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Motherless Brooklyn 2019

Movie · 144 min · English · August 30, 2019

Directed by Edward NortonWritten by Edward Norton

Starring Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe

A 2019 American neo-noir crime film, Motherless Brooklyn was written, produced, and directed by Edward Norton based on Jonathan Lethem's 1999 novel. The story unfolds in 1957 New York City and follows a private investigator played by Norton, who suffers from Tourette syndrome and is determined to uncover the truth behind his mentor’s murder. Supporting roles are taken by Bruce Willis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bobby Cannavale, Cherry Jones, Alec Baldwin, Ethan Suplee, and Willem Dafoe.

Norton had long considered the project a personal endeavor after reading the novel in 1999, but it took nearly two decades before production began. While the original story was set in modern times, Norton believed the narrative and dialogue suited a noir atmosphere, which led to relocating the setting to the 1950s. Additional plot elements were influenced by The Power Broker, a biography of city planner Robert Moses. Cast members joined by February 2018, and principal photography started during that same month.

The film made its debut at the 46th Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2019, followed by a theatrical release in the United States on November 1, 2019 through Warner Bros. Pictures. Despite its release, it failed commercially, earning only $18.6 million against a $26 million budget. Critics offered mixed reactions, commending the film's concepts and Norton’s acting but criticizing its runtime and departures from the source material. At the 77th Golden Globe Awards, Motherless Brooklyn earned a nomination for Best Original Score.

This film marked Bruce Willis's final theatrical role (excluding a limited release of Midnight in the Switchgrass), after which he transitioned to direct-to-video projects before retiring in 2022.