Norton's Moving Roles

I wonder why I am into people who are either suicidal, delusional or disturbed. Even hollywood actors who portray these types of individuals make me a fan of them. I guess if you happen to read my older posts, you know that I'm a big Kurt Cobain fan. I won't go on the details of Kurt Cobain's life right now, just read my previous posts.

I want to talk about another fan of mine. I guess one of the greatest actors today, none other than Edward Norton. One thing I've discovered is that Kurt Cobain and Edward Norton have in common. Aside from the fact that they are in a way similarly situated when it comes to the way they live their lives, well at least in the characters Edward Norton plays or had played, both of them have been involved romantically with Courtney Love. Now how cool is that?!

Another thing, I've read in Wikipedia that Norton is generally known for his reluctance to embrace his celebrity status, and has said, "If I ever have to stop taking the subway, I'm gonna have a heart attack. I said to myself, is Kurt Cobain's soul somehow in Edward Norton's body?! As we all know, Kurt Cobain himself did not like too much fame and was tired of being a celebrity as have been told by some writings.

Edward Harris Norton was born in August 18, 1969. He was a graduate of Yale University with a degree in History. His dad was an environmental lawyer who works in Asia.



His first major role was in Primal Fear(1996), which gave him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in the Academy Awards. A lot of good films followed after Rounders, American History X, the top grossing and most popular Fight Club, 25th hour, The Illusionist and the list goes on.

Edward Norton has a gift of conversing with the audience through his monologues. There's something in him that catches one's attention and makes us listen. He is undoubtedly one genius actor.

Aside from Edward Norton's acting ability, which I often admire in other celebrities are his advocacies and ideals. I admire him for having a firm belief in changing the nation. I am inspired by him when he takes time to stand up for whatever he believes in.

Beyond Edward Norton's characters in his films, is a person motivated by the realm of society's problems. Beyond his status as a celebrity, lies a person moved by his desire to help as part of his responsibility as a citizen. A responsibility to move everyone to get up and stand up for every issues our society is facing.

Edward Norton's roles in his films are not only entertaining but they are thought provoking. I felt every word he says when he speaks. But his role outside film is one that absolutely deserves applause and a standing ovation.

Here's Edward Norton's fimography.

Everyone Says I love You (1996)
The People vs. Larry Flynt(1996)
Primal Fear (1996)
Out of the Past (1998)
Rounders (1998)
American History X (1998)
Fight Club (1999)
Keeping the Faith (2000)
The Score (2000)
Death to Smoochy (2002)
Red Dragon (2002)
Frida (2002)
25th Hour (2002)
The Italian Job (2003)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Down in the Valley (2006)
The Illusionist (2006)
The Painted Veil (2006)
The Indcredible Hulk (2008)
Pride and Glory (2008)

Click this link for the synopses.

Norton documents CHANGE

Cool! Edward Norton made an Obama documentary! The documentary will feature what Norton calls "a new generation of leadership." The documentary chronicles Obama's rise to the top! This documentary has not yet been released in the US, to avoid any issue of electioneering or tainting the elections.

Long before President-elect Barack Obama had even made up his mind to run for the highest office in the land, Edward Norton and his Class 5 Films production company were already documenting the Senator’s life. The 39-year-old actor said that he became inspired by Obama’s 2004 speech at the National Democratic Convention and felt inspired to capture someone from his generation — and not his parent’s — inspiring so many and rising in leadership.

They began shooting footage before Obama’s declaration of candidacy to become the Democratic Party’s 2008 presidential nominee. Emanuel, who guided the sales of Sacha Baron Cohen’s pseudo-docs "Borat" and "Bruno," and the Michael Moore docs "Sicko" and "Fahrenheit 9/11," has been an outspoken supporter of Obama. The brother of Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) has organized meet-and-greets in Hollywood and hosted fund-raisers for Obama. Norton, a longtime Endeavor client, has also been a supporter, reportedly donating to Obama’s campaigns.

Norton says, “We’re making a historical record and not something to play a role in the election, so we have an agreement that this is something we won’t talk a lot about or publicize until the election is over. I can’t really comment on our access to Obama because it’s part of our arrangement with the campaign, but it’s a fascinating thing to be able to be documenting. We’ll have an opportunity to talk about that process when it’s all unfolded but we kind of have to stay off the record about it until it’s all resolved.”

Can't wait for it to hit the big screens!

SOURCES:
http://backseatcuddler.com
http://www.ecorazzi.com
http://www.edward-norton.org

25th Hour

Being an Edward Norton fan, I don't get bored watching his films over and over again. His awesome portrayal of his character which is usually a disturbed and maligned one, full of remorse and anger gives me goosebumps! Aside from my all time faves Fight Club and American History X, the movie 25th hour is something one should not miss! You got to watch the ending! It was brilliant! Here's a synopsis from imdb.com

Monty Brogan is about to start his last day of freedom before turning himself into the authorities and serving a seven-year term for drug dealing. He's a charming young man who had always dreamed of being a fireman, following in the working-class footsteps of his father, who has had to put up his bar in Queens as bond so that his son can stay out of jail until his sentence begins. Monty, named for Montgomery Clift, does not know how he managed to get himself into this predicament. It was easy money and it carried so many perks, and you'll feel more than a little sympathy for this young man who has managed to kill his own dream for courtside seats at Madison Square Garden. But before he goes to prison, Monty wants to have one last night out on the town with his two best friends. Frank Slattery is a bond trader, one of the best and most successful risk takers in a very risky business. The other is Jakob Elinsky, an English teacher who envies his friends' lifestyles but who has no intention of ever giving up his job for the easy money, despite the disillusionment of teaching high school students in a tough school. The three young men enjoy the night into the early morning as they eat, drink, and visit the hottest spots in town. It's a sad night for Monty, but he has a plan that neither Frank nor Jacob know about--and it makes for a shocking ending to this brilliant and disturbing story.

A quote from the movie: This life was so close to never happening.

Edward Norton's Fuck Monologue

Damn this monologue is awesome! This is from Norton's movie 25th Hour! Edward Norton's really the best!!



Here's the transcript!
Monty: Yeah, fuck you, too.
Monty's Reflection: Fuck me? Fuck you! Fuck you and this whole city and everyone in it.
Fuck the panhandlers, grubbing for money, and smiling at me behind my back.
Fuck squeegee men dirtying up the clean windshield of my car. Get a fucking job!
Fuck the Sikhs and the Pakistanis bombing down the avenues in decrepit cabs, curry steaming out their pores and stinking up my day. Terrorists in fucking training. Slow the fuck down!
Fuck the Chelsea boys with their waxed chests and pumped up biceps. Going down on each other in my parks and on my piers, jingling their dicks on my Channel 35.
Fuck the Korean grocers with their pyramids of overpriced fruit and their tulips and roses wrapped in plastic. Ten years in the country, still no speaky English?
Fuck the Russians in Brighton Beach. Mobster thugs sitting in cafés, sipping tea in little glasses, sugar cubes between their teeth. Wheelin' and dealin' and schemin'. Go back where you fucking came from!
Fuck the black-hatted Chassidim, strolling up and down 47th street in their dirty gabardine with their dandruff. Selling South African apartheid diamonds!
Fuck the Wall Street brokers. Self-styled masters of the universe. Michael Douglas, Gordon Gecko wannabe mother fuckers, figuring out new ways to rob hard working people blind. Send those Enron assholes to jail for fucking life! You think Bush and Cheney didn't know about that shit? Give me a fucking break! Tyco! Imclone! Adelphia! Worldcom!
Fuck the Puerto Ricans. 20 to a car, swelling up the welfare rolls, worst fuckin' parade in the city. And don't even get me started on the Dom-in-i-cans, because they make the Puerto Ricans look good.
Fuck the Bensonhurst Italians with their pomaded hair, their nylon warm-up suits, and their St. Anthony medallions. Swinging their, Jason Giambi, Louisville slugger, baseball bats, trying to audition for the Sopranos.
Fuck the Upper East Side wives with their Hermés scarves and their fifty-dollar Balducci artichokes. Overfed faces getting pulled and lifted and stretched, all taut and shiny. You're not fooling anybody, sweetheart!
Fuck the uptown brothers. They never pass the ball, they don't want to play defense, they take fives steps on every lay-up to the hoop. And then they want to turn around and blame everything on the white man. Slavery ended one hundred and thirty seven years ago. Move the fuck on!
Fuck the corrupt cops with their anus violating plungers and their 41 shots, standing behind a blue wall of silence. You betray our trust!
Fuck the priests who put their hands down some innocent child's pants. Fuck the church that protects them, delivering us into evil. And while you're at it, fuck JC! He got off easy! A day on the cross, a weekend in hell, and all the hallelujahs of the legioned angels for eternity! Try seven years in fuckin Otisville, Jay!
Fuck Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and backward-ass, cave-dwelling, fundamentalist assholes everywhere. On the names of innocent thousands murdered, I pray you spend the rest of eternity with your seventy-two whores roasting in a jet-fueled fire in hell. You towel headed camel jockeys can kiss my royal, Irish ass!
Fuck Jacob Elinski, whining malcontent.
Fuck Francis Xavier Slaughtery, my best friend, judging me while he stares at my girlfriend's ass.
Fuck Naturel Rivera. I gave her my trust and she stabbed me in the back. Sold me up the river. Fucking bitch.
Fuck my father with his endless grief, standing behind that bar. Sipping on club soda, selling whiskey to firemen and cheering the Bronx Bombers.
Fuck this whole city and everyone in it. From the row houses of Astoria to the penthouses on Park Avenue. From the projects in the Bronx to the lofts in Soho. From the tenements in Alphabet City to the brownstones in Park slope to the split levels in Staten Island. Let an earthquake crumble it. Let the fires rage. Let it burn to fuckin ash then let the waters rise and submerge this whole, rat-infested place.
Monty: No. No, fuck you, Montgomery Brogan. You had it all and then you threw it away, you dumb fuck!