, who has watched mixed-race actresses constantly being placed in black roles without being able to explore their own racial identity within the characters they are committing to.
The mystery at times was hard to follow, and often I felt my attention slipping slightly when following the ‘who dunnit’ element, but when this would happen I was hooked back in by the interesting and compelling characters. Alec Baldwin was consistently aggressive, domineering and cruel, and I was glad he never let the veneer slip. His acting often felt heavy handed but done with intention, and in a necessary way.
Though I feel the film could have been 20 minutes shorter, it did feel nice to complete a long, well told story- similar to that feeling you get when you complete a long well written book. Norton allows a sense of satisfaction in the ending, whilst leaving enough loose ends to keep us interested in looking into the true history behind the film. It is always nice to watch a well crafted film, because every direction felt intentional, every word was written with purpose. This film took over 20 years to make due to his meticulous planning, and thankfully it shows.
It can be considered a masterpiece of sorts- I say of sorts since it was unfortunately not a box office success, but absolutely it should have been. As another Oscar snub, it did not get the recognition it deserved, but it feels almost poetic that the film goes as unrecognised as the history behind it.
Another example of the little guys staying little and the big guys getting bigger.
- Amelia
