Directed by: Joseph Cedar
Starring: Richard Gere, Dan Stevens, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Harris Yulin, Steve Buscemi, Lior Ashkenazi, Hank Azaria, Michael Sheen
It is difficult to determine what Norman Oppenheimer (Gere) actually does for a living. He has a business card, he wheels and deals, he schmoozes politicians and powerful businessmen while promising lucrative "can't miss" deals which they would be insane to pass up. But, who is he and how does he benefit from all of his hard work? We see nothing of his home life. He doesn't seem to sleep and throughout most of the movie seems to be wearing the same clothes and speaking loudly into his phone with ear buds dangling from his ears. He probably hasn't heard of Bluetooth, or he is simply too busy to buy one.
The mystery of Norman the person is why Norman the movie keeps us compelled. What does he get out of establishing political connections with an Israeli bureaucrat (Ashkenazi) who soon is elected prime minister and includes Norman briefly into his inner circle? Does Norman love the idea of having a small amount of power and influence? Does he get a thrill from being so close to powerful people? Does the sense of purpose of always looking for the next deal keep him content? Norman reminds me of the shark who, if he slows down and stops moving forward, will wither away and die.
We witness Norman go through great pains and move mountains, but we don't witness the reward he receives. When he is not walking the streets endlessly in the New York winter talking on the phone, he is in a synagogue. Does he live there? Does he have a home? A family? Friends outside of his business associates? What type of business is he actually in?
These are questions the movie answers, yet doesn't answer as the prime minister's close advisers hire an investigator (Gainsbourg) to look into Norman's past. They are leery of this do-gooder who is so supportive of the prime minister and has the prime minister's ear, that they suspect he must have an angle. Norman buys the guy a pair of thousand dollar shoes in hopes he would accompany him to a private business dinner, which involves buying up tax debt and selling it off for a profit. The actual deals themselves are not important. They just provide us with a chance to see Norman work his magic in getting it all together.
We are used to seeing Richard Gere wheel and deal and manipulate others for personal gain in many roles over his long career. He is at home playing a slick suit or a selfish professional who coldly works to get ahead and steps on others in the process. This is the heart of some of his most famous roles. Norman Oppenheimer is a huge departure for Gere, who is playing a guy not looking to get ahead, but just to stay in the game...whatever game that happens to be. He seems to be selfless as he puts himself through huge personal pains to stay relevant to people he admires. He may attract a "finder's fee" for the deals he puts together, but the money doesn't drive him. He is a genuine mensch, who remains loyal to the prime minister despite the personal and professional hits he will take to his reputation.
I found myself fascinated by Norman and how Gere completely immerses himself in him. We don't recognize this Richard Gere. I saw him the previous week in The Dinner, in which he plays a politician trying to navigate a personal dilemma while trying to save his political career. While he was good in it, the character wasn't much of a stretch. But Norman is not only a stretch for Gere, it allows us to see a side of the actor we haven't previously seen. It is refreshing to see Gere evolve, even at age 67, and willing to challenge himself and the audience. Norman is not a wholly satisfying movie because there is no real dramatic payoff to all of the events. The movie isn't about the payoff. It is about the process Norman puts himself through to feel important for at least one more day.
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