Edward Norton’s passion project is an odd, slightly uneven mix of hardboiled noir and prestige drama, but it works more often than it doesn’t. The 1950s New York atmosphere is thick, the jazz score and smoky cinematography give it style, and Norton commits fully to his performance and quirks.
It’s a bit too long and sometimes feels like it’s straining for significance, but the ambition is admirable. When it clicks, it feels like a lost noir novel brought to life, and that’s worth something.
It is not a perfect film, but it is a fascinating one.
Edward Norton’s passion project is an odd, slightly uneven mix of hardboiled noir and prestige drama, but it works more often than it doesn’t. The 1950s New York atmosphere is thick, the jazz score and smoky cinematography give it style, and Norton commits fully to his performance and quirks.
It’s a bit too long and sometimes feels like it’s straining for significance, but the ambition is admirable. When it clicks, it feels like a lost noir novel brought to life, and that’s worth something.
It is not a perfect film, but it is a fascinating one.
