To me, the fact that he has done five movies with Wes Anderson proves that he isn't a control freak, Anderson is one of the most meticulous directors in the world, and every actor he works with talks about the warm and family-feel of his sets. No grouch like Norton supposedly is would work with him again and again.
It also sounds like Norton can feel out an amateur/weak person and try to wrest control from them and better highlight the ideas brought forth by the producers. So in a way, if you know how you want your actors performing, the sets and moods are perfect and how you want them, etc. you can control Norton because there’s already a Head in charge
I've heard Bill Murray praise Wes Anderson for always having a clear vision of his films and what needs to be accomplished each day. I'm guessing that in an environment like that, with a true auteur in control, there's no vacuum for Edward Norton to expand into; he can just be an actor.
I’ve always enjoyed Edward Norton. He’s one of those actors that draws you to the screen, and gives it his all every time. I never knew he was so difficult to work with. Kinda sounds more so like he’s just super passionate
That's not just passion, though. That's also ego, self-importance and a feeling of entitlement. For someone to turn up to a project they are lucky to even get in the first place and to turn up and be like "if I'm in this then it goes MY way". Sad, too. Great actor but who would want to be on set with that?
@@14192jn recall from the video that the projects where Norton stepped in and made his voice heard in an assertive manner the end result was a much improved product that received rave reviews. The only thing standing in the way of this track record of improvement is the ego of other actors and the assigned director. Those are the people with the egos, not the person who is selflessly adding content to the writing and not even requesting a co-directorial credit when he improves the cut. If the video elucidates the facts about a high value add to a production, I would be blessed to have Edward Norton work on a project with me that he chose to participate in
@JBlandie Nah, they might have worked out well but at then end of the day it is a negative trait to turn up to work and demand the job is done your way because you know better than everyone. That's 100% ego, you're only defending it cause you're bias because you like him as an actor and you're showing celebrity worship.
Honestly he dodged a bullet by not continuing as Bruce Banner/Hulk. I can’t imagine him performing in that She-Hulk show like a dancing monkey under Disney’s control
given his composure and heightened self-confidence, he would have probably pressed the sceptre down on the ground given once they asked him about doing those horrid dance movies. actors like him should always be appreciated, their respective behaviors encouraged and advocated for, since they not only demonstrate their dignity and passion for acting and content production, but their vehement detest for abhorrent content as well
Fight Club might have been a commercial flop but describing it as a flop and not as one of the most popular cult classics of the 90s is a wild description. It might not have done well in theaters but it’s literally a generational cult classic. If you were around in the 90s. You know what I’m talking about. Or maybe you don’t. Because we’re not supposed to talk about it.
It's funny because that movie js considered to be rather lackluster, and yet I agree, Norton is acting circles around multiple established legends in the industry.
Man American History X is one of the best films of all time. I had no idea it was actually Norton's cut and Kaye lost his mind over it. He should be thanking him and Furlong. They both turned in incredibly moving performances and the cut is what makes that film so good; the past in black and white and the present in colour is so prescient and it defines the message of the film. Without some of those familial flashbacks you lose so much character development too.
Agreed! Yeah apparently Kaye’s cost was very loosely put together, didn’t have much structure. More of an art film kind of vibe, where as Norton’s cut made it have an easier to follow along story
I actually read an article around the time of the films release and Tony Kaye was dicking around with New Line Cinema quite a bit. I can't remember the details as it was a long time ago
@vb_blokeboi7251 ...something tells me you haven't watched enough movies to make that claim. American History X is literally one of those basic cable showings that people think is good when they haven't actually seen anything.
Honestly my favorite movie he was in was the Illusionist, which got overlooked because of the Prestige. I hope he gets more work as a script writer because that seems to be where he thrives with the writing AND performance.
Yeah such an unfortunate coincidence that those two movies released so close to each other. Came at a time where he needed a hit the most. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s working on another film of his right now. He has the funds to produce one and he seems to really care about the art of film more than the monetary aspect of it
That is super disingenuous. You have every right to love that movie, but it would not have been well received no matter what happened with The Prestige. If it sucked, or never came out, even if Christian Bale looked at the camera and said "BY THE WAY GO SEE THE ILLUSIONIST!" the movie would have remained average, if not below average.
He's not a control freak, he's a super smart guy who knows how to improve what he's working on. He's been on a bunch of great films that he hasn't changed because they were already great.
American History X was the first Norton film I ever watched, and I actually was convinced that he was a legitimate tough badass. If you know anything about Edward Norton's personality in real life, you begin to understand why making you believe he is a tough guy is a perfect example of hlw insanely talented he is as an actor.
@korbindallas8224 - THANK YOU! I was scrolling through these comments looking for anyone else that felt the same way. There is no self awareness or control whatsoever in their inflection. It’s constant gas, no brakes.
Some people cant tell the difference between playing an annoying character and bad acting. Norton was great in rounders. That just ok annoyed me as well.
I really hated Norton's character "worm" in the Rounders. Which just shows how great actor he is. He was the best actor in the movie and the movie had Turturo and Malkovich who are both brilliant (+Matt Damon) +Martin Landau
Norton is just passionate imo. The fact he changed the Hulk script and it’s one of my favorite movies of all time shows the potential he could’ve brought the MCU. He cares about a good story, not what sells and makes money. Money is important but the man values integrity which is far more admirable than riches
Absolutely. The cast is stacked! Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox and Anna Paquin all do great work in it. 25th Hour is quietly one of the best films of the 2000's
@@mongolianqwerty123 Stellar cast indeed. Plus Lee's directing is top notch, the story is gripping and the sountrack rocks. Absolutely agree, one of the best movies of that decade, hands down. For some reason, Sidney Lumet's Before the devil knows you're dead is quite reminiscent of The 25th hour, if you enjoyed that one, you could very well end up liking Lumet's last movie.
I rarely see anyone mention Before The Devil Knows You’re Sleep; it’s a brilliant movie and Ethan Hawke’s performance is superb (of course Phillip Seymour-Hoffman too)
Exactly. The original director of AHX was clearly far more of an emotional p§¥¢h0 than the character Norton portrayed. The facts are the facts; if you spend $100k to denigrate someone whilst yelling into a camera lens, then clearly... YOU are the problem. Especially when the person being attacked hasn't committed any crimes nor done anything truly heinous nor lascivious.
@whatzittooya98 the Bruce Banner from the TV show is better than Norton's bland Hulk. How many Hulk comics have you actually read? My guess would be zero
Keeping The Faith is such an underrated cleverly written witty romantic comedy and one that I regularly watch when I need a good laugh. Edward Norton is a fabulous actor. Primal Fear is still one of the best acting performances in a film debut for any actor I've ever seen. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Edward Norton.
I'm glad you mentioned that one! 🙂 Jenna Elfman was awesome in it, and one of the funniest things was that Norton and the others pretty much all had to stand on apple boxes in order for the director to shoot with everyone's heads in-frame. 😂 Makes sense, but people rarely think about that. Same thing goes on with Cruise and certain other supporting cast members. 🙂
They glossed over his lineage. He’s the grandson of James Rouse, who wasn’t just a developer but created the town of Columbia Maryland, to make the ideal American town, and it’s 15% more expensive than the surrounding area. He invented the term “urban renewal”.
@@alextj7940 I was looking for this comment as well, it actually aggravated me quite a bit. I hate when people find a character annoying, and then blame it on the actor saying he/ she wasnt very good. His character wasnt meant to be liked, and i thought he was fantastic as well.
Exactly. A lot of people have a real issue separating "characters they hate" with the fact that the point of the writing or story WANTED the audience to dislike the character. And hey, unlike Scarlett O'Hara, "Wyrm" never changed, never adapted, never arc'ed. And that was important... so that Damon's character *could*. 😎
i think creators just find his passion intimidating rather than complementing. People who share the same passion will probably vibe well with him, like Anderson.
Clearly, Tony K. was a lot more like the character Norton portrayed, but in REAL life. 😳 And clearly, on today's episode of "How Fughed Up Is Fughed Up"... well... that's pretty fugged up. 😂
I've always wondered why I felt so connected to the guy and now it makes sense... I miss the days when it seemed he was in everything or that any movie I liked he was in it...but... that's kinda what makes his work special is that he prefers the passion projects. I understand not wanting to be a part of something if you cant have your hands in the control of it... it's a blessing and a curse. So much for collaborations and ensembles... And you have to respect the fact he isnt a part of the MCU..maybe he wishes he could have been a part of film history but he Probably would have lost himself in the shuffle...lost who he truly is being surrounded by such powerhouses in the marvel movies. Hell I even wish Terrence Howard didnt leave marvel ...I much preferred him as war machine. And we will always have the big what if...if Norton would have stayed the hulk...him and Robert Downey jr. Together on screen would have been fucking great. But this video really made me like the guy even more knowing that passion can complicate things yet he has other areas in life to direct that passion. We need more norton's in this world and I hope to see him in future projects
Norton wouldve been fired from the mcu, and he wouldve hated his character being sidelined, trivialized, and made a mockery of. Theres a reason there arent any standalone ruffalo hulk movies.
I like Edward Norton as Banner and the Hulk. The Incredible Hulk movie has a version of the Hulk which is better than the version of the Hulk and Banner we're getting recently.
@@gunsup0331 That was Eric Bana Hulk (2003), Ed Norton was Incredible Hulk (2008) and Liv Tyler played Betty Ross. Jennifer Connolly and Liv Tyler are both knockouts though 😍
Edward Norton was such a great addiction to the world of Wes Anderson, fits perfectly in it. Definitely one of my favorite actors in late 20th to 21st century.
He's not someone you immediately think of as handsome in a leading man sense, even back in the day when he had a completely different face. He would never have had a career based solely on his looks, like a lot of actors have had. Clint Eastwood for example....zero acting range whatsoever, played the exact same part spanning decades and genres, but y'know, he was good at it and that's fine. I totally get why they would say that.
The character Norton played so well in Birdman is a strong indicator of both his sense of humour and self-deprecation. I though Motherless Brooklyn was a great adaptation, a brilliant film and very underappreciated.
Edward Norton is a great actor, a very passionated actor for his works he takes on. All his roles are iconic. I will never-ever change my mind on him being better Bruce Banner/The Hulk then what whiny Mark Ruffalo ever could be. I know there was some conflicts that made him walk away, but what I have seen Norton was the one who was right on the money (!). He knew the character & comics and wanted to make the movie focus more on Dr. Bruce Banners struggles and inner demons in that movie. How Banner was chased by the Army all the time and how his struggle for a cure always failed. How his love life with Betty Ross was shattered and how they both suffered from this. The Hulk should then in a follow-up be more the dominant one seen on screen and now more accepting his fate and role as the Incredible Hulk, at the same time new mutant enemies like the Leader, Absorbing Man etc. enters the sceen to be battled.
I was a kid when Primal Fear came out… me and my dad watched it together one night for the first time… I can remember laying on a blanket in the dark, the fire crackling and watching that movie. That moment of the big reveal scared the hell out of me as a kid for some reason. My dad thought it was one of the best film twists he had seen at the time. It’s a core memory of mine.
You can tell by Edward Norton's different kind of role he had which has proven how talented and brilliant actor he is,unlike some of other actors out there who have similar and stereotypes kind of role which is predictable. So imagine while he's working behind the scenes.
Lots of parallels between him and Bill Murray. I recently read someone relate a behind-the-scenes story of Murray being a nightmare and exasperating a co-star, but the director basically said, "Yeah, it's going to be rough, but this always happens, and the project always comes out better." Similarly, Murray wouldn't collaborate if he thought the project wasn't up to his standards (hence, no Ghostbusters III; he reportedly shredded a script sent to him and mailed it back in that form). Both Murray and Norton are big Wes Anderson regulars as well. Unlike others in that circle (e.g., Willem Dafoe, Angelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum) who don't work on every film, Murray was in 9 consecutive projects with Wes (i.e., all except his first film and most recent film); Norton has been in the last 5 consecutive projects. It's possible to be both unprofessional and exceed in your profession at the same time, although if probably helps if you're only working with people who know how to channel your talent and yield to the right ideas. Wes seems to be able to do that. Personally, I enjoy Murray and Norton's work, but I wouldn't want to be on a project with either.
Edward Nortons Hulk is the best version. I remember watching The Avengers in theaters and saying out loud "Who the fuck is that guy?". When Mark Ruffalo showed up.
Lol I feel that honestly but Mark is a good actor and he's been in some of my favorite movies, most notably he plays a large part in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind" I would've loved to see Norton's hulk meet the rest of the avengers though.
@@BruvvaJosh well I only really know him in like two roles outside of the hulk o can think of off the bat. But yeah idk he's definitely not much of leading role kinda actor.
I always found that Edward Norton plays Edward Norton in every single film. He has never disappeared into a role that I've seen. What I like about this actor is his ability to become vulnerable.
He said he didn’t want to be in the credits to add a bit of mystery and to give more credit to the other actors in the film if I remember correctly. If you watch any video essays on the movie nearly all of them say the reason behind it
A lot of these actors are soft, prima donnas, their job is to entertain us, not get along. Ed Norton will be remembered as an amazing actor/writer/director.
He's really great in so many diverse roles didn't know he was the adult embodiment of the kid that always sticks after class to ask about homework haha
I didn't go to film school but American History X feels like a perfect film in regards to pacing, and editing. It goes back and forth in time it goes from color to Black and White (but it's not distracting distracting). Showing an incomplete seen interjected throughout the film until it is shown in completion.And the payoff. Both horrific and disturbing but that build up makes sure the importance of the scene is not disregarded. The Hulk was fast-paced.. it's not trying to waste time anywhere showing an origin that's already been shown or.. and I appreciate that it pays homage to Bill Bixby, and Lou Ferrigno. And I think he's the only one that did! He seems like somebody that would be cocky and hard to work with but he also seems very competent. He was great in Red Dragon. He had an edge to him.. primal fear blew me away! It's too bad it's the movie goers loss at the end of the day.
Imo, Motherless Brooklyn is WILDLY underrated. To some degree, I can understand the complaints about its length, but I was so absorbed the entire time. There was clearly a vision in mind, and I think Norton executed it so well. Not to mention that we got a masterpiece of a song out of it all by Thom Yorke, "Daily Battles." One of the very few songs written for a film nowadays that I've played since watching the film.
The thing is when you are too difficult to work with, you know the saying perception is reality. If you are unworkable with others, studios are going to stay away from you. They don't want that mess causing production delays which means time is money. So you get blackballed. Getting blackballed takes years go ask Brendan Fraiser who that went. It years for him to get back into the starting roll and when he finally did, it paid off. For Edward it might take years for him to get back into a main role.
Perception is reality fallacies are the worst. Its literally judging a book by its cover when we are constantly told not to do that. That shit plagues the military and its a huge part of why i didnt re up my army contract.
Apparently Kaye’s version of the film was edited like a music video and was not coherent. Also, watching some of his actions and speech, he seems really unstable
i'm afraid to say anything even remotely unflattering as to avoid ruffling any feathers, don't want to fight or argue with anyone, not saying i haven't enjoyed some of the films he's been in at one point or another, just, i wouldn't want to work with him myself were i an actor or director etc., passion might seem great but it can be alot to handle for someone like me
I dunno I hear ya, but part of me would kind of feel good knowing there was someone with immense talent and drive doing their best to make a success out of a project, once he's committed to it. Would be different if it were "my baby", so to speak...someone coming in and making changes etc would feel awful no doubt, but at least with Mr Norton I get the feeling it would not be about ego, but the best outcome for the movie. I think ideally you would want him involved from the ground up, honing a script in a collaborative way, fully understanding what he brings to the table.
i get that, i see what you're saying, i guess i just fear he isn't doing it without ego involved, or without disrespecting those he works with, even for the sake of the project, its like how Mike Meyers supposedly is really good at ideas but can be difficult to work with@@FiveSigma72
I completely understand this passionate behavior. I think he is one of the finest actors of our times, having a versatile work onscreen. With a sense of self-irony, a high level of intelligence and good looks, he embodies some very rare type of actor nowadays. I especially enjoy his screen appearances in The Illusionist, The Painted Veil, keeping the Faith . Let him contribute to cinematic art.
Can’t believe his Kingdom of Heaven was brushed off despite having his face covered the entire movie he delivers an amazing performance with his voice body language and eye movements half the time you can’t even tell it’s Norton like no way it’s him
I do t think Norton would have worked with those early MCU days and the “continuity community” or whatever they called that group of people that Whedon struggled with on Ultron..
If we talk about difficult actors, Edward isn't the one, we have also the case of Marlon Brando, who was known for being a difficult actor on set. In fact, he never remembered his lines, so they had to write them on a board behind the camera, while Brando was acting, besides Marlon is the Maradona of acting, who raised several actors between them the own Edward. So, that's why he is who he is.
He fit the character of Hulk way better than Ruffalo does. Thank goodness Disney decided to assassinate Hulk's characters so that he can fit Mark Ruffalo better
Eh Norton would have made a better Reed Richards imo. He looks more like Reed Richards and he is a passionate and obsessed with filmmaking like Reed is a passionate and obsessed Richards is with science.
I absolutely think Edward is a passionate guy that actually cares about the process and final product of a movie. Call him harsh, egotistical and etc. But he doesn't take movies lightly, he wants to make something good for the audience. We need more people like Norton for movies and shows nowadays...%95 of what gets green-lit now just dumbfounds me. Too many people writing and making pure garbage without a care.
Not a curse at all, he rubs certain people the wrong way because he has more talent and passion, which makes them jealous. Kevin Feige is an example, he is a hack that ruined MCU (story/plot) wise and he famously said Ed was replaced for being "hard to work with".
Great video, I had no idea Norton was this passionate, damn. Also I wanted to suggest to include bits of the interviews mentioned and showed on screen, like on 9:40 I would've liked to listen to him actually talking about the movie for at least a phrase. I think it breaks up the video nicely and makes it more dynamic, while actually showing some of the stuff said. p.s.: I realize how ironic it is to give video-making advice in a video about a guy who is borderline a control freak in stuff he's not meant to do, but I'd thought I should still say it lol
If an actor puts in extra time to come up with suggestions that actually improve a movie but a director does not want them because he is 'the director', it doesnt seem he is the controlling person 😂
Shame you didn't mention Kingdom of Heaven. Edward suggested that his name and image to be omitted from he movie to give the character more impact and mystery, and Ridley Scott agread with his vision. The result was one of the greatest depictions of a historical character in cinema.
One of the things that makes PRIMAL FEAR such a great movie is no one knew who the heck he was, I won't spoil anything but holy crap that blew my mind.... if ya know, ya know 😉
Sometimes it is hard to believe that Norton got kicked out from MCU despite he made the Hulk Movie a masterpiece that exactly the same as previous Hulk original movie life but added a comics hulk angry image more reach to what I used to fantasize it during my younger age in 90s. Can't blame him for being passionate with his works as an actor who tries to delivering the best like American X. Sadly to see Hulk later after being removed from MCU turning into just made fun by She-Hulk sister who show she is far stronger and far better controlling anger in just less episode than Hulk struggles to control anger since 1962 debuted.
That’s incredible! It got me thinking about that movie, ‘Birdman.’ You know, the one where he played a role pretty similar to his real-life self? Makes me wonder what went down during filming. Must be hard for the crew to tell when he is in character and when's not, lol EDIT: I wrote this before watching the last part of the video where you did mention Birdman.
To me, the fact that he has done five movies with Wes Anderson proves that he isn't a control freak, Anderson is one of the most meticulous directors in the world, and every actor he works with talks about the warm and family-feel of his sets. No grouch like Norton supposedly is would work with him again and again.
It also sounds like Norton can feel out an amateur/weak person and try to wrest control from them and better highlight the ideas brought forth by the producers. So in a way, if you know how you want your actors performing, the sets and moods are perfect and how you want them, etc. you can control Norton because there’s already a Head in charge
More like, Wes Anderson is just a great artist that a control freak like Norton feels right at home and in need to assert himself.
I've heard Bill Murray praise Wes Anderson for always having a clear vision of his films and what needs to be accomplished each day. I'm guessing that in an environment like that, with a true auteur in control, there's no vacuum for Edward Norton to expand into; he can just be an actor.
I couldn’t tell he’s meticulous. All of his movies are BIZARRE. I’ve never seen a Wes Anderson film I’ve either understood or liked.
Wes Anderson is most likely just as meticulous and probably plans out his screenplays in great detail, making the actors jobs a bit easier.
I’ve always enjoyed Edward Norton. He’s one of those actors that draws you to the screen, and gives it his all every time. I never knew he was so difficult to work with. Kinda sounds more so like he’s just super passionate
That's not just passion, though. That's also ego, self-importance and a feeling of entitlement. For someone to turn up to a project they are lucky to even get in the first place and to turn up and be like "if I'm in this then it goes MY way". Sad, too. Great actor but who would want to be on set with that?
@@14192jn it's the other way around. You're lucky to have Ed Norton on a project.
@@FloatingWeeds2 both can be true at the same time.
@@14192jn recall from the video that the projects where Norton stepped in and made his voice heard in an assertive manner the end result was a much improved product that received rave reviews. The only thing standing in the way of this track record of improvement is the ego of other actors and the assigned director. Those are the people with the egos, not the person who is selflessly adding content to the writing and not even requesting a co-directorial credit when he improves the cut.
If the video elucidates the facts about a high value add to a production, I would be blessed to have Edward Norton work on a project with me that he chose to participate in
@JBlandie Nah, they might have worked out well but at then end of the day it is a negative trait to turn up to work and demand the job is done your way because you know better than everyone. That's 100% ego, you're only defending it cause you're bias because you like him as an actor and you're showing celebrity worship.
His best role is in Kingdom of Heaven as King Baldwin. Never see his face but his dialogue is exquisite.
So so so true. He nailed that role. 💯🔥
HOLY FUCK HE PLAYED KING BALDWIN?!
Honestly he dodged a bullet by not continuing as Bruce Banner/Hulk. I can’t imagine him performing in that She-Hulk show like a dancing monkey under Disney’s control
We dodged another great preformance =( if he was there maybe he'd make sure after Avengers 1 that the rest were actually good ... but oh well
Avengers movies will age like milk. Over saturation of CGI
Agreed so hard, he would leak it and marvel would try to sue him
Oh look,the soyboys have arrived
given his composure and heightened self-confidence, he would have probably pressed the sceptre down on the ground given once they asked him about doing those horrid dance movies. actors like him should always be appreciated, their respective behaviors encouraged and advocated for, since they not only demonstrate their dignity and passion for acting and content production, but their vehement detest for abhorrent content as well
I can't hate someone like him even if it's a thin line between control and passion. He's still an incredible actor.
Agreed
Fight Club might have been a commercial flop but describing it as a flop and not as one of the most popular cult classics of the 90s is a wild description. It might not have done well in theaters but it’s literally a generational cult classic. If you were around in the 90s. You know what I’m talking about. Or maybe you don’t. Because we’re not supposed to talk about it.
It's under control sir...
His name was Robert paulson
We are still on the project.
WheRe iS mY miNd???
Lmao
Gold.
Norton's come out performance in Primal Fear has to rank among the all-time best in motion pictures. It blows me away every time I watch that movie.
It's funny because that movie js considered to be rather lackluster, and yet I agree, Norton is acting circles around multiple established legends in the industry.
@@6tiple6ix6afia It's a very good movie.
He carried that film….his performance made the plot twist possible/believable.
Cool twist in that movie I remember seeing it in cinema
He absolute owned that movie. It's just his.
And Richard Gere is by no means a bad actor, but Edward just stole the show.
Man American History X is one of the best films of all time. I had no idea it was actually Norton's cut and Kaye lost his mind over it. He should be thanking him and Furlong. They both turned in incredibly moving performances and the cut is what makes that film so good; the past in black and white and the present in colour is so prescient and it defines the message of the film. Without some of those familial flashbacks you lose so much character development too.
Agreed! Yeah apparently Kaye’s cost was very loosely put together, didn’t have much structure. More of an art film kind of vibe, where as Norton’s cut made it have an easier to follow along story
I actually read an article around the time of the films release and Tony Kaye was dicking around with New Line Cinema quite a bit. I can't remember the details as it was a long time ago
Kaye seems like the unstable one.
A brilliant performance from Norton, no mistake - but it absolutely would have been a better, more powerful film with its original ending.
@vb_blokeboi7251 ...something tells me you haven't watched enough movies to make that claim. American History X is literally one of those basic cable showings that people think is good when they haven't actually seen anything.
I remember the first time I saw Edward Norton in a role. I was visibly shaken to my core. No one had had that type of effect on me before.
Honestly my favorite movie he was in was the Illusionist, which got overlooked because of the Prestige. I hope he gets more work as a script writer because that seems to be where he thrives with the writing AND performance.
Yeah such an unfortunate coincidence that those two movies released so close to each other. Came at a time where he needed a hit the most. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s working on another film of his right now. He has the funds to produce one and he seems to really care about the art of film more than the monetary aspect of it
That is super disingenuous. You have every right to love that movie, but it would not have been well received no matter what happened with The Prestige. If it sucked, or never came out, even if Christian Bale looked at the camera and said "BY THE WAY GO SEE THE ILLUSIONIST!" the movie would have remained average, if not below average.
@@6tiple6ix6afia Nah. The Illusionist is a very good movie.
Both Prestige and Illusionist were great movies, love them both.
Same, I love that movie. The score is amazing, Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Rufus Sewell are phenomenal in it.
He's not a control freak, he's a super smart guy who knows how to improve what he's working on. He's been on a bunch of great films that he hasn't changed because they were already great.
You can admire someone and also admit they have faults. Love edward norton but his fans are celeb worshipers
And you know because you've worked with him I suppose?
@@acutecloudd7970where in the original post did it say edward norton is without fault?
American History X was the first Norton film I ever watched, and I actually was convinced that he was a legitimate tough badass. If you know anything about Edward Norton's personality in real life, you begin to understand why making you believe he is a tough guy is a perfect example of hlw insanely talented he is as an actor.
In my opinion Norton should just move on to directing his own films, that way he can have full control over his own projects.
He did
it looks like he can direct as long as someone’s is there to help him because the movies he has directed alone, haven’t done very well.
Ending every single sentence with that same note is really tough to listen to for longer than a few minutes
@korbindallas8224 - THANK YOU! I was scrolling through these comments looking for anyone else that felt the same way. There is no self awareness or control whatsoever in their inflection. It’s constant gas, no brakes.
Oh god, now that you said it I can’t stop hearing it. It’s killing me
I didn't even notice until you brought it up.
lol hey, at least his sentences are in key
sounds like AI to me
Don't forget his uncredited role in Kingdom of Heaven which is an amazing performance that made the film memorable.
SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK! 🗣️🔥🔥🔥💯💯☝️☝️
He wasnt credited as baldwin? Thats insane.
Norton "just okay" in Rounders? His performance is one of the reasons I continually return to that film.
Some people cant tell the difference between playing an annoying character and bad acting. Norton was great in rounders. That just ok annoyed me as well.
Yeah Norton was fantastic in Rounders.
Yeah it’s not even an amazing film, but his acting in it makes me come back to it time and time again
I really hated Norton's character "worm" in the Rounders. Which just shows how great actor he is. He was the best actor in the movie and the movie had Turturo and Malkovich who are both brilliant (+Matt Damon) +Martin Landau
@@apodipl4596 100 percent correct. You just want to punch him in his ribs like 7 different times in that movie. He performed exceptionally.
Norton is just passionate imo. The fact he changed the Hulk script and it’s one of my favorite movies of all time shows the potential he could’ve brought the MCU. He cares about a good story, not what sells and makes money. Money is important but the man values integrity which is far more admirable than riches
It's a pity having glossed over The 25th hour, cause man is this movie an absolute gem, and Norton stellar in it. His best performance in my book.
Absolutely. The cast is stacked! Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox and Anna Paquin all do great work in it. 25th Hour is quietly one of the best films of the 2000's
That movie was the 2nd movie I saw with him, before that it was Incredible Hulk
Even back 12-14, I saw how great as an actor he was
@@mongolianqwerty123 Stellar cast indeed. Plus Lee's directing is top notch, the story is gripping and the sountrack rocks. Absolutely agree, one of the best movies of that decade, hands down.
For some reason, Sidney Lumet's Before the devil knows you're dead is quite reminiscent of The 25th hour, if you enjoyed that one, you could very well end up liking Lumet's last movie.
I rarely see anyone mention Before The Devil Knows You’re Sleep; it’s a brilliant movie and Ethan Hawke’s performance is superb (of course Phillip Seymour-Hoffman too)
Agreed. The 25th Hour was one of those movies that resonated with me and truly captured how it felt in a post 9/11 NYC.
When someone continually done what he has done and continually gets it right, I'd call it more of being meticulous and caring than controlling.
Exactly. The original director of AHX was clearly far more of an emotional p§¥¢h0 than the character Norton portrayed. The facts are the facts; if you spend $100k to denigrate someone whilst yelling into a camera lens, then clearly... YOU are the problem. Especially when the person being attacked hasn't committed any crimes nor done anything truly heinous nor lascivious.
Norton's Hulk movie is a masterpiece compared to the nerfed Hulk we have right now.
💯 Norton was definitely the better Hulk.
facts, he was so good as bruce banner and his Hulk is still the best one we've seen
Gotta love revisionist film history. That movie fucking SUUUUUCKS and it was one of Norton's ONLY bland outings.
@whatzittooya98 the Bruce Banner from the TV show is better than Norton's bland Hulk. How many Hulk comics have you actually read? My guess would be zero
@@6tiple6ix6afiaNah. The Incredible Hulk is a very good movie.
Fun fact: Edward Norton’s acting partner at Yale was Paul Giamati (whose father was the President of Yale)
Norton is a great actor with a very consistent performance that starred in a lot of mid movies. how about Sam Rockwell next? freaking love that guy
Oh that’s be a good idea! Probably one of the most underrated modern actors
FIght Club, Primal Fear, 25th Hour, Rounders and Birdman are decidedly not mid movies that I would put up against most actors top 5.
@@FilmStackhim and Allison Janney and Toni Collette.
Rockwell was awesome in "Heist". Perfect portrayal of the over-confident pseudo-crim crim. 💪😎✌️
3:50 hearing that American History X was almost directed by Humpty Dumpty is probably my favourite sentence/fact of all time 😂😂😂
Keeping The Faith is such an underrated cleverly written witty romantic comedy and one that I regularly watch when I need a good laugh. Edward Norton is a fabulous actor. Primal Fear is still one of the best acting performances in a film debut for any actor I've ever seen. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Edward Norton.
I'm glad you mentioned that one! 🙂 Jenna Elfman was awesome in it, and one of the funniest things was that Norton and the others pretty much all had to stand on apple boxes in order for the director to shoot with everyone's heads in-frame. 😂 Makes sense, but people rarely think about that.
Same thing goes on with Cruise and certain other supporting cast members. 🙂
They glossed over his lineage. He’s the grandson of James Rouse, who wasn’t just a developer but created the town of Columbia Maryland, to make the ideal American town, and it’s 15% more expensive than the surrounding area. He invented the term “urban renewal”.
What does that have to do with norton as an actor?
I love Nortons work. Even movies I otherwise would find uninteresting, he elevates every single one of them
I thought Norton killed that part in "Rounders", it was substantially better than "just ok" imo...
I was looking for a comment like this, edward norton played the character worm so perfectly
Seriously, I felt compelled to comment on that as well. Edward Norton and John Malkovich were both great in Rounders.
@@alextj7940 I was looking for this comment as well, it actually aggravated me quite a bit. I hate when people find a character annoying, and then blame it on the actor saying he/ she wasnt very good. His character wasnt meant to be liked, and i thought he was fantastic as well.
Exactly. A lot of people have a real issue separating "characters they hate" with the fact that the point of the writing or story WANTED the audience to dislike the character.
And hey, unlike Scarlett O'Hara, "Wyrm" never changed, never adapted, never arc'ed. And that was important... so that Damon's character *could*. 😎
i think creators just find his passion intimidating rather than complementing. People who share the same passion will probably vibe well with him, like Anderson.
Tony Kaye seems a bit...intense
Yeah he needs to relax. What a complete lunatic.
Yeah...He needs to chill the f*ck out lol
he just got outdone and was utterly seething over it lol, guess that's what happens when you're a sore loser
Clearly, Tony K. was a lot more like the character Norton portrayed, but in REAL life. 😳 And clearly, on today's episode of "How Fughed Up Is Fughed Up"... well... that's pretty fugged up. 😂
I've always wondered why I felt so connected to the guy and now it makes sense... I miss the days when it seemed he was in everything or that any movie I liked he was in it...but... that's kinda what makes his work special is that he prefers the passion projects. I understand not wanting to be a part of something if you cant have your hands in the control of it... it's a blessing and a curse. So much for collaborations and ensembles...
And you have to respect the fact he isnt a part of the MCU..maybe he wishes he could have been a part of film history but he Probably would have lost himself in the shuffle...lost who he truly is being surrounded by such powerhouses in the marvel movies. Hell I even wish Terrence Howard didnt leave marvel ...I much preferred him as war machine.
And we will always have the big what if...if Norton would have stayed the hulk...him and Robert Downey jr. Together on screen would have been fucking great.
But this video really made me like the guy even more knowing that passion can complicate things yet he has other areas in life to direct that passion. We need more norton's in this world and I hope to see him in future projects
Norton wouldve been fired from the mcu, and he wouldve hated his character being sidelined, trivialized, and made a mockery of. Theres a reason there arent any standalone ruffalo hulk movies.
I like Edward Norton as Banner and the Hulk. The Incredible Hulk movie has a version of the Hulk which is better than the version of the Hulk and Banner we're getting recently.
and jennifer connolly hoo
@@gunsup0331 That was Eric Bana Hulk (2003), Ed Norton was Incredible Hulk (2008) and Liv Tyler played Betty Ross. Jennifer Connolly and Liv Tyler are both knockouts though 😍
Edward Norton was such a great addiction to the world of Wes Anderson, fits perfectly in it. Definitely one of my favorite actors in late 20th to 21st century.
Addition not addiction!
I love him always-I loved The Painted Veil. Very overlooked. He knows the delicate art of smoldering when necessary.
Did you just say Robert de Nire wasn't handsome? 😂
He's not someone you immediately think of as handsome in a leading man sense, even back in the day when he had a completely different face. He would never have had a career based solely on his looks, like a lot of actors have had. Clint Eastwood for example....zero acting range whatsoever, played the exact same part spanning decades and genres, but y'know, he was good at it and that's fine. I totally get why they would say that.
Noooaooooooo Robert de niro is my ultimate crush ❤😂
Dude that's exactly what I thought 😂
It's a shame De Niro is a nutcase now.
I always thought that Ed Norton and John Cusack should play brothers in a movie.
Ed Norton is one of my favorite actors, unbelievably talented. Hope he gets more great roles.
The character Norton played so well in Birdman is a strong indicator of both his sense of humour and self-deprecation. I though Motherless Brooklyn was a great adaptation, a brilliant film and very underappreciated.
What's interesting is that I've never once thought of who directed American history x, and I love that movie.
Edward Norton is a great actor, a very passionated actor for his works he takes on. All his roles are iconic.
I will never-ever change my mind on him being better Bruce Banner/The Hulk then what whiny Mark Ruffalo ever could be. I know there was some conflicts that made him walk away, but what I have seen Norton was the one who was right on the money (!). He knew the character & comics and wanted to make the movie focus more on Dr. Bruce Banners struggles and inner demons in that movie. How Banner was chased by the Army all the time and how his struggle for a cure always failed. How his love life with Betty Ross was shattered and how they both suffered from this. The Hulk should then in a follow-up be more the dominant one seen on screen and now more accepting his fate and role as the Incredible Hulk, at the same time new mutant enemies like the Leader, Absorbing Man etc. enters the sceen to be battled.
One of the greatest actors of all time!
I really like Kingdom of Heaven but had no idea Norton played the king. No wonder it's a good character.
I was a kid when Primal Fear came out… me and my dad watched it together one night for the first time… I can remember laying on a blanket in the dark, the fire crackling and watching that movie. That moment of the big reveal scared the hell out of me as a kid for some reason. My dad thought it was one of the best film twists he had seen at the time. It’s a core memory of mine.
Seems like for the most part the more control he gets the better the movie is. They might be the ones with the ego issues.
His performance in Rounders was "just okay"? Did we watch the same movie?
You can tell by Edward Norton's different kind of role he had which has proven how talented and brilliant actor he is,unlike some of other actors out there who have similar and stereotypes kind of role which is predictable.
So imagine while he's working behind the scenes.
Lots of parallels between him and Bill Murray. I recently read someone relate a behind-the-scenes story of Murray being a nightmare and exasperating a co-star, but the director basically said, "Yeah, it's going to be rough, but this always happens, and the project always comes out better." Similarly, Murray wouldn't collaborate if he thought the project wasn't up to his standards (hence, no Ghostbusters III; he reportedly shredded a script sent to him and mailed it back in that form). Both Murray and Norton are big Wes Anderson regulars as well. Unlike others in that circle (e.g., Willem Dafoe, Angelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum) who don't work on every film, Murray was in 9 consecutive projects with Wes (i.e., all except his first film and most recent film); Norton has been in the last 5 consecutive projects. It's possible to be both unprofessional and exceed in your profession at the same time, although if probably helps if you're only working with people who know how to channel your talent and yield to the right ideas. Wes seems to be able to do that. Personally, I enjoy Murray and Norton's work, but I wouldn't want to be on a project with either.
His career didn't slow down only due to that, it feels like Norton just loves doing good projects he actually believes it
Edward Nortons Hulk is the best version. I remember watching The Avengers in theaters and saying out loud "Who the fuck is that guy?". When Mark Ruffalo showed up.
Lol I feel that honestly but Mark is a good actor and he's been in some of my favorite movies, most notably he plays a large part in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind" I would've loved to see Norton's hulk meet the rest of the avengers though.
@@IAmTheDoctor00ruffalo is a hack who just does whatever the production/studio tells him to do.
@@IAmTheDoctor00 I never liked Mark's works, all of his roles just seemed very bland.
@@BruvvaJosh well I only really know him in like two roles outside of the hulk o can think of off the bat. But yeah idk he's definitely not much of leading role kinda actor.
The MCU not wanting to work with Norton is a high compliment to Norton, them saying someone is "anti collaborative" is hilarious
Control freak or not .
He is my favorite actor ❤
Also.. his hulk is the best
AMEN!
He's genuinely a genius, and being that intelligent tends to make you very unlikeable
I always found that Edward Norton plays Edward Norton in every single film. He has never disappeared into a role that I've seen. What I like about this actor is his ability to become vulnerable.
I like Edward Norton as an actor. You know that no matter what project he is in, he will put in a great performance.
Wonder why he isn't on Kingdom of Heaven's credits as King Baldwin. He was the best character in that gem of a movie by far.
He's fantastic in it. Might have something with never seeing the face
He said he didn’t want to be in the credits to add a bit of mystery and to give more credit to the other actors in the film if I remember correctly. If you watch any video essays on the movie nearly all of them say the reason behind it
Frfr. I was shocked when i learned he played the role of King Baldwin. I loved his performance sm
Never confuse being an asshole with "passion".
lots of assholes are passionate
A lot of these actors are soft, prima donnas, their job is to entertain us, not get along. Ed Norton will be remembered as an amazing actor/writer/director.
He did an awesome interview at Oxford University recently that is well worth the watch. He's really articulate with great insight and thought process.
Death to Smoochy is an underrated unsung masterpiece….robin Williams is hilarious
He's really great in so many diverse roles didn't know he was the adult embodiment of the kid that always sticks after class to ask about homework haha
Thank you for clarifying! 1:27
I didn't go to film school but American History X feels like a perfect film in regards to pacing, and editing. It goes back and forth in time it goes from color to Black and White (but it's not distracting distracting). Showing an incomplete seen interjected throughout the film until it is shown in completion.And the payoff. Both horrific and disturbing but that build up makes sure the importance of the scene is not disregarded. The Hulk was fast-paced.. it's not trying to waste time anywhere showing an origin that's already been shown or.. and I appreciate that it pays homage to Bill Bixby, and Lou Ferrigno. And I think he's the only one that did! He seems like somebody that would be cocky and hard to work with but he also seems very competent. He was great in Red Dragon. He had an edge to him.. primal fear blew me away! It's too bad it's the movie goers loss at the end of the day.
Except for the heavy-handed, moralistic woke proselytizing.
@@yeetnama9094Being against Nazis and people who exploit people at their lowest are “woke” now? The word has lost all meaning, you clown.
Imo, Motherless Brooklyn is WILDLY underrated. To some degree, I can understand the complaints about its length, but I was so absorbed the entire time. There was clearly a vision in mind, and I think Norton executed it so well. Not to mention that we got a masterpiece of a song out of it all by Thom Yorke, "Daily Battles." One of the very few songs written for a film nowadays that I've played since watching the film.
The thing is when you are too difficult to work with, you know the saying perception is reality. If you are unworkable with others, studios are going to stay away from you. They don't want that mess causing production delays which means time is money. So you get blackballed. Getting blackballed takes years go ask Brendan Fraiser who that went. It years for him to get back into the starting roll and when he finally did, it paid off. For Edward it might take years for him to get back into a main role.
Perception is reality fallacies are the worst. Its literally judging a book by its cover when we are constantly told not to do that. That shit plagues the military and its a huge part of why i didnt re up my army contract.
Edward Norton is still very active in the film industry, people were just jealous of his talent and didn't want to be overshadowed.
Apparently Kaye’s version of the film was edited like a music video and was not coherent. Also, watching some of his actions and speech, he seems really unstable
Robert De Niro not being a handsome man? Holy shit. Hollywood is brutal. Lol😂
Two of my favorite actors of all time, Edward Norton and Michael Pitt. Is it a coincidence they both can be...... difficult to work with?
:P
i'm afraid to say anything even remotely unflattering as to avoid ruffling any feathers, don't want to fight or argue with anyone, not saying i haven't enjoyed some of the films he's been in at one point or another, just, i wouldn't want to work with him myself were i an actor or director etc., passion might seem great but it can be alot to handle for someone like me
I dunno I hear ya, but part of me would kind of feel good knowing there was someone with immense talent and drive doing their best to make a success out of a project, once he's committed to it. Would be different if it were "my baby", so to speak...someone coming in and making changes etc would feel awful no doubt, but at least with Mr Norton I get the feeling it would not be about ego, but the best outcome for the movie. I think ideally you would want him involved from the ground up, honing a script in a collaborative way, fully understanding what he brings to the table.
i get that, i see what you're saying, i guess i just fear he isn't doing it without ego involved, or without disrespecting those he works with, even for the sake of the project, its like how Mike Meyers supposedly is really good at ideas but can be difficult to work with@@FiveSigma72
I completely understand this passionate behavior. I think he is one of the finest actors of our times, having a versatile work onscreen. With a sense of self-irony, a high level of intelligence and good looks, he embodies some very rare type of actor nowadays. I especially enjoy his screen appearances in The Illusionist, The Painted Veil, keeping the Faith . Let him contribute to cinematic art.
When you hire Norton as an actor . the quality of your movie will increase with 99%
Can’t believe his Kingdom of Heaven was brushed off despite having his face covered the entire movie he delivers an amazing performance with his voice body language and eye movements half the time you can’t even tell it’s Norton like no way it’s him
I do t think Norton would have worked with those early MCU days and the “continuity community” or whatever they called that group of people that Whedon struggled with on Ultron..
If we talk about difficult actors, Edward isn't the one, we have also the case of Marlon Brando, who was known for being a difficult actor on set. In fact, he never remembered his lines, so they had to write them on a board behind the camera, while Brando was acting, besides Marlon is the Maradona of acting, who raised several actors between them the own Edward. So, that's why he is who he is.
He fit the character of Hulk way better than Ruffalo does. Thank goodness Disney decided to assassinate Hulk's characters so that he can fit Mark Ruffalo better
Eh Norton would have made a better Reed Richards imo. He looks more like Reed Richards and he is a passionate and obsessed with filmmaking like Reed is a passionate and obsessed Richards is with science.
@@petermj1098hes a perfect banner though...
@@petermj1098 You know what, I actually think he would be an amazing Reed Richards!
@@petermj1098 i think he looks more like Banner, but Reed would suit him too
I might have cared about the Avengers movies if he kept playing the Hulk
I absolutely think Edward is a passionate guy that actually cares about the process and final product of a movie. Call him harsh, egotistical and etc. But he doesn't take movies lightly, he wants to make something good for the audience. We need more people like Norton for movies and shows nowadays...%95 of what gets green-lit now just dumbfounds me. Too many people writing and making pure garbage without a care.
I'm happy you've brought some light to Edward Norton. He's a great talent. Too bad he's not a Chew.
Of the 2000 actors who auditioned for Primal fear were Matt Damon and his buddy Batman😂
This felt a lot like you want to praise him, despite him being horrible to be around, at least professionally.
Norton's passion is sadly his own curse
"sadly"
Not a curse at all, he rubs certain people the wrong way because he has more talent and passion, which makes them jealous. Kevin Feige is an example, he is a hack that ruined MCU (story/plot) wise and he famously said Ed was replaced for being "hard to work with".
There is a reason why you do not see him much anymore. Because directors are not for leaving an actor hijack their film.
got goosebumps when I heard 'American History X' and 'Fight Club'..
Great video, I had no idea Norton was this passionate, damn. Also I wanted to suggest to include bits of the interviews mentioned and showed on screen, like on 9:40 I would've liked to listen to him actually talking about the movie for at least a phrase. I think it breaks up the video nicely and makes it more dynamic, while actually showing some of the stuff said.
p.s.: I realize how ironic it is to give video-making advice in a video about a guy who is borderline a control freak in stuff he's not meant to do, but I'd thought I should still say it lol
If an actor puts in extra time to come up with suggestions that actually improve a movie but a director does not want them because he is 'the director', it doesnt seem he is the controlling person 😂
Questioning his madness while ignoring his methods, about sums up his career.
Shame you didn't mention Kingdom of Heaven. Edward suggested that his name and image to be omitted from he movie to give the character more impact and mystery, and Ridley Scott agread with his vision. The result was one of the greatest depictions of a historical character in cinema.
One of the things that makes PRIMAL FEAR such a great movie is no one knew who the heck he was, I won't spoil anything but holy crap that blew my mind.... if ya know, ya know 😉
Hollywood diva: IM SO FUCKING GLAD THAT I QUIT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FIRE ME IF I CAN'T BE HIRED IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!
Ed and I have the same birthday. Yeah!! Frida was made cause Ed was behind it. American History X is a masterpiece. Primal Fear ending? Wow.
Sometimes it is hard to believe that Norton got kicked out from MCU despite he made the Hulk Movie a masterpiece that exactly the same as previous Hulk original movie life but added a comics hulk angry image more reach to what I used to fantasize it during my younger age in 90s. Can't blame him for being passionate with his works as an actor who tries to delivering the best like American X.
Sadly to see Hulk later after being removed from MCU turning into just made fun by She-Hulk sister who show she is far stronger and far better controlling anger in just less episode than Hulk struggles to control anger since 1962 debuted.
I ain't mad at Edward Norton. I think he deserves the redemption that is becoming of his story.
I don’t care what anyone says. American history x is fucking flawless. That shmuck would have ruined it
Edward Norton's hulk was the best Hulk by far, and BLONSKY in there was fcking mental
Hey man I’ve been binging your channel I just wanna say you make really high quality vids and your channel will be at 1mil subs in no time
Watch Edward Norton's roast of Bruce WIllis. It's the comedic version of this.
That’s incredible! It got me thinking about that movie, ‘Birdman.’ You know, the one where he played a role pretty similar to his real-life self? Makes me wonder what went down during filming.
Must be hard for the crew to tell when he is in character and when's not, lol
EDIT: I wrote this before watching the last part of the video where you did mention Birdman.
biggest crime of this video is calling Robert de niro unattractive:(
other than that, great video!
Hes a woke ghoul
I would love to meet Edward Norton one day
_Fight Club_ and _25th Hour_ are the best ones I’ve seen him in.
Given how shit the quality of films has been in the last 2 decades, it's not surprising that a passionate actor would start to fail
Hollywood doesn't like passion anymore, they like drivel that can be flipped for profit.
4:59 WHAAAAAAT????? That's outrageous
One of my Favourite Actors.His movies are usually as good as they are because of his acting.