December 12, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Sony Pictures Classics and Tadmor Entertainment Present “NORMAN” “The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer”

By Beverly Cohn

With the Academy Award ceremony far behind us, it may be untimely to think about next year’s nominees. That said, I’m here to tell you that I just saw one of the most pitch perfect films to debut this year and the first on my list for several nominations.

Written, produced, and brilliantly directed by Joseph Cedar, “Norman, The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” must be submitted for Best Picture. Richard Gere will certainly be on the list for Best Actor, along with and for Best Supporting Actor, Lior Ashkenazi, an award-winning Israeli actor. He is probably a new face to most of you. However, besides being absolutely one of the most devastatingly handsome men to grace the big screen, his acting is riveting. He presents so many levels to his character of Micha Eshel, Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, that you begin to know both his public persona and his inner turmoil. This is not to take anything away from the iconic Mr. Gere, who like a very expensive fine French wine, becomes more and more handsome (if that was possible) with the passage of time. I will talk more about his performance a bit later.

From the very captivating opening credits, and a rousing musical score by Jun Miyake, one knew immediately that this film was going to be something special and, indeed, it was. The storyline revolves around a New York “nebbish,”* by the name of Norman Oppenheimer. He’s a hustler with the reputation of being a loser, which doesn’t stop him from always being on the lookout for putting two ends of a deal together or offering to introduce people to movers and shakers who, he really doesn’t know personally. Sadly, it appears that none of his schemes are actually realized and it appears that he is really a big phony who makes up the truth as he goes along. However, he just wants to be helpful and be everyone’s friend. Always dressed in a light tan camel’s hair coat with a scarf, gloves, and a hat, with ear buds in his ear, Norman walks the bone-chilling wintery streets of New York making phone calls and trying to set up his next deal or introduction.

This fascinating yarn begins when Norman attends a seminar where the Deputy Prime Minister of Israel is speaking. When Micha leaves the lecture hall, Norman follows him and when he stops in front of an expensive shoe store, Norman engages him in a conversation. Although the entire film is powerfully directed by Cedar, one fascinating scene is where we see the two men chatting in front of a storefront window in the 29 degrees freezing cold. We don’t hear the conversation but we see their breath mixing with the frigid air creating plumes of steam. We assume that Norman is “working” him and before long, the two of them enter the shoe store. Norman convinces his new “friend” to try on shoes and when Micha decides not to buy them, Norman tells him he would like to buy them as a gift, a generous moment that eventually falls under that old adage, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Norman wants to impress Micha and tells him that he is invited to an exclusive intimate dinner in the home of multi-billionaire Arthur Taub, wonderfully played by Josh Charles. He assures him that he can secure an invitation for him as well which he does by calling Taub telling him that the Deputy Prime Minister of Israel would like to join him for dinner. A bit surprised by the phone call, Taub extends the invitation to the two of them and Norman thinks he’s finally “in.” But, all does not work out as Norman planned as on the advice of one of his advisers, Micha decides not to go. What follows is a cringe-worthy scene between Taub and Norman where he becomes suspicious when the special guest does not show up. A stern Taub confronts Norman who insists that the Deputy Prime Minister is on his way, but not believing him, Taub tells him to wait outside until he arrives. A maid hands him his coat and hat and escorts him to the back door. Now you have to understand that Norman spends most of his time apparently lying and has gotten really good at masking his emotions. But, this time, he has to skulk out of this luxurious townhouse into the harsh New York winter evening. His goal to taste the opulent luxurious life styles of the rich and famous, has not only failed to be met, but results in a humiliating moment.

Fast-forward a few years, and his “friend” Micha has just been made Prime Minister of Israel. They reconnect and Micha actually greets him like an old friend and begins introducing him to people connected to any number of Jewish organizations. He’s finally made it to the “big time” and embarks on a number of deals one of that would link the Prime Minister to Norman’s nephew Philip Cohen, played forcefully, but sympathetically, by that fabulous Michael Sheen. He also promises a rabbi to raise millions of dollars to save his synagogue and in return wants him to perform the ceremony for his nephew who wants to marry a Korean girl who is willing to convert to Judaism. Played by Steve Buscemi, you haven’t seen a rabbi quite like his character of Rabbi Blumenthal who could have been one of the characters in “Boardwalk Empire.”

Being the friendly, gabby guy that he is, Norman makes unwanted conversation with a young woman he sits next to on a train. He boasts about his important friend, telling her the whole story of how they met. He even draws a flow chart on a yellow pad showing how their friendship emerged. As it turns out, Alex Green, skillfully played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, is a special prosecutor for the Israeli government and their paths will cross later when the Prime Minister is accused of taking gifts. Keep your eye on that yellow piece of paper.

Now to Richard Gere – one of America’s acting treasures. His splendid characterization of Norman Oppenheimer joins the ranks of so many of his memorable characters from films such as “Looking for Mr. Goodbar,” “Days of Heaven,” “American Gigolo, “An Officer and a Gentleman, “The Cotton Club,” “Internal Affairs,” “Pretty Woman,” “Intersection,” “Primal Fear,” to “The Jackal,” “Runaway Bride,” “The Mothman Prophecies,” “Unfaithful,” “Chicago,” “Nights in Rodanthe,” and “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”

Always inviting the characters to totally inhabit him, Gere delves deeply into the recesses of Norman’s mind, body, soul, and spirit, delivering a tour-de-force, haunting performance. Despite the somewhat unlikeable elements to his character, Gere manages to present a fully actualized human being who we psychologically understand and almost feel sorry for him. Yes. He’s a screw up and despite being well meaning, most everything he touches turns to garbage. However, in the end, his character is a tribute to a man who despite his flaws, is well meaning with a loving soul. When the chips are down for the Prime Minister, he tells him, “I will never betray you.” His final act to protect his friend is unexpected, self-sacrificing and in a very broad sense heroic, but we don’t know that for sure. In the end, Joseph Cedar’s mesmerizing story illuminates human frailty as told through a comic but compassionate point of view.

Every aspect of this film is pitch perfect. Director of Photography Yaron Scharf captures New York through the eyes of a Woody Allen-type love affair with that city. The gorgeous look of the film as created by production designers Kalina Ivanov and Arad Sawat comes to fruition under the skilled hand of editor Brian A. Kates, A.C.E.   Costume designer Michelle Matland’s dressed her characters in both the opulence they deserved as well as the clothing worn by “ordinary” people. Casting directors are often overlooked, so I’d would like to give a shout out to Laura Rosenthal, who assembled a top-notch supporting cast including: Dan Stevens, Harris Yulin, Hank Azaria, Yehuda Almagor, Neta Riskin, Dov Glickman, Tali Sharon, Isaach De Bankole, Miranda Bailey, Scott Shepherd, and Azi Schwartz as the Cantor.

*Nebbish: A sad sack or loser who can’t make anything work.

 

“NORMAN”

“The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer”

A U.S./Israeli Co-Production

A Blackbird, Cold Iron Pictures & and Movie Plus Production

Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics & Tadmor Entertainment

Written & Directed By: Joseph Cedar

Genre: Drama

Language: English

Rating: R

Running Time: 118 minutes

U.S. Release: April 14

Mirror Editor-At-Large Beverly Cohn has been named Visit Temecula Valley's recipient of its PR Professional of the Year award.

<>Related Posts

SM.a.r.t Column: Climbing The Vertical Learning Curve

December 8, 2024

December 8, 2024

The city is facing a financial crisis, the roots of which stretch back decades but have been made worse by...

SM.a.r.t Column: It’s Time To Inspect Balconies

November 24, 2024

November 24, 2024

About nine years ago, a fifth-floor balcony in a Berkeley apartment building collapsed, tragically killing several students gathered on it...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Your City is Broke

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

On December 10, the new City council will be seated fresh from their dominant win in the recent elections. There...

SM.a.r.t Column: Moving Ahead to the Future

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

As we write this, the election results are still trickling in. We’ll leave the deep analysis to others, but the...

Opinion: Fact Check: Why Vote Yes on Measure QS

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Despite living in a famously progressive region, Santa Monicans are not immune from the same political misinformation and disinformation that...

SM.a.r.t Column: Lack of Oversight and No Accountability

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

S.M.a.r.t. periodically invites guest columnists to write opinion articles on topics of particular interests to our readers. Below is an...

SM.a.r.t Column: “Help! I’ve Fallen, and I …!!”, Cries Santa Monica!

October 25, 2024

October 25, 2024

Maybe fallen, but slipping for sure from being a desirable beachfront community that served all equally, the local residents who...

SM.a.r.t. Column: Vote

October 13, 2024

October 13, 2024

In a polarized country or City every vote counts. Regardless of which side of any issue or candidate you support,...

SM.a.r.t Column: Fact-Checking Election-Season Windbaggery

October 6, 2024

October 6, 2024

Claim: The state is requiring Santa Monica to build 9,000 apartments.Answer: Partially true, partially false. Santa Monica has a pretty...

SM.a.r.t. Column: Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Can Help Save Lives and Revitalize Santa Monica’s Economy

September 29, 2024

September 29, 2024

We wholeheartedly endorse the candidates below for Santa Monica City Council. Their leading campaign platform is for increased safety in...

SM.a.r.t Column: Crime in Santa Monica: A Growing Concern and the Need for Prioritizing Public Safety

September 22, 2024

September 22, 2024

By Michael Jolly Over the past six months, Santa Monica has experienced a concerning rise in crime, sparking heated discussions...

SM.a.r.t Column: Ten New Commandments

September 15, 2024

September 15, 2024

Starting last week,  the elementary school students of Louisiana will all face mandatory postings of the biblical Ten Commandments in...

SM.a.r.t Column: Santa Monica’s Next City Council

September 8, 2024

September 8, 2024

In the next general election, this November 5th, Santa Monica residents will be asked to vote their choices among an...

SM.a.r.t Column: Part II: The Affordability Crisis: Unmasking California’s RHNA Process and Its Role in Gentrification

September 2, 2024

September 2, 2024

Affordability: An Income and Available Asset Gap Issue, Not a Supply Issue (Last week’s article revealed how state mandates became...

SM.a.r.t Column: Part 1: The Affordability Crisis: Unmasking California’s RHNA Process and Its Role in Gentrification

August 26, 2024

August 26, 2024

In the world of economic policy, good intentions often pave the way to unintended consequences. Nowhere is this more evident...