Edward Norton’s passion project transformed a modern novel into a 1950s urban political thriller
In short: Edward Norton spent two decades adapting Jonathan Lethem’s novel into a neo-noir film. By shifting the setting from the 1990s to 1950s New York, he replaced the book's original conspiracy with a story inspired by the life of urban planner Robert Moses, exploring themes of power, discrimination, and city development.
The film follows Lionel Essrog, a private investigator with Tourette syndrome and OCD, who attempts to solve the murder of his mentor, Frank Minna. While the 1999 novel by Jonathan Lethem is set in contemporary times, Norton felt the hardboiled detective style of the characters demanded a 1950s backdrop. He significantly altered the source material, introducing a fictionalized version of Robert Moses—the powerful New York city planner—as a central antagonist. Norton drew further inspiration from critics of urban renewal like Jane Jacobs and Hortense Gabel, while also incorporating his own family history; his grandfather, James Rouse, was an urban planner who championed affordable housing and humanistic community design.
Production was a massive undertaking that spanned nearly twenty years from the initial acquisition of rights in 1999 to the film's 2019 release. The project faced significant challenges, including a tragic 2018 fire on set that resulted in the death of FDNY Lieutenant Michael R. Davidson. Despite a star-studded cast including Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe, and Alec Baldwin, the film struggled at the box office, grossing $18.6 million against a $26 million budget. Critics offered mixed reviews, often praising the film's political ambition, musical score, and Norton's performance, while simultaneously criticizing its 144-minute runtime and complex narrative structure.
The film’s score reflects its unique atmosphere, blending jazz with modern dissonance. Composer Daniel Pemberton recorded the music at Abbey Road Studios, following Norton’s request for a sound that felt like a mix of Miles Davis and Radiohead. This musical vision extended to a collaboration with Thom Yorke, who contributed the song 'Daily Battles.' Ultimately, the film serves as both a homage to Norton's grandfather’s ideals and a stylized critique of the power dynamics that shaped mid-century American cities, marking a bold, if divisive, departure from the source novel.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Motherless Brooklyn
- Also: Wikidata — Motherless Brooklyn · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Motherless Brooklyn · CC0
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