“The Brutalist” is one of the last movies to close out 2024 and certainly made its mark into 2025. Brady Corbet’s period drama film stars Adrien Brody as a Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the United States in search of the American Dream until a rich client opens an opportunity for him.
The film is a bold view of art, exile, and the emotional toll of creative ambition. With its balanced, methodical storytelling and stark cinematography, the film mirrors its portrayals of the architectural movement it’s named after.
From the start, Corbet establishes an uneasy mood. The film’s cinematography, handled masterfully by cinematographer Lol Crawley, bathes the world in shadows, evoking a sense of isolation and oppression. But at the same time, the lighting works in tandem with the architecture, bringing signs of beauty within struggles. The visuals alone make “The Brutalist” an absorbing experience, but its power lies in its emotional depth as well.
Adrien Brody delivers a moving performance, portraying architect László Toth as a man both blessed and dragged down by his ideals. His journey is not just about creating monumental architecture as a way to process his trauma, but also about proving his worth in a society that doesn’t fully understand and embrace his vision.
Harrison Van Buren, portrayed by Guy Pearce, is confident, yet snobbish, ultimately jealous of Toth’s artistic innovation. Marion Cotillard, playing Toth’s wife Erzsébet, brings warmth and quiet strength to the role, helping to balance out László’s intensity.
The screenplay, co-written by Corbet and Mona Fastvold, is carefully structured with precision, like the various scenes of architecture present throughout the film. Dialogue is few and far between but meaningful, with long pauses that allow the weight of the characters’ struggles to settle in. Some viewers may find the pacing slow, which may be because of the nearly 3-and-a-half-hour runtime, but this is a film that demands patience, rewarding those willing to engage with its themes on a deeper level.
At its core, “The Brutalist” is a commentary about sacrifice; what it takes to leave a lasting mark on the world, and whether that price is ever truly worth paying. Like the brutalist architecture frequently depicted, the film is not conventionally beautiful, but it has a raw power that hangs around long after the credits roll. It is not for everyone, but for those tuned in to slow dramas, “The Brutalist” stands as a towering achievement, currently in the running for 10 awards and accolades, including Best Picture and Adrien Brody as Best Actor, at the upcoming Academy Awards on March 2.
Comments