# Edward Norton is a God Among Actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936 "2003-06-28T05:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/1 "2003-06-28T05:52:34Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193398) thread about _Death to Smoochy_ has almost everyone in it, myself included, singing the praises of Edward Norton despite there being no real consensus on the movie itself. I’ve seen this in other threads at other boards as well. Even if they don’t like the movie he’s in, most people seem to love him. What is it about the guy that seems to make everyone love him? ---
**Author:** ![Applejack\_Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@Applejack\_Johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Applejack_Johnson)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/2 "2003-06-28T05:54:43Z")
I don’t know a better way to put it. The man is simply a fucking amazing actor. In American History X he puts on (in my opinion) one of the best performances of the 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/3 "2003-06-28T06:03:52Z")
I didn’t really like Norton in The Italian Job, although I think that is partly a function of the character’s stupidity and scripting. But yeah, Norton has been good in other movies I’ve seen him in. I think he’s… _earnest_. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/4 "2003-06-28T06:18:44Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t know a better way to put it. The man is simply a fucking amazing actor. That pretty much sums it up. Aside from that, I have an amazingly huge crush on him (what can I say, he’s gorgeous). Fight Club and AHX are two of my favorite movies, and I even liked him in 25th Hour despite the fact that I hated the movie. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/5 "2003-06-28T06:22:04Z")
Try to catch him in Spike Lee’s **25th Hour** in which he plays a convicted drug dealer on his last day before going to prison. Largely Monty Brogan is an unrepentant, self serving asshole but Norton actually makes you care about him. After seeing the movie it is impossible to imagine any other actor of his generation playing the part effectively. I always thought the story about Norton being offered his first 3 leading roles on the basis of test screeings of **Primal Fear** said plenty about his talent. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/6 "2003-06-28T06:23:43Z")
_American History X_ and _Fight Club_ are two of my favorite movies as well. _Death to Smoochy_ is also another favorite, despite most people’s seeming hatred of it. I remember being pretty pissed when I discovered that _25th Hour_ was only being released in certain markets and I had to wait for it to come out on DVD. All 'cause Norton was the star. I also watched _Keeping the Faith_ based soley on his starring role. I liked it too. Yep… Norton rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/7 "2003-06-28T06:29:53Z")
He IS a great actor, and I think that pretty much covers it. One reason I really disliked _The Italian Job_ was that they gave him such a hateable, empty, one-dimensional character. He had nothing to do in the film, I thought it was a huge waste. And we were supposed to like blandie Mark Wahlberg? Ick. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/8 "2003-06-28T10:19:51Z")
Some of my favourite movies (25th Hour, American History X, Fight Club) star Norton. He’s easily one of the most talented in Hollywood, and getting nominated for an Oscar for his first movie makes him all the more impressive. _And_ he gets Salma Hayek… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![minega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@minega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minega)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/9 "2003-06-28T13:46:34Z")
His perfomance in ‘Primal fear’ was breathtaking…Even now when i look back on it,i cant believe how brilliant it was. And better yet, he has been consistent. He was awesome in ‘American History X’ and ‘Fight club’ truly one of the most gifted actors on earth. ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/10 "2003-06-28T14:01:30Z")
I remember seeing **Primal Fear** with my father. Not sure why we went to see it, we just wanted to see a movie - something we rarely did together - and it was the only one that looked interesting to us both at the time. Anyway, we were both blown away by Norton’s performance and I’ve been a huge fan ever since. However, despite being in a number of good films, and standing out even in the bad ones, he has yet in my opinion to land any truly career defining roles, the sort of roles you automatically think of when you think of “the greats.” ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/11 "2003-06-28T17:10:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*He IS a great actor, and I think that pretty much covers it. One reason I really disliked _The Italian Job_ was that they gave him such a hateable, empty, one-dimensional character. He had nothing to do in the film, I thought it was a huge waste. \*\* Which is apparently what Ed thought himself, seeing as how he didn’t even try to make anything of it. Because a cartoonish, one dimensional villian is just so _beneath_ him … :rolleyes: I don’t know. He was contractually obligated to do the picture, and he didn’t want to. Too bad for him. The way he decided to just sleep-walk through the movie smacks of unprofessionalism and overblown ego to me. Reminded me of bitchy, whiny, people in my theatre group who expended no effort in rehearsals because they didn’t like how they were cast. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/12 "2003-06-28T19:50:42Z")
I first saw him as Woody Harrelson’s attorney in _The People vs. Larry Flynt_, and even in that relatively minor role he caught my attention. He’s fantastic, whether he’s playing a skinhead or a bumbling Romeo (_Everyone Says I Love You_). (Gotta admit _Death to Smoochy_ was a waste of my two hours, though.) ---
**Author:** ![skaterboarder87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/13 "2003-06-28T22:38:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by arisu \* > \*\*Which is apparently what Ed thought himself, seeing as how he didn’t even try to make anything of it. Because a cartoonish, one dimensional villian is just so _beneath_ him … :rolleyes: > > I don’t know. He was contractually obligated to do the picture, and he didn’t want to. Too bad for him. The way he decided to just sleep-walk through the movie smacks of unprofessionalism and overblown ego to me. > \*\* Do you have a cite for that? ---
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/14 "2003-06-29T03:23:54Z")
Love him to the third degree. Forget it, I cant put into words exactly what it is about him that makes him so talented and believable in his roles. ---
**Author:** ![jmizzou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@jmizzou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmizzou)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/15 "2003-06-29T03:32:02Z")
A Google search for _norton obligated “The Italian Job”_ came up with a host of sites mentioning his obligation to act in the film. [This](http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=6361) site explains it: > [@](#): > > Mr. Norton’s relationship with Paramount began in 1995 when the actor made his screen debut in the courtroom drama Primal Fear, which the studio produced. The actor’s contract stipulated that he would be obligated to make two future movies for Paramount following the release of Primal Fear. He would be paid $75,000 for the first and approximately $125,000 for the second. Such stipulations are common in the film industry and ensure that a studio taking a chance on unproven talent will have the opportunity to cash in later should the actor connect with movie audiences. Such a shame that a fine actor like Edward Norton could be forced to star in a Paramount film like _Star Trek: The Next Movie_ or _Zoolander II: Another Walk Down the Runway_. ---
**Author:** ![skaterboarder87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/16 "2003-06-29T04:07:53Z")
Zoolander was a great movie! Don’t you be harping on that now. ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/17 "2003-06-29T04:40:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jmizzou \* > \*\*Such a shame that a fine actor like Edward Norton could be forced to star in a Paramount film like _Star Trek: The Next Movie_ or _Zoolander II: Another Walk Down the Runway_. \*\* Yeah, $125,000 and he didn’t even have to expend any effort. ::cue violins:: (FTR, I think Edward Norton is an excellent actor. The best of his generation. He blew me away in _American History X_ and _Fight Club_.) He made a deal with Paramount because acting is his _job_. He wanted to make _money_. Without the exposure he got from _Primal Fear_, who knows where his career would be now? He made a commitment, and I wish he’d had enough professionalism to put forth at least a decent performance. He wasn’t even using half his ass in _The Italian Job_. The movie’s not great but it’s not a career-killer. It’s not like he’s not going to still be able to make Important, Artistic Cinema[sup]TM[/sup]. The part wasn’t Hamlet, but he could have done more with it had he chosen to do so (he’s certainly talented enough). He made a deal with Paramount before he got famous, and we’re supposed to feel sorry for him because they actually held him to it? ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/18 "2003-06-29T05:23:49Z")
Oh, something that I forgot to mention before. I thought _The Score_ was an _utterly_ forgettable, mediocre movie save for Norton’s performance. That alone made it worth the money I paid to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/19 "2003-06-29T06:11:31Z")
The only person I’ve ever met who didnt love Ed Norton?: my sister , and as you can tell from my sig, she dont like much. ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edward-norton-is-a-god-among-actors/184936/20 "2003-06-29T09:35:52Z")
Another nod to Primal Fear. I have seen it five times and I still am surprised at the ending. His acting had and has me completely engrossed in the stuttering charachter.