The Brutalist (2024)
7.054 /10
592 Reviews
Rate This Movie:
Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life. On his own in a strange new country, a wealthy industrialist recognizes his talent. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost...
Videos & Photos
cast
... László Tóth
... Erzsébet Tóth
... Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.
... Harry Lee
... Zsófia
User reviews
Pursuing the American Dream is an ambition of almost every immigrant who manages to make it to this country’s shores. Its realization can take many forms, too, depending on one’s circumstances. But, as many new arrivals discover for themselves, there’s no guarantee of success (or, at the very least, they may find that the journey can be more problematic than anticipated). One such story that provides the focus for this optimistic undertaking is the latest offering from writer-director Brady Corbet. The film follows the odyssey of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictional Jewish Hungarian architect who flees Europe in 1947 after being interred in a concentration camp during World War II. He initially struggles to assimilate, to re-establish his career, and to find a way to bring his wife, Erzsebét (Felicity Jones), to America. But, despite these sundry challenges, his fortunes change drastically when he’s commissioned to design a high-profile mixed use community center with the generous support of a wealthy and powerful benefactor, a capricious, enigmatic industrialist (Guy Pearce) whose many impulsive, emotionally charged whims provide László with a firsthand introduction to the many possibilities and pitfalls tied to that elusive American Dream. In telling this story, the filmmaker explores the ups and downs associated with these themes, as well as an array of additional diverse story threads involving the protagonist’s professional pursuits and personal life. These combined elements make for an engaging and intriguing tale, even if some of the story arcs and character traits are unevenly developed. That sometimes includes the nature of László himself, which is somewhat perplexing given the production’s hefty 3:35:00 runtime (with an included intermission), a duration that should provide ample time for the picture to sufficiently flesh out its core narrative elements and character attributes. That shortcoming aside, though, “The Brutalist” has myriad strengths to its credit, including the fine performances of Pearce, Jones, Golden Globe Award winner Brody and a host of capable supporting players, along with its superb cinematography, stirring original score, and ably sustained pacing (quite a commendable feat for a film of this length). Admittedly, this offering’s solid opening act is far superior to its back half, which tends to sag at times as it wears on, but, on balance, this Golden Globe winner for best drama and best director generally holds up well. In an awards season that has had more than its share of dismal disappointments, it’s heartening to finally find a release that comes closer to approaching the standards that a film should embody to merit the kinds of accolades and attention such honorees truly deserve. It may not be perfect, but it’s a far sight better than many of its other 2024 cinematic peers.
Director:
Genres:
Release Date:
2024-12-20
Run Time:
201 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
The Brutalist
Pursuing the American Dream is an ambition of almost every immigrant who manages to make it to this country’s shores. Its realization can take many forms, too, depending on one’s circumstances. But, as many new arrivals discover for themselves, there’s no guarantee of success (or, at the very least, they may find that the journey can be more problematic than anticipated). One such story that provides the focus for this optimistic undertaking is the latest offering from writer-director Brady Corbet. The film follows the odyssey of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictional Jewish Hungarian architect who flees Europe in 1947 after being interred in a concentration camp during World War II. He initially struggles to assimilate, to re-establish his career, and to find a way to bring his wife, Erzsebét (Felicity Jones), to America. But, despite these sundry challenges, his fortunes change drastically when he’s commissioned to design a high-profile mixed use community center with the generous support of a wealthy and powerful benefactor, a capricious, enigmatic industrialist (Guy Pearce) whose many impulsive, emotionally charged whims provide László with a firsthand introduction to the many possibilities and pitfalls tied to that elusive American Dream. In telling this story, the filmmaker explores the ups and downs associated with these themes, as well as an array of additional diverse story threads involving the protagonist’s professional pursuits and personal life. These combined elements make for an engaging and intriguing tale, even if some of the story arcs and character traits are unevenly developed. That sometimes includes the nature of László himself, which is somewhat perplexing given the production’s hefty 3:35:00 runtime (with an included intermission), a duration that should provide ample time for the picture to sufficiently flesh out its core narrative elements and character attributes. That shortcoming aside, though, “The Brutalist” has myriad strengths to its credit, including the fine performances of Pearce, Jones, Golden Globe Award winner Brody and a host of capable supporting players, along with its superb cinematography, stirring original score, and ably sustained pacing (quite a commendable feat for a film of this length). Admittedly, this offering’s solid opening act is far superior to its back half, which tends to sag at times as it wears on, but, on balance, this Golden Globe winner for best drama and best director generally holds up well. In an awards season that has had more than its share of dismal disappointments, it’s heartening to finally find a release that comes closer to approaching the standards that a film should embody to merit the kinds of accolades and attention such honorees truly deserve. It may not be perfect, but it’s a far sight better than many of its other 2024 cinematic peers.
Did this really need to be 3½ hours long? Well, no - I don't think so. As far as it goes, though, it features a stunning performance from Adrien Brody as fictional Hungarian architect "Tóth" who has manages to survive some torrid wartime experiences in Europe and make it to New York. He has family there, and that's the conduit to a meeting with the wealthy "Van Buren" (Guy Pearce) who decides that he wants him to design a public utility building - think Hearst Castle only without any style or shape to it. Indeed the title could very well be applied to his fascist style of bleak and angular artistry, but his new benefactor is prepared to commit £850,000 to the project so he's delighted. That's clearly to the chagrin of "Harry" (How Alwyn) whose role here is that of a meddlesome provoker as he he constantly tries to intervene between the architect and his father. "Van Buren" senior also manages to facilitate his repatriation with wife (Felicity Jones) and her niece "Zsófia" (Raffey Cassidy) but that doesn't quite go to plan either, and soon seems to further pile on the increasing misery for a "Tóth" who is treading on eggshells on all fronts now as he tries to build his charm-free edifice. The centrepiece of this is to be an altar stone, and for that he and his boss travel to the mountains of Carrara, rarely seen in film since Charlton Heston saw the ceiling of the Sistine in the clouds there. Here something shocking happens that ultimately changes the whole dynamic of that relationship and of the film itself. It's this last twenty minutes that I felt saw the wheels come off. The thrust of the story throughout appears to emphasise the man and his family as outsiders. As them being a means to an end and little better than a commodity to be used and abused as one of the "Van Buren" men see fit, but the drunken violence that concludes the story seems excessively designed to disgust for the sake to it. Why? I didn't get it, nor the consequent denouement. It's also interesting that much is being made of the VistaVision angle. That which put so many from Humphrey Bogart to John Wayne on the big screen decades ago now appears to have been "rediscovered" as if it were revelatory. Well it might help the photography, but not the story - and that begins to run out steam before the unnecessary (from a plot perspective) intermission. Part one offers a compelling look at obsession and the odious nature of patronage and hypocrisy. Part two isn't nearly so good, is more soapy and far less substantial - there is plenty going on but none of the threads really get the attention they need to make them interesting, or to ant them together cohesively. Brady Corbet has one hell of an imagination but perhaps this needed a more objective, and judicious, hand at the tiller. It's good, but it's not anything like as good as it's being hyped up to be. A big screen is essential, though. It will look depressingly ordinary on the television.
This movie is excellent. Beautiful. Good story. Funny stuff. Drama. Twists and turns. Despite all that excellence, the best feature of this film is the fact that you could turn it off and come back to it the next day when the intermission pops up.
The Brutalist is a slow-burn period drama that dives deep into the personal struggles of an immigrant protagonist driven by artistic ambition, trying to belong in a systematically adverse society. Through a mesmerizing, award-worthy performance by Adrien Brody, the filmmaker Brady Corbet focuses on the character's journey - navigating discrimination, family estrangement, and drug addiction - which is a compelling, intimate study of resilience.
The architectural backdrop of a landmark institution being constructed serves as the main narrative that, while visually stunning through Lol Crawley's impeccable cinematography, ultimately fails to hold the same weight as the personal story, despite the evident parallelisms and metaphors. Daniel Blumberg's immersive score adds a layer of tension, creating an emotional undercurrent that enhances the viewing experience despite the slow pacing.
The three-hour-and-a-half runtime can feel like a test of patience at times, especially with certain moments feeling repetitive or redundant. However, The Brutalist ultimately justifies its length, with the intermission offering a much-needed break in the otherwise epic storytelling. Personally, I feel like I'm in the minority on the positive side as I don't feel as blown away or impressed by the movie, but it's definitely a must-watch film of 2024.
Rating: B
Cast & Crew of
The Brutalist
Cast
... László Tóth
... Erzsébet Tóth
... Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.
... Harry Lee
... Zsófia
... Maggie Lee
... Gordon
... Attila
... Older Zsófia
... Jim Simpson
... Audrey
... Leslie Woodrow
... Michael Hoffman
... Michelle Hoffman
... Orazio
... Teenage William
... Young William
... Hungarian Refugee
... Binyamin
... Habbi Zuniz
... Nun
... HIAS Representative 1
... HIAS Representative 2
... Border Officer
... Prostitute 1
... Servant
... Volunteer at Church
... Townsperson 1
... Townsperson 2
... Party Guest
... Construction Supervisor
... Bar Manager
... Hired Man
... Guest
... Madame
... Woman Dancing with László
... Receptionist
Crew
... Production Design
... Editor
... Casting
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Costume Design
... Director of Photography
... Director
... Original Music Composer
... Script Supervisor
... First Assistant Director
... First Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Standby Art Director
... Graphic Designer
... Property Master
... Property Buyer
... Casting Coordinator
... Casting Coordinator
... Local Casting
... Co-Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Co-Producer
... Executive Producer
... Associate Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Producer
... Line Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Co-Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Co-Producer
... Executive Producer
... Associate Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Costume Supervisor
... Set Costumer
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Second Unit Director
... Second Unit Director
... Post Production Supervisor
... Assistant Production Manager
... Production Manager
... Foley Artist
... Foley Mixer
... First Assistant Sound Editor
... Sound Mixer
... Boom Operator
... ADR Recordist
... Sound Recordist
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Designer
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Dialogue Editor
... Hair Supervisor
... Makeup Supervisor
... Key Hair Stylist
... Hair Designer
... Makeup Designer
... Hairdresser
... Prosthetic Designer
... Prosthetics Sculptor
... Makeup Artist
... Casting Coordinator
... Key Grip
... First Assistant "C" Camera
... Video Assist Operator
... Second Unit Cinematographer
... Electrician
... Grip
... Dolly Grip
... First Assistant Camera
... Second Assistant "C" Camera
... Second Assistant "B" Camera
... Steadicam Operator
... Second Assistant Camera
... Still Photographer
... Camera Trainee
... Second Assistant "B" Camera
... Loader
... Camera Trainee
... In Memory Of
... Writer
... Writer
... Music Supervisor
... Producer
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Double
... Choreographer
... Title Designer
... Set Decoration
... Set Decoration
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Painter
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Standby Property Master
... Third Assistant Director
... Colorist
... Additional Editor
... Dailies Operator
... Post Production Coordinator
... Transportation Coordinator
... Production Coordinator
... Executive Producer
... Associate Producer
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Supervising Art Director
... Supervising Art Director
... Art Direction
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Camera Operator
... Second Unit Director of Photography
... "B" Camera Operator
... Gaffer
... Key Makeup Artist
... Set Decoration
... Sound Recordist
... Additional Photography
... Thanks
Videos & Photos of
The Brutalist
Videos (2)
Official Trailer 2
1: 31
Official Trailer
1: 31
Photos 70
Similar Movies To
The Brutalist
Endangered Species (2017)
6.5/10
The fates of three entwined families. Joséphine and Tomas have just got married. It was a joyful celebration. But soon, Joséphine’s parents will discover a darker side lurking behind the couple’s sunny happiness. Meanwhile, Mélanie tells her parents that she is pregnant but the father is not ideal.
Release: 2017-09-27
Two for the Road (1967)
7/10
On the way to a party, a British couple dissatisfied with their marriage recall the gradual dissolution of their relationship.
Release: 1967-04-27
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
5.2/10
After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels.
Release: 1971-03-31
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
7.2/10
The story of Operation Market Garden—a failed attempt by the allies in the latter stages of WWII to end the war quickly by securing three bridges in Holland allowing access over the Rhine into Germany. A combination of poor allied intelligence and the presence of two crack German panzer divisions meant that the final part of this operation (the bridge in Arnhem over the Rhine) was doomed to failure.
Release: 1977-06-15
Everest (2015)
6.8/10
Inspired by the incredible events surrounding a treacherous attempt to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain, "Everest" documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest of elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.
Release: 2015-09-10
Love You Like Christmas (2016)
6.3/10
Maddie, a high-powered marketing executive, is on her way to a client’s wedding but her plans are derailed by car trouble. When a fork in the road leads her to Christmas Valley, a town in love with Christmas, an unexpected encounter and a group of strangers that start to feel like family will have her questioning what she’s really been missing in life.
Release: 2016-12-11
Hoosiers (1986)
7.065/10
Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team in a tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.
Release: 1986-11-14
Red Zora (2008)
5.2/10
In this sun soaked adventure for the entire family, a group of five orphaned children form their own makeshift family while attempting to operate outside the rules of society. Though they must sometimes steal to survive, their loyalty to one another means that they will always have a brother or sister to count on.
Release: 2008-01-23
The Cousin (1974)
5.4/10
Italian coming of age story about two cousins, Enzo and Agata, told in three stages.
Release: 1974-07-26
10,000 Saints (2015)
6/10
A sweeping multigenerational story set against the backdrop of the raw, roaring New York City of the late 1980s; adoption, teen pregnancy, drugs, hardcore punk rock, the unbridled optimism and reckless stupidity of the young—and old—are all major elements in this heart-aching tale of the son of diehard hippies and his strange odyssey through the extremes of late 20th century youth culture.
Release: 2015-08-14
The Beast Must Die (1952)
6.8/10
A crime writer gets involved in a murder investigation.
Release: 1952-05-28
Man Push Cart (2006)
7/10
Every night while the city sleeps, Ahmad, a former Pakistani rock star turned immigrant, drags his heavy cart along the streets of New York. And every morning, he sells coffee and donuts to a city he cannot call his own. One day, however, the pattern of this harsh existence is broken by a glimmer of hope for a better life.
Release: 2006-05-10
King of California (2007)
6.431/10
Charlie gets released from an insane asylum and moves in with Miranda, the young daughter he left behind. Charlie believes that there is treasure hidden beneath the local Costco, so he puts together a plan to unearth the loot. By convincing Miranda to quit her job at McDonald's and instead work at the wholesale store, he is able to obtain a key. Although Miranda is skeptical, she helps her father with his irrational quest.
Release: 2007-01-24
Circuit (2001)
5.7/10
The hunky John is a closeted small-town cop who moves to L.A., where he is quickly seduced into the gay life of workouts and dusk-to-dawn parties. With actual circuit party footage and mounds of glistening and chiseled flesh, the pulsating Circuit is bound to get your juices flowing.
Release: 2001-10-13
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
8.708/10
Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.
Release: 1994-09-23
Strange Days (1995)
7/10
Former policeman Lenny Nero has moved into a more lucrative trade: the illegal sale of virtual reality-like recordings that allow users to experience the emotions and past experiences of others. While they typically contain tawdry incidents, Nero is shocked when he receives one showing a murder.
Release: 1995-10-13
The Apartment (1960)
8.2/10
Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve.
Release: 1960-06-21
Casablanca (1943)
8.2/10
In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.
Release: 1943-01-15
Barton Fink (1991)
7.5/10
A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.
Release: 1991-08-01
Desert Hearts (1985)
7/10
While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.
Release: 1985-10-01