Escaping postwar Europe, a visionary architect comes to America to rebuild his life, his career, and his marriage. On his own in a strange new country, he settles in Pennsylvania, where a wealthy and prominent industrialist recognizes his talent.
Director: Brady Corbet
Cast: Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé, Alessandro Nivola
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Genre: Drama, History
Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, rape, drug use and some language.
Runtime: 3h 35m
Review:
Brady Corbet's mammoth immigrant epic, The Brutalist, is straightforward but so densely packed with so many themes and undercurrents that its unwieldly at various points but the whole thing is buoyed by a pair of powerful turns from Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce. Corbet's steady sense of structure paired with cinematographer Lol Crawley stunning visuals make for an elegant film from start to finish. Each moment and shot are constructed with a meticulous level of detail that echoes films of a bygone era exemplified by the decision to film using VistaVision. It all gives the film a specific look and feel that pops off the screen throughout its extended runtime. The inclusion of an overture, intermission and epilogue all add to the overall effect Corbet is trying to achieve. Amidst all the technical bells and whistles the story, at its heart, is grounded in harsh realism missing any semblance of rose colored nostalgia. Adrien Brody's László Tóth is a complex character filled with intelligence, ambition, trauma and human imperfections. The role makes for a fascinating character study as well as following his journey from the moment he hits the shores of America as he tries to find his footing before meeting industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren played by Guy Pearce. Brody turn is fully formed with his evolution over the course of the film coming off as authentic. He carries a sense of intellectualism even during his lowest points which serves as Van Buren's main fascination. Pearce creates a blue blood industrialist who serves as the de facto face of American capitalism presented in its most brutish form. His hardnose, cold pragmatist serves as a perfect foil to Brody's more measured and cerebral employee. Their interchanges serve as fascinating explorations of their power structure, with a sprinkling of Ayn Rand for good measure. The script stumbles in its back half as the subtleness gives way to more overt allegories that feel unnecessary. Its an odd choice for a film that moves so methodically for a large portion of its runtime before feeling the need to make its larger point more explicit to the point where the final line of dialogue serves as coda for the film's story and experience watching it unfold.
B+
