Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer (2016)

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer is a small, sharp film that feels like it’s eavesdropping on the hidden economy of favors—where a smile, a phone call, and the right introduction can masquerade as power until the bill comes due. Richard Gere gives one of his most quietly riveting performances as a man who lives on hustle and hope, and Joseph Cedar directs with a novelist’s patience, letting the tension build through witty, precise dialogue rather than cheap explosions. The tone is part dark comedy, part moral thriller, and part melancholy character study, always amused by the machinery of influence even as it shows how easily it can grind up the people who feed it. It’s not for viewers craving a fast, twisty conspiracy ride, but if you like smart, adult dramas that linger in the mind, this one pays off with uncommon grace and bite.

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer wants to be a sly, morally queasy character study about influence peddling—how one small, needy “connector” can stumble into real power and then get crushed by it. Richard Gere is genuinely compelling here, giving Norman a nervous, talky charm that makes you understand why people keep letting him into the room. The problem is the film’s shape: it can feel fractured and oddly paced, bouncing between satire, drama, and thriller elements without always building clean momentum, so you may spend more time watching gears turn than feeling tension land. If you like talky political dramas about systems and social maneuvering, it’s worth your time; if you want a tight thriller or consistent comedy, this will likely feel like a well-acted slog.