Movie review
October 31, 2019 · 145 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Motherless Brooklyn.
Woke representation / casting
Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays a prominent mixed-race woman who is the secret daughter of the corrupt official and becomes the detective’s ally and romantic interest; the role emphasizes racial heritage as a plot driver in a 1950s setting where such elements carry historical weight, though justified by the invented conspiracy.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue stays mostly period-appropriate with no overt modern activist language or lectures; racism and corruption emerge through investigation and character actions rather than explicit speeches.
Identity-driven story themes
The central conspiracy revolves around urban renewal displacing minority neighborhoods and the personal secret of a mixed-race child; racial discrimination and its intersection with power form a key driver of the mystery, making identity elements noticeable in the narrative structure.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The film portrays city institutions and powerful planners as corrupt forces destroying communities for elite interests, with clear emphasis on harm to black and poor residents; it draws on real historical critiques but ties villainy to personal racial biases.
Review
Motherless Brooklyn is a 2019 neo-noir crime drama written and directed by Edward Norton. Set in 1957 New York City, it follows a private detective with Tourette syndrome who investigates his mentor’s murder and uncovers corruption in aggressive urban redevelopment that harms poor and minority neighborhoods. The story centers on a powerful official’s abuse of power and features a prominent mixed-race character central to the conspiracy and resolution. Edward Norton has promoted the film as an examination of systemic racism and the nation’s racist legacy.
Woke character or canon changes
Norton made substantial changes to the source novel by shifting the era and inventing the Robert Moses-inspired plot with racial and mixed-heritage elements to heighten themes of injustice; these are creative choices rather than forced swaps of existing diverse characters.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Searches and coverage reveal no meaningful anti-woke or right-leaning complaints accusing the film of pushing identity politics, DEI, or modern activist messaging; reactions focused on its noir style, length, and historical themes without political outrage.
Creator track record context
Edward Norton’s career shows consistent progressive leanings through Democratic support, environmental work, affordable housing advocacy, and explicit talks of systemic racism; Jonathan Lethem’s novels frequently depict radical leftist and civil rights histories with personal sympathy; other key crew lack strong activist patterns.
Production
