Extremely Rough Draft for Speech No. 3 in Toastmasters meeting of mid 1999
NORTON SAVES THE DAY
Completely unknown, a history graduate of Yale University, born in Columbia, Maryland, brought up in Massachusetts, he saved the movie Primal Fear. Richard Gere, the name star of the film was about to walk out because the producers had not found ....... Not only did he stop the film from disappearing into oblivion, but he also turned it into a good movie. Richard Gere may have been the "star", but Norton was definitely what was on everyone's lips at the end of the movie. For his troubles he received both a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. There was no turning back. Edward Norton had arrived.
NORTON THE AUTHORITY
He is an authority. Every scene he plays he dominates. You forget about the "actor the person" and concentrate on the character. He becomes the character in a way that many of today's crop of Hollywood hopefuls do not. Prior to discovering Norton, when asked who my favourite actor was, I would say this person or that person based on aesthetics. In fact I never really had a favourite actor - I just had actors I enjoyed watching on screen. Like Keanu Reeves, Robert De Niro, or Vince Vaughn. When I discovered Norton I discovered a real actor. Someone who becomes the character he's portraying - someone who's totally convincing that you're caught up in the part totally. Take Keanu Reeves. He has been playing the same part over and over again in all his films. Bill from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Hugh Grant plays nobody but Hugh Grant. For a while it was adorable and cute but now it's tiresome.
He's not obviously good looking. He's very good at his job. He can act in a way that is so refreshing.
I discovered Edward Norton, the actor, in the film American History X. when it first came out I wanted to watch it because it seemed an interesting subject. I didn't get to see it in the theatres however and only recently saw it about 6 weeks ago on video, and then I was hooked. Over the next week I went on a Norton binge and rented the rest of his films that I hadn't already seen. Rounders, Everyone Says I Love You, and The People Vs Harry Flynt. (Thank goodness he doesn't come out with a film every six months like some other actors). The only reason I rented these films was because of him. The People Vs Larry Flynt was utter drivel and I only watched about a third of it. I couldn't do it, even for him. I hadn't realised that Everyone Says I Love You was a Woody Allen film otherwise I never would have rented it. It was a modern day musical in which Norton played this nice young man who was engaged to be married to Drew Barrymore. Again I only watched it for Norton. The thing is although it was an extremely cheesy film, yet again he was convincing. He played a wimp - that's the only way I can describe it - but he was a convincing wimp.
The most impressive thing about him is that he is an actor, and not a movie star. You forget about him and immerse yourself in his character, which is the kind of feeling an actor should inspire in his/her audience. The fact that you don't know that much about him as a person helps.
Edward Norton made his first film in 1996 at the age of 27. He in fact was the saving grace of that particular film. The casting directors could not find the right person to portray the part and Richard Gere, the star of the film was about to walk out because of this. The part asked for a man who could play innocent choir boy and killer convincingly enough. Edward Norton was that man. I remember when I saw the scene where he changes from innocent choir boy to crazed killer and I had to rewind... again, and again, and again. Although he was from Massachusetts he had us convinced he was indeed from Kentucky.
His most controversial film until his latest was American History X in which he played a Neo-Nazi who went to prison for murder, was disillusioned on the inside and on the outside reformed his ways. His was an electrifying performance and he received various nominations and awards in response. He filled every frame he was in. His was a totally compelling performance. His character was extremely ugly but he played it in such a way that all I could feel for him was pity. I'm sure other people have their own feelings about this film and the kind of feelings it elicited in them. For me, I concluded that there are some people living in fear and this fear breeds hatred and it just seemed so futile.
I'm not here to say he should have won this Oscar or that Oscar. I'm here to tell you that Edward Norton is a force to be reckoned with, and we shall be hearing a lot from him in the future.