Edward Harrison Norton (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. After graduating fromYale College in 1991 with a degree in history, he worked for a few months in Japan before moving to New York City to pursue an acting career. He gained recognition and critical acclaim for his debut inPrimal Fear (1996), which earned him aGolden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and anAcademy Award nomination inthe same category. His role as a redeemedneo-Nazi inAmerican History X (1998) earned him an Academy Award nomination forBest Actor. He also starred in the filmFight Club (1999), which garnered acult following.
At age five, Norton and his parents saw a musical related toCinderella at theColumbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA), starring his babysitter, which ignited his interest in the theater.[8][9] He enjoyed watching films with his father as a pre-teen, but later reflected that he was fascinated with thecinematography rather than the acting.[10] Norton recalled that it was theater and not films that inspired him to act.[10] He made his professional debut at the age of eight in the musicalAnnie Get Your Gun at his hometown'sToby's Dinner Theatre.[7] At the CCTA, he acted in several theatrical productions directed byToby Orenstein.[9]
In 1984, Norton won the acting cup at Pasquaney, an annual summer camp for boys inHebron, New Hampshire, where he later returned as a theater director.[11] He subsequently immersed himself in films, namingDustin Hoffman andRobert De Niro as two of his early inspirations because "the ones [he] liked were also the ones who made [him] think [he] could do it because they weren't the most handsome guys".[10] He graduated fromWilde Lake High School in 1987.[12] He attendedYale College, graduating in 1991 withBachelor of Arts inhistory.[5] While at Yale, he also studiedJapanese, acted in university productions, and was a competitiverower.[7][13] After graduating from Yale, conversant in Japanese, Norton worked not-for-profit as a representative for his grandfather's company, Enterprise Community Partners, in Osaka, Japan.[14]
After five months in Japan, Norton moved to New York City, where he supported himself working odd jobs.[8][14] He took six months researching different acting techniques, focusing onmethod acting. He later took lessons from acting coachTerry Schreiber after discovering he was looking for a Japanese translator to help direct a play in Tokyo.[15] Norton described him as a great teacher who encouraged students to become "multilingual actors" with different techniques for versatile roles.[16]
Norton also wrote scripts for plays at theSignature Theatre Company and starred inoff-Broadway theater. His performance inBrian Friel'sLovers brought him to the attention of playwrightEdward Albee, whose one-act plays Norton enjoyed.[10] In 1994, Norton auditioned for Albee'sFinding the Sun but did not get the part. Albee found a new role for him instead and had Norton read forFragments.[17] The playwright was impressed with Norton's rehearsal performance and cast him for its world premiere.[7] Albee remarked that Norton was a rare actor "who really knocked me out".[17] Norton recalled that he was inspired byAl Pacino, who also began his career in theater while struggling to establish himself in New York.[14]
In 1998, Norton starred alongsideMatt Damon inRounders, which follows two friends who urgently need cash and play poker to pay off a huge debt.[24] The film and Norton's performance received a lukewarm response;Entertainment Weekly wrote that his acting "never really goes anywhere",[25] while theChicago Reader observed that his character was not good enough to make the film interesting.[26] His role in the crime dramaAmerican History X, released later that year, earned him widespread acclaim.[27] In it, Norton portrays Derek Vinyard, a reformedneo-Nazi, who abandons his preconceived ideology after three years in prison.[28] During production, Norton was allegedly dissatisfied with directorTony Kaye's first screening. Consequently, he took over the editing (uncredited) and finished the final cut, which was 40 minutes longer than Kaye's version.[29]The New Yorker wrote that he gave Derek an "ambiguous erotic allure" which made the film memorable,[30] while theChicago Tribune deemed his performance an immediate contender for an Oscar.[31] Norton received an Oscar nomination forBest Actor,[32] and won aGolden Satellite Award in the same category.[33]
In the 1999David Fincher-directed filmFight Club, Norton played anunnamedunreliable narrator who feels trapped in his white-collar job. The film is based onChuck Palahniuk's1996 novel.[34] To prepare for the role, Norton took lessons inboxing,taekwondo andgrappling.[35]Fight Club premiered at the 1999Venice International Film Festival.[36] During promotion for the film, Norton explained thatFight Club examines the value conflicts ofGeneration X as the first generation raised on television, by probing "the despair and paralysis that people feel in the face of having inherited this value system out of advertising".[37][38] While the film divided contemporary critics,[39][40] Norton's role was widely applauded.Time magazine labeled him "excellent",[41] andVariety magazine was impressed by his embracing a range of techniques needed for his character.[42] For his performance, Norton was nominated for Best Actor by theOnline Film Critics Society.[43] Despite under-performing at the box office,Fight Club became acult classic after its DVD release in 2000.[44][45]
2000–2008: Mainstream success and directorial debut
In 2000, Norton made his directorial debut with the romantic comedyKeeping the Faith, starring as a priest named Brian Finn.[46] The film received mixed critical reviews.[47]The Dallas Morning News praised his acting and labeled the film "a smart directorial debut".[48]Entertainment Weekly remarked that Norton's emergence as a director was decent, but criticized the plot because it "proposes heavy theological aims, then disavows any such thing".[49] In 2001'sheist filmThe Score, Norton plays Jack Teller, an ambitious young thief caught in an unlikely alliance with career criminal Nick Wells (Robert De Niro) arranged by hisfence, Max (Marlon Brando).The Score and Norton's performance was well received.[50] TheSan Francisco Chronicle stated that despite starring with screen legends De Niro and Brando, Norton's acting "outdoes even that of Brando".[51] TheLos Angeles Times also lauded him as an "enormously gifted young actor" who pulled off the character successfully.[52]
Norton portrayedNelson Rockefeller (pictured) in the 2002 biopicFrida, for which his version of the screenplay received positive reviews.
Norton appeared in four films released in 2002. He played kids show host Sheldon Mopes, who quickly rises to fame for his character "Smoochy the Rhino", in the black comedyDeath to Smoochy. It received negative critical feedback for its plot.[53] He also portrayedNelson Rockefeller in the biopic filmFrida, which depicts the life of Mexican artistFrida Kahlo (Salma Hayek). Norton rewrote the script several times without credit, focusing on the historical context and adding some humor while retaining Kahlo's real-life personality.[54] The final screenplay, with Norton's contribution, received positive reviews from critics as well as admiration from the film's co-stars including Hayek andAlfred Molina, who portrayed Kahlo's husband and fellow artistDiego Rivera.[54][55][56] In the horror filmRed Dragon, Norton starred as retired FBI profilerWill Graham, who consults withcannibalisticserial killerHannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to catchFrancis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes), a serial killer who murders entire families. During production, Norton and directorBrett Ratner argued frequently over the script. "He likes to challenge the director. It's all about intellectual debate," Ratner toldThe Times in 2003. "... Edward's instinct is going to be, 'I have to take over this film.' He's going to try to rescue the film. That's both a blessing and a curse."[57] Despite mixed reviews,Red Dragon was Norton's most profitable venture in 2002, grossing over $200 million.[58][59] Norton also co-produced and starred in25th Hour, a film about a drug dealer in post-9/11 New York City.[60][61]
Paramount Pictures forced Norton to star in the heist filmThe Italian Job (2003), threatening to sue him for violating a three-film contract he had signed; the studio had previously distributed 1996'sPrimal Fear and 2001'sThe Score.[62] Norton, accordingly, refused to promote the film's release.[63] His performance was well received by critics, withThe New Yorker calling him "intelligent and incisive ... one of those rare actors who hold the audience's attention with everything they say".[64]Rolling Stone praised his character as "perversely magnetic" despite giving the film a negative review.[65] During this time, Norton co-founded a production company, Class 5 Films, with Yale classmateStuart Blumberg and film producer Bill Migliore.[1] Norton was cast asBaldwin IV, theleper king ofJerusalem, inRidley Scott's 2005 historical filmKingdom of Heaven.[66] Reviewers criticized the film's lack of depth, while praising the cinematography.[67] Jack Moore described Norton's performance inKingdom of Heaven as "phenomenal", and "so far removed from anything that he has ever done that we see the true complexities of his talent".[66] It grossed over $211 million worldwide.[59] Norton's next lead role was in theneo-western filmDown in the Valley (2005), playing a delusional man who claims to be a cowboy. While the film was criticized for its narrative, Norton was praised for his performance.[68][69]
Norton had two major film roles in 2006, starring as Eisenheim the magician inThe Illusionist andbacteriologist Walter Fane inThe Painted Veil. Set in 19th-centuryAustria-Hungary,The Illusionist was loosely based on novelistSteven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist" and received generally positive critical reviews.[70] TheSan Francisco Chronicle dubbed the film "rich and elegant" and wrote of Norton's character: "he doesn't just seduce the on-screen audience but the audience watching in the movie theater".[71] TheHouston Chronicle similarly lauded the film for its vibrant plot and described Norton's performance as "mysterious and understated".[72] Norton co-producedThe Painted Veil, in which he starred withNaomi Watts, who portrayed his character's unfaithful wife. Like his previous venture,The Painted Veil garnered positive feedback from reviewers.[73]The Guardian applauded the film as "faultless" and "powerful" as well as Norton's "genuinely affecting" performance.[74]Entertainment Weekly appreciated that Norton's production effort did not affect his acting.[75]
Norton appeared in two documentaries in 2007:Brando, which chronicles the life and career of screen legend Marlon Brando, with whom Norton co-starred in 2001'sThe Score,[citation needed] andMan from Plains, which depicts the post-presidency endeavors of former U.S. presidentJimmy Carter.[76] He starred in the crime dramaPride and Glory (2008) as Ray Tierney, an honest detective assigned to investigate the precinct run by his older brother. Reviewers criticized the film for itscliched plot.[77]
His next lead film role wasMarvel Cinematic Universe'sBruce Banner, and the accompanying alter egoHulk in the big-budget superhero filmThe Incredible Hulk, released in 2008.[78] Norton initially turned down the part as he felt the 2003 versionHulk "strayed far afield from a story that was familiar to people, ... which is a fugitive story".[79] He joined the project during pre-production in 2006 and constantly provided rewrites of the script.[80] DirectorLouis Leterrier welcomed his contributions, saying that, "Edward's script has given Bruce's story real gravitas".[81] However, screenwriterZak Penn was displeased with Norton's changes.[82] TheWriters Guild of America credited Penn as the sole writer, arguing that Norton had not contributed significantly to the screenplay.[83] Norton did not participate in promoting the film and went to Africa for humanitarian activities instead,[57] leading to rumors that Norton was sparking conflicts with the film's producers.[84] He dismissed the accusations and said that the media had misrepresented the "healthy" collaborations for headlines.[85]
The Incredible Hulk received generally favorable reviews upon release.[86]The Wall Street Journal felt that Norton's presence improved the film to "a thunderously efficient enterprise" from the 2003 version.[87] Conversely, theLos Angeles Times, while recognizing Norton's decent performance, opined that the film lacked a solid script.[88] It was a box office success, grossing over $263 million.[59] Norton was expected to reprise his role in future Marvel Cinematic Universe ventures, including the 2012 blockbusterThe Avengers.[89] However, he was replaced byMark Ruffalo, allegedly due to Norton's "disputes" with Marvel.[90] Norton later claimed that he chose not to play Hulk again because he "wanted more diversity" and opted against associating himself with one character throughout his career.[91]
In 2009, Norton produced the documentaryBy the People: The Election of Barack Obama, which follows former U.S. presidentBarack Obama's campaigns leading to his2008 election victory. Norton planned for this project in 2006, when Obama was asenator from Illinois, elaborating that Obama was "an interesting prism through which to examine politics".[92] He had two lead film roles in 2010. He portrayedBrown University Professor Bill and his identical twin Brady Kincaid in the comedyLeaves of Grass, and convicted arsonist Gerald "Stone" Creeson in the crime filmStone. Both received weak reviews;Leaves of Grass was praised for Norton's performance but criticized for its conflicting tonal shifts,[93] whileStone was panned because of a clumsy plot with excessive twists.[94]
Norton had two lead film roles in 2012. He starred asscoutmaster Randy Ward in charge of finding his missing camper in thecoming-of-age filmMoonrise Kingdom, directed byWes Anderson.[95] The film was acclaimed by critics[96] and grossed over $68 million.[59] His other lead role was in the action thrillerThe Bourne Legacy, the fourth installment in theBourne series. In the film, Norton portrayed retiredAir Force colonel Eric Byer, who decides to terminate an illegal operation after it is exposed to the FBI and kill everyone involved.The Bourne Legacy received lukewarm reviews[97] but has been Norton's highest-grossing venture so far, earning over $276 million worldwide.[59] Norton also produced the comedy-dramaThanks for Sharing (2012) under his company Class 5 Films.[98] This production venture received a mixed response.[99]The Guardian panned the film as "smug and humourless,"[100] whileThe Washington Post called it "surprisingly wise, funny and affecting".[101]
DirectorWes Anderson, who featured Norton in five of his films
In 2014, Norton played in two Academy Award-winning films,The Grand Budapest Hotel andBirdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). He collaborated again with director Wes Anderson forThe Grand Budapest Hotel, which featured anensemble cast and won four Academy Awards.[102][103] In the black comedyBirdman, Norton playedBroadway method actor Mike Shiner, who is talented but hard to work with. The film, as well as Norton's performance, was well received by critics.[104] TheLos Angeles Times lauded him for successfully portraying the volatility of the character,[105] andNewsday complimented his "truly moving" poetic delivery.[106] The film won theAcademy Award for Best Picture and earned Norton his third Academy nomination for Best Supporting Actor.[103]
Norton had voice-acting roles in the animated featuresSausage Party (2016)[107] andThe Guardian Brothers—the English-dubbed version of the Chinese animated filmLittle Door Gods (2017).[108] He played Whit Yardsham, an estranged friend and business partner of Howard Inlet (Will Smith) in the 2016 dramaCollateral Beauty. The film was panned by critics for its incoherent screenplay.[109][110][111] Norton worked again with director Anderson for the 2018stop motion filmIsle of Dogs, in which he voiced Rex, a member of a pack of five dogs.[112] Norton had announced in February 2014 that he would directMotherless Brooklyn, a crime drama based on the acclaimed1999 novel byJonathan Lethem.[113] Norton had wanted to work on the project since 1999 but did not begin until Brett Ratner, director of 2002'sRed Dragon, joined in to help production.[114] Released in 2019, the film received mixed reviews.[115]Toronto Star's Peter Howell praised Norton's direction, but thought the film was complex and too long.[116]
Norton featured in the Apple TV+ anthology mini seriesExtrapolations (2023), created byScott Z. Burns.[118] He once again reunited withWes Anderson to play a supporting role in the comedy drama set in retrofuturistic 1950s,Asteroid City, premiering at the76th Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2023.[119] It received generally positive reviews while also becoming a moderate success commercially.[120] He reprised his voice role from the animated adult comedy filmSausage Party (2016) in the sequel seriesSausage Party: Foodtopia (2024), which released onAmazon Prime Video.[121]
Norton next portrayedPete Seeger oppositeTimothée Chalamet inA Complete Unknown (2024), a biopic ofBob Dylan, directed byJames Mangold.[122] He learned to playbanjo in Seeger's distinctive style for his role.[123] His performance received praise, and he was nominated for a Golden Globe award and an Academy Award.[124][125] Brian Tallerico ofRogerEbert.com described him as "wonderfully understated,"[126] while James T. Keane ofAmerica Magazine praised Norton as the film's standout performer, lauding his ability to subtly convey a wide range of emotions: "preternaturally good-hearted, but also part booster, part handler, part jealous rival, part stubborn doctrinaire."[127]
Since coming to fame in the mid-1990s, Norton has opted not to discuss his personal life in public, saying that he "believes that excessive media coverage can distract him from fulfilling his role as an actor".[14][128] Following the release ofThe People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), tabloids spread rumors that Norton and his onscreen co-starCourtney Love were dating.[14] Norton insisted that he was not romantically involved with Love, and the two were only friends and colleagues.[129] Nevertheless, appearing on an episode ofThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Love stated they had dated for four years. It was in addition to her references in a 2006 interview to their past relationship.[130] She said that Norton had been a "mediator" and "communicator" between her and her daughterFrances Bean Cobain, calling him a "force of good".[131]
After Norton had ended his relationship with Love in 1999, he started datingSalma Hayek, with whom he later appeared in the 2002 biopicFrida.[132] Norton absented himself from the premiere ofThe Italian Job, in which he starred, to attend the premiere ofThe Maldonado Miracle, Hayek's directorial debut.[133] The two broke up in 2003.[133] Hayek still remains friends with Norton.
Hayek recalled in a 2017 piece forThe New York Times that Norton "beautifully rewrote the script [ofFrida] several times and appallingly never got credit" after she had rejectedHarvey Weinstein's sexual demands and Weinstein, in retaliation, had given her "a list of [four] impossible tasks with a tight deadline," including "a rewrite of the script, with no additional payment, or writer's credit" before he would make the film.[56]
In 2011, Norton proposed to Canadian film producerShauna Robertson after dating for six years. The pair married in 2012. The couple has a son Atlas, born in 2013.[134][135][136]
Norton appeared on thePBS genealogy seriesFinding Your Roots in January 2023, where it was confirmed thatPocahontas was his 12th great-grandmother. Norton, whose family had known of possible relation to Pocahontas and her husbandJohn Rolfe for years, replied to the findings: "It makes you realize what a small piece of the human story you are".[137]
Norton expressed discomfort upon learning his ancestors owned a family of slaves: "The short answer is these things are uncomfortable, and you should be uncomfortable with them. Everybody should be uncomfortable with it. It's not a judgement on you and your own life, but it's a judgement on the history of this country. It needs to be acknowledged first and foremost, and then it needs to be contended with. When you go away from census counts and you personalise things, you're talking about, possibly, a husband and wife with five girls – and these girls are slaves. Born into slavery. ... When you read 'slave aged eight,' you just want to die."[138]
Norton's father is an environmental lawyer and conservationist; Norton is anenvironmentalist.[140] He narrated the four-partNational Geographic documentaryStrange Days on Planet Earth (2005), which examines earth system science.[140] He is an advocate forrenewable energy, specificallysolar energy[141] and is currently an Advisory Council Member forGoodLeap.[142] After rising to stardom, Norton bought a solar energy-powered home in Los Angeles and switched to ahybrid car.[140] In 2003, he collaborated with oil companyBP to develop the Solar Neighbors program, which aimed to installphotovoltaic panels on rooftops of households in Los Angeles.[143] The initiative was welcomed by many of Norton's fellow celebrities, notably Salma Hayek,Brad Pitt,Danny DeVito,Alicia Silverstone andRobin Williams.[143][144]
Norton is a supporter of theAfrican Wildlife Foundation and its "Say No" campaign which raises awareness and fights against illegal poaching of elephants and rhinoceroses for ivory and horn.[145] He is the president of the American branch of theMaasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. The organization aims to preserve the ecosystems and biodiversity ofEast Africa through conservation which directly benefits the local Maasai communities.[146] To raise money for the trust, Norton fielded a team of thirty runners for theNew York City Marathon on November 1, 2009; the team included himself, three Maasai tribesmen, and fellow celebrity musicianAlanis Morissette.[147][148] He raised over $1.2 million for the Trust after completing his run.[149]
After the successful fundraising for the Maasai Conservation, Norton launched anonline fundraising platform calledCrowdrise in May 2010.[149][150] The website uses a social-networking framework to help raise funds for charity.[149] In July 2010, the then-Secretary-General of theUnited Nations (UN) named Norton theGoodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity and a spokesperson for theConvention on Biological Diversity.[151] At his designation ceremony, Norton said that biodiversity is an issue that "transcends national boundaries", with people "having lost sight" of the need for environmental protection.[152] As part of his job as a UN Ambassador, Norton has embarked on trips to Africa and participated in programs organized by UN bodies including theDevelopment andEnvironment Programmes.[153][154][155] He also played soccer (football) forSoccer Aid in May 2012; the event raised over£4.9 million forUNICEF to assist children worldwide.[156]
Norton has served since 1998 as a member of the board of trustees ofEnterprise Community Partners, a non-profit developer ofaffordable housing founded by his grandparents.[158] The company has invested $9 billion in equity capital, pre-development lending, mortgage financing, and house building for low-income Americans.[159] In 2008, Norton initiated the company's plan to embark ongreen affordable housing. This originated with his concerns over environmental issues and sustainable development in addition to housing problems.[159] He attributed his involvement in community building to his upbringing in Columbia, Maryland, which is a planned city built in the 1960s and home to a diverse population.[160]
During the2008 and2012 presidential elections, Norton supported but did not actively campaign for the Democratic nomineeBarack Obama, saying that "it's much more interesting to encourage people to engage than to suggest that people should model themselves on me and my views".[166] He produced the 2009 documentaryBy the People: The Election of Barack Obama, which chronicles Obama's political activities from 2006 to his 2008 election victory.[167] Norton spoke highly of Obama, citing him as "a perfect framework" to explore contemporary U.S. politics.[167] He produced a campaign video for Obama's 2012 presidential race withBennett Miller; the video featured voters from diverse economic and racial backgrounds.[166][168] He also expressed "grave concerns" over theTrump administration's position regarding climate change.[161] In 2020 Norton donated $8,400 to theJoe Biden 2020 presidential campaign.[169]
In November 2020, Norton criticized then-US PresidentDonald Trump for his claims of election fraud at the2020 United States presidential election, as a "contemptible, treasonous, seditious assault on the stability of the country and its institutions."[170]
Norton has been regarded as one of the most talented actors of his generation.[133][171][172][173][174]The Daily Telegraph observed that "the tag 'finest actor of his generation' clings to him wherever he goes".[175] InThe Observer,Peter Preston noted that his image was unlike that of conventional screen "stars" because his most memorable characters are unlikeable, specifically a neo-Nazi inAmerican History X. Preston likened his characters to those played byDustin Hoffman andRobert De Niro, whom Norton admires.[176]Interview magazine commented that Norton has successfully portrayed a wide range of roles and found it impossible to simply characterize him as aleading man, avillain, or acharacter actor.[177]
Despite critical plaudits, Norton is scornful of being seen as aHollywood A-lister.[178][179][180] He feels it necessary to keep his off-screen life to himself and opts for a "normal life."[179] As soon as his career took off in the late 1990s, Norton asserted that, "If I ever have to stop taking thesubway, I'm gonna have a heart attack."[14]AllMovie remarked that Norton attained "almost instant stardom" following his 1996 film debut inPrimal Fear and could have risen to even greater fame.[181]The Daily Telegraph attributed Norton's lack of interest in celebrity status to his family of "distinguished political and social activists."[175] Sharing the same sentiment,Forbes complimented Norton as "a far cry" from celebrities who do charity works "with a keen eye to furthering their personal brand," citing his involvements in community planning and social entrepreneurship even before his film career.[180]
Norton has a strict work ethic and a high desire for professionalism.[181] He is selective in choosing his roles, explaining that, "You don't want to do anything just ... to work with somebody. There are many actors I would like to work with but it has to be the right role."[179]Drew Barrymore, his co-star in the 1996 musicalEveryone Says I Love You, recalled that he was "on the set every day" and "never compromised for a second."[128] He also expects different approaches to projects with different collaborators and wishes for "happy" working situations as long as "the boundaries of the collaboration are well-established in the beginning."[182]
Due to this, Norton has garnered a reputation for being difficult to work with.[175][183] Incidents include Norton's editing the final cut ofAmerican History X (1998), which is 40 minutes longer than director Tony Kaye's version;[29] conflicts with director Brett Ratner on the set ofRed Dragon (2002);[57] refusing to promoteThe Italian Job (2003);[63] and uncredited rewriting of the screenplay forThe Incredible Hulk (2008), which angered screenwriter Zak Penn.[83] TheLos Angeles Times opined that these incidents led to Norton's image as a "pricklyperfectionist", which diminishes his reputation.[57] Nevertheless, a few collaborators with whom Norton had disputes have expressed their respect for him: Kaye wanted to feature Norton in some of his other ventures, and Ratner offered to help with production of Norton's filmMotherless Brooklyn and got along well with Norton.[57][114] Some publications interpreted Norton's performance inBirdman (2014), in which he portrays a talented but volatile actor, as a self-referential nod to his image.[171][184][185]
^"American History X (1998)".Rotten Tomatoes. October 30, 1998.Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.A compelling and provocative story led by an excellent performance by Edward Norton.
^"The Score (2001)".Rotten Tomatoes. July 13, 2001.Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.Though the movie treads familiar ground in the heist/caper genre, Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, and Marlon Brando make the movie worth watching.
^"Death to Smoochy (2002)".Rotten Tomatoes. March 29, 2002.Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.The talent involved can't save a script that has nowhere to go with its promising premise.
^abTuckman, Jo (August 30, 2001)."That Frida feeling".The Guardian.Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.
^"Frida (2002)".Rotten Tomatoes. October 25, 2002.Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.Frida is a passionate, visually striking biopic about the larger-than-life artist.
^"Kingdom of Heaven (2005)".Rotten Tomatoes. May 6, 2005. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.Although it's an objective and handsomely presented take on the Crusades, Kingdom of Heaven lacks depth.
^"The Illusionist (2006)".Rotten Tomatoes. September 2006.Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.The Illusionist is an engrossing, well-crafted story of mystery, magic and intrigue that is certain to enchant, if not hypnotize, audiences.
^"The Painted Veil (2006)".Rotten Tomatoes. December 20, 2006.Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.Visually, The Painted Veil has all the trappings of a stuffy period drama, but Norton's and Watts's deft portrayals of imperfect, complicated characters give the film a modern-day spark.
^Hopper, Barrett (November 8, 2007)."Plains spoken".Now.Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.
^"Pride and Glory (2008)".Rotten Tomatoes. October 24, 2008.Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.Formulaic in its plotting and cliched in its dialogue, Pride and Glory does little to distinguish itself from other police procedurals.
^"Leaves of Grass (2010)".Rotten Tomatoes. September 17, 2010.Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.Edward Norton delivers one of his finest performances in Leaves of Grass, but he's overpowered by the movie's many jarring tonal shifts.
^"Stone (2010)".Rotten Tomatoes. October 8, 2010.Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. RetrievedMarch 9, 2019.Stone boasts a cast ... but it's ultimately undone by its heavy-handed symbolism and overabundant plot twists.
^"Moonrise Kingdom (2012)".Rotten Tomatoes. June 29, 2012.Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. RetrievedMarch 11, 2019.... the immaculately framed and beautifully acted Moonrise Kingdom presents writer/director Wes Anderson at his idiosyncratic best.
^"The Bourne Legacy (2012)".Rotten Tomatoes. August 10, 2012.Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. RetrievedMarch 11, 2019.It isn't quite as compelling as the earlier trilogy
^"Birdman (2014)".Rotten Tomatoes. January 16, 2015.Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. RetrievedMarch 11, 2019.Birdman is ... powered by a layered story and outstanding performances from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton.
^"Collateral Beauty (2016)".Rotten Tomatoes. December 16, 2016.Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. RetrievedMarch 12, 2019.Collateral Beauty aims for uplift but collapses in unintentional hilarity.
^Amaya, Mario (December 31, 2014)."Edward Norton (Birdman)". Hollywood Foreign Press Association.Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. RetrievedMarch 13, 2019.
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