Motherless Brooklyn 2019

In 1950s New York, a brilliant but isolated detective with Tourette Syndrome, Lionel Essrog, embarks on a quest for justice. Mourning the murder of his mentor Frank Minna, Lionel's obsessive mind drives him to unravel a web of secrets, navigating the city's gritty underbelly from Harlem's jazz clubs to Brooklyn's slums and high-stakes power struggles.

In 1950s New York, a brilliant but isolated detective with Tourette Syndrome, Lionel Essrog, embarks on a quest for justice. Mourning the murder of his mentor Frank Minna, Lionel's obsessive mind drives him to unravel a web of secrets, navigating the city's gritty underbelly from Harlem's jazz clubs to Brooklyn's slums and high-stakes power struggles.

Does Motherless Brooklyn have end credit scenes?

No!

Motherless Brooklyn does not have end credit scenes.

Ratings

Discover how Motherless Brooklyn is rated on popular platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Explore audience and critic scores to see how this movie ranks among the best.


Metacritic

60

Metascore

7.1

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

65%

TOMATOMETER

review

80%

User Score

IMDb

6.8 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

67

%

User Score

Letterboxd

3.2

From 78 fan ratings

Movie Insider

2.67/5

From 6 fan ratings

Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Motherless Brooklyn with an engaging quiz. Test your memory of the movie’s characters, plot twists, and unforgettable moments.


Motherless Brooklyn Quiz: Test your knowledge of the intricacies and characters of 'Motherless Brooklyn'.

What condition does Lionel Essrog, the main character, suffer from?

Discover the awards and nominations received by Motherless Brooklyn. Explore the history of Motherless Brooklyn and its cast and crew.


77th Golden Globe Awards 2020

Nomination

Best Original Score

Plot Summary

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Get the full story of Motherless Brooklyn with a detailed plot summary. Dive into its themes, characters, and the twists that make it a must-watch.


Set in the 1950s amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City, Lionel Essrog (Edward Norton) runs a detective agency with his companions Gilbert Coney (Ethan Suplee), Danny Fantl (Dallas Roberts), and Tony Vermonte (Bobby Cannavale). Their lives changed thanks to their mentor, Frank Minna (Bruce Willis), who rescued them from orphanages, offering them a sense of family and purpose. Although Lionel possesses a sharp mind, his struggle with Tourette’s syndrome gives him an air of eccentricity, leading to a rather reclusive lifestyle. However, his condition also affords him an extraordinary memory that proves invaluable in his detective work.

One day, Frank is embroiled in a secretive job and enlists Lionel and Gilbert to keep an eye on him during an important meeting. As they eavesdrop over the phone, they learn that Frank is negotiating critical information linked to a powerful group consisting of William Lieberman (Josh Pais), Lou (Fisher Stevens), and a menacing henchman. When things turn chaotic, Frank is ambushed, leaving Lionel and Gilbert powerless to prevent his tragic fate.

In the aftermath, Frank’s widow, Julia (Leslie Mann), appoints Tony to oversee the agency. Fueled by a quest for justice, Lionel dons Frank’s hat and coat to channel his mentor’s spirit and delve deeper into the mystery surrounding his death. His investigation leads him to a matchbox and an African-American bar, prompting him to piece together fragments from Frank’s last conversation. He discovers Laura Rose (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), involved in a fight against gentrification, is key to Frank’s pursuits. Critically involved in this battle against displacement is Gabby Horwitz (Cherry Jones), causing Lionel to attend a public meeting where he encounters Moses Randolph (Alec Baldwin), the architect of the city’s gentrification.

Through clever disguise and determination, Lionel befriends Laura while exploring the complexities of the gentrification issue. However, a misunderstanding leads to a confrontation with her father, who mistakes Lionel for an adversary. After his rescuer, a club trumpet player (Michael K. Williams), provides refuge, Lionel uncovers evidence of corruption surrounding property dealings led by Moses and leverages this knowledge to protect Laura.

The stakes rise as Lionel receives a warning from Laura’s father, only to find him murdered upon arrival. Distressed, Laura confides in Lionel about her lineage, leading to shocking revelations about her true parentage. In a race against time, Lionel confronts Paul Randolph (Willem Dafoe), discovering his connection to Moses and the underlying schemes that threaten Laura’s life.

In a gripping confrontation, Lionel dodges danger and exposes Moses’s sinister history while demanding Laura’s safety and revealing the truth to the world. > “Motherless Brooklyn,” Lionel subtly deploys the clues and confronts various adversaries in a climatic journey filled with twists that redefine loyalty, justice, and the power of truth. Ultimately, he seeks not only answers but also a future for Laura, emphasizing that some battles are worth fighting, especially for those we hold dear. As events unfold, Lionel’s pursuit culminates in a confrontation that promises both resolutions for the past and hope for a new beginning as he drives to the property tied to Frank’s legacy, where Laura awaits.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Videos

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Official Trailer

Movie Cars

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Explore the iconic cars featured in Motherless Brooklyn. Discover the vehicles that played a role in the movie, their details, and their significance.


Boyertown Merchandiser

Boyertown

Merchandiser

Buick Roadmaster 75

Buick

1958

Roadmaster 75

Buick Special

Buick

1939

Special

Buick Special

Buick

1955

Special

Buick Super

Buick

1954

Super

Cadillac Ambulance

Cadillac

1956

Ambulance

Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special

Cadillac

1957

Fleetwood 60 Special

Cadillac Series 62

Cadillac

1955

Series 62

Checker Taxicab

Checker

1978

Taxicab

Chevrolet Advance-Design

Chevrolet

1952

Advance-Design

Keywords

Discover the keywords that describe the themes and topics of the movie. Explore the keywords that define the essence of the film.


neo noirmurderjazz musicbased on noveldetectivenew york cityracisminvestigationgovernment corruptionpolitical bosstammany hallnewspaper reporterracial segregationpoliticsconstruction companycity planningabuse of powerlaw schoolreal estate developmentsuicidestaged suicidepolitical machinepolitical candidatecorrupt mayordetective agencyproperty disputeland disputereal estate developerfistfightmurder investigationmiscarriage of justicesegregationracial discriminationracial prejudicetenementgentrificationracial tensionurban settingworking classsocial injusticethugengineerurban planningcommunity involvementpublic hearingfollowing someonehousinginfrastructurefriendshipurban decay

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