美国国家公共电台 NPR Movie Review: Richard Gere Plays A Scheming New York Fixer In 'Norman'

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Connections are important, especially in business. Think of the adage 1 it's not so much what you know, it's who you know. A new movie centers on a guy who takes that notion to extremes. It's called "Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic 2 Fall Of A New York Fixer." Critic Bob Mondello has a review.

BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE 3: People run the other way when they see Norman Oppenheimer coming - if they see him coming - say, the assistant to a rich guy's assistant who's jogging in Central Park.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

RICHARD GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) Good morning, Bill. Norman Oppenheimer

DAN STEVENS: (As Bill Kavish) You stalking me now?

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) No. I just need a couple minutes of your time. I know you're busy.

STEVENS: (As Bill Kavish) This is my private time. Please, respect that. Call the office.

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) I'm sorry, sir. Let me explain. Give me one minute.

STEVENS: (As Bill Kavish) No.

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) A very high official, I can't mention his name right now.

MONDELLO: Norman, played by Richard Gere in overdrive, always has an angle, a deal, something he's sure will make your life better.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think it was worth Joe's time. Worse comes to worst, he kicks me out the door.

STEVENS: (As Bill Kavish) No. Worse comes to worst, he kicks me out the door. It is my job to keep people like you away. Don't you get that?

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) Yes.

STEVENS: (As Bill Kavish) So please, respect my position.

MONDELLO: And he jogs away. And Norman calls after him, salvaging 4 what he can.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) So I'll tell my partners that we had a good conversation. And we'll see what happens, OK? Thank you, Bill.

MONDELLO: Norman does not look unhappy with this outcome as he heads to his next meeting - actually, a public forum 5, a very low-level Israeli official talking energy issues. Norman follows the guy after the forum, strikes up a conversation as he enters an expensive clothing shop.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) We're going to dinner at his house tonight. You can join me.

LIOR ASHKENAZI: (As Eshel) How do you know Martha Taub (ph)?

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) Oh, my wife used to babysit her. And then she ended up working for him years later, very close.

MONDELLO: Norman hangs around as the guy tries on a suit, talking and talking until...

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

ASHKENAZI: (As Eshel) Do not wear a suit that costs more than ordinary man's car.

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) Well, at least take the shoes.

ASHKENAZI: (As Eshel) No - enough. I don't want them.

MONDELLO: How do you ingratiate yourself with power? Make a gesture.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) Let me buy you the shoes. It'd be my privilege to buy you these shoes.

MONDELLO: It's a great gesture until the clerk brings the receipt - thousand dollar shoes. But Norman sucks it up and gets Israeli deputy Micah Eshel's (ph) card to flash around when he's bragging 6 about his famous pals 7, a connection he figures has been made - an expensive connection.

Of course, since he's a chronic 8 exaggerator, no one is going to believe him, especially as Eshel starts rising politically. And a couple of years later when Israeli Prime Minister Eshel returns to New York, even Norman figures the jig 9 is up. Having weaseled his way onto a reception line, he's terrified of being found out.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #1: (As character) You OK?

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I've been reacting to something in the room. I don't know.

MONDELLO: Let's just avert 10 our eyes from what happens next. Could Norman handle it if things went well for him? Well, the film's subtitle 11 is "The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer." Still, director Joseph Cedar 12 gives Norman's moments of triumph the sort of showcase that 1940s musicals gave great tap dancers, surrounding him with an impressive chorus - Steve Buscemi as a rabbi who trusts Norman more than he should, Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen as up-and-comers who don't trust him at all, Charlotte Gainsbourg as a lawyer who really listens to what he has to say, not always a good thing. All of them circling Richard Gere's scheming, well-meaning, increasingly-in-over-his-head fixer.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) Oh, my name? My name is Norman Oppenheimer. Yeah. No, Mr. Eshel's a very, very close friend of mine.

MONDELLO: Gere is mesmerizing 13, making Norman every bit as crazily engaging as he is annoying.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER")

GERE: (As Norman Oppenheimer) I got a meeting.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #2: (As character) How'd you manage that?

MONDELLO: In real life, you might well cross the street if you saw Norman coming. But from a distance on a movie screen, he is fascinating company. I'm Bob Mondello.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)