Respond to these rapid questions in our Norman quiz and we will tell you which Norman character you are. Play it now.
The way you feel about Norman the character will determine how you feel about the movie “Norman.” A complicated man, and one who is not necessarily likable, is what he is. An unofficial “consultant,” he assumes the persona that is most appropriate for him at any given time, depending on the situation he is attempting to insinuate himself into or the person he is attempting to manipulate. Are his actions indicative of a ruthless swindler? Are his actions merely those of an overbearing, but well-intentioned, neanderthal?
Despite this, Norman Oppenheimer is consistently and completely fascinating in the hands of Richard Gere’s deft, experienced hands. Despite the fact that you can’t root for him, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. “Norman,” which has the full title “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” maintains its gripping quality as it transitions from funny to sad to suspenseful. Joseph Cedar, the writer/director, has created a complex character that is surrounded by a vivid sense of place. All we can do is stand by and squirm in our seats.
Norman is always walking and talking, and he’s always working it, thanks to his ever-present overcoat, hat, and ear buds, among other things. He is warm and friendly to everyone he meets, and he considers himself to be a magnanimous, well-connected power broker who is eager to introduce people to one another for the mutual benefit of both parties. Please allow him to do one favor for you; it would be an honor on his part to do so. Even though Gere appears on screen for nearly the entirety of the film, it becomes clear by the end that we as viewers don’t really know Norman as he appears on screen. And that’s on purpose; Cedar wants to keep him a mystery as long as possible.
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In the end, it becomes painfully clear that Norman isn’t interested in cash or even the prestige that comes with a successful transaction. He’s interested in something more amorphous and difficult to obtain: prestige. When he befriends an Israeli diplomat named Micha Eshel (an excellent Lior Ashkenazi, who also co-starred in Cedar’s 2011 film “Footnote”), who is visiting New York at a vulnerable time in his political career, he finally achieves some semblance of the access and respect he has long sought. A scene in which Norman follows Eshel into the Lanvin store in Manhattan and assists him in trying on expensive suits and shoes plays out like an exquisitely tense, delicate dance of exquisite beauty.
Norman Quiz
Three years later, when Eshel ascends to the position of prime minister of Israel, he recalls his eager-to-please friend and invites Norman to join him in this inner circle, much to the chagrin of the more experienced political aides who already occupy positions there. Norman’s exaggerations and outright lies come back to haunt him as he begins to make promises to friends throughout New York’s Jewish community that he will be unable to keep and as he finds himself in deeper and deeper trouble. Keeping up his carefully cultivated persona is becoming increasingly difficult for him, and he is discovering that being close to the epicenter of power isn’t nearly as fulfilling as he had previously imagined.
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It’s a classic case of being cautious about what you wish for in life. Gere, on the other hand, brings such nuance to Norman’s various shadings that he keeps us on our toes throughout the film. His ultimate fate comes across as a little anticlimactic, especially in light of the elaborate, expertly timed build-up that preceded it. The ultimate question, however, remains unanswered: Does Norman actually believe his own spin? Gere, on the other hand, keeps us guessing until the end. It has the potential to go either way. A different key to his typically charismatic on-screen persona—one that is larger than life, but with a jittery, buzzing undercurrent—has been found for Gere by the film’s talented casting team.
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The supporting cast is also strong, with Michael Sheen, who plays Norman’s nephew and a much-needed (if not always heeded) voice of reason, and Steve Buscemi, who plays Norman’s sympathetic rabbi, standing out in particular. As Norman, an inquisitive government employee who schmoozes up on a train, Charlotte Gainsbourg creates a subtly unsettling presence with her presence. And Josh Charles is absolutely ruthless in one scene as an affluent, influential New Yorker whose dinner party Norman makes the mistake of attending by showing up unannounced.
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Norman may not be your favorite person, and you may not want to invite him to your own dinner party, but it would be a mistake to dismiss him out of hand.
For more personality quizzes check this: A United Kingdom Quiz.
