MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN"
(2019) (Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: In 1950s New York, a man suffering from Tourette Syndrome tries to figure out who killed his private detective boss.

PLOT:

It's the 1950s and Lionel Essrog (EDWARD NORTON) works in New York City -- along with Tony Vermonte (BOBBY CANNAVALE), Danny Fantl (DALLAS ROBERTS), and Gilbert Coney (ETHAN SUPLEE) -- for private detective Frank Minna (BRUCE WILLIS). When the latter ends up murdered, Lionel -- who suffers from Tourette Syndrome and some form of OCD -- takes it upon himself to figure out who's responsible. With a photographic memory and using Frank's last words, Lionel starts his investigation.

That eventually leads him to community activists Gabby Horowitz (CHERRY JONES) and Laura Rose (GUGU MBATHA-RAW). The latter's family owns a jazz joint in Harlem frequented by famous musicians, such as a renowned (but never named) trumpet player (MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS). Those women and others are protesting the "slum cleansing" being carried out by the city under the auspices of city planner Moses Randolph (ALEC BALDWIN) who's built parks, bridges and more across the city.

They believe his latest neighborhood condemnation is racially motivated and it's brought out other protestors such as Moses' partially estranged brother, Paul (WILLEM DAFOE). With Lionel and Danny getting beaten up and others ending up dead, Lionel realizes he's onto something big as he continues to dig deep to find out who killed his former boss and why.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Some older teens might be interested, especially if they're fans of anyone in the cast.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For language throughout including some sexual references, brief drug use, and violence.

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