Three-time Oscar nominee Edward Norton does not think small.
After years of uncredited rewriting and editing room consulting (“American History X”), he directed “Keeping the Faith” in 2000.
And over nine years of trying to make an adaptation of Jonathan Lethem’s 1999 novel “Motherless Brooklyn”, which he wrote and produced, he decided to direct himself in the ambitious drama, which launched in Telluride and Toronto to upbeat reviews and closes the New York Film Festival on Friday.
Whatever happens to this movie, it’s Norton’s baby.At age 50, Norton is always in demand as a canny character actor, but it took nine years to develop, finance and produce “Motherless Brooklyn,” because he wanted to take the helm of a smart, ambitious drama for adults that evokes 50s period film noir New York, complete with a dissonant jazz soundtrack.
Whether smarthouse crowds are ready to go there with him remains to be seen.
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