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The Hollywood Insider congratulates ‘The Brutalist’ for the three Golden Globes win in Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director for Brady Corbet and Best Actor for Adrien Brody.
Just before 2024 made its escape from our lives, ‘The Brutalist’ (2024) from actor turned director Brady Corbet illuminates cinemas in glorious VistaVision to tell the story of fictional Brutalism architect László Tóth and the integration of his work into the American landscape. Transcending many other historical films of a similar nature, ‘The Brutalist’ positions itself as this past year’s epic cinematic experience. Its three and a half hour long runtime is not something to be scared away by as the script by Brady Corbet and his partner Mona Fastvold wastes no time in moving the story forward and developing the characters.
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A Film Built Much Like a Structure of the Brutalism Movement
Immediately from the opening sequence and the main titles, ‘The Brutalist’ positions itself as a grand film to experience with its enormous runtime telling the story of the fictional architect László Tóth’s escape from war ridden Europe in World War 2 to his construction of an ambitious community center. The sets are impressive, the story and themes complex, and actors giving it their all. But, what sets the film apart from other historical epics is in its connection to art and the way in which the construction of the film is similar to the art movement associated with it. To give a quick background, Brutalism was an art movement prominent in the 1950s that championed minimalistic designs of buildings with concrete as the primary material. As much as the designs have been criticized for their ugliness, they are just as much praised for depicting the structures in their rawest and most stripped down forms.
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‘The Brutalist’ infuses a similar approach into its presentation. It does not pride itself with unrealistic set pieces or outlandish cinematography, but a more realist approach. A lot of handheld camerawork is used to immerse the audience in the character’s headspace, not to mention the costumes and set pieces all feel a part of the time period. All of this makes the story feel as if it really took place in history, despite it being fictional. The film also does not cut corners in portraying the more unsavory aspects of László Tóth’s journey which is plagued with drug abuse, sexual perversion, and all the dirty struggles that go with managing and building a large project that not everyone sees eye to eye with.
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A Superb Cast for the Time Period
Rounding out the film is a cast of actors each of whom manage to display a superb array of emotions. Adrien Brody returns to historical drama in the same vein as his Oscar winning performance in ‘The Pianist’ (2002) where he expertly brings an emotional center to the film as László Tóth who is seen as a looked down upon individual who is only elevated when it is at the benefit of another. Brody carries the three and a half hour experience with his talent of producing a vast array of emotions that keep the audience stuck to his journey throughout. Felicity Jones, known for her role in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ (2016) plays Erzsébeth, who is the wife of László Tóth reunited with him after the film’s intermission. Jones has not had much experience acting in hard dramas of this sort, but her portrayal of Erzsébeth works wonders as she weaves together the pain that her character has faced mentally and physically, playing off of Tóth’s conflicted feelings toward her.
Alessandro Nivola plays a small role towards the film’s beginning and is able to captivate with his performance despite how sparse his presence is. Joe Alwyn expertly plays the entitled rich kid, starting with a deceptively kind demeanor and breaking into a detestable brat by the end. Raffey Cassidy is Erzsébeth’s caretaker and niece who does not say much, but is able to bring a somewhat awkward, yet still resonant feel to her. However, the standout in a plethora of remarkable performances is Guy Pearce who plays the prolific client of László Tóth, Harrison Lee Van Buren, Pearce constantly readjusts the audience’s view of him, injecting the character with immense personality in every scene with him. As mentioned earlier, ‘The Brutalist’ gives a great opportunity for all the actors in it to excel at their craft, whether it is Adrien Brody being graciously given the kind of role he has talent for or actors previously attached to high profile franchise films having a chance for something more akin to their talent.
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The American Dream Will Come at a Cost
The much coveted fantasy which countless people have had of finding success in the United States of America through hard work is becoming an increasingly far reaching reality. Nowadays, success is found based on connections to high profile individuals. In ‘The Brutalist’, this foreign architect who is trying to make it in America is only able to get a large Brutalism project done because he conveniently caught the attention of a wealthy industrialist and is boxed in to conform to his wishes. As the film continues, the industrialist Van Buren slowly unravels from his stature of seemingly encouragement to artists such as Tóth to an embodiment of capitalist evil.
Being at the mercy of despicable higher ups is what immigrating to America is for many. By the end of the film, you are not sure how to feel about László Tóth’s accomplishment in architecture, if you could even call it that. He has achieved what many seek, but after an endurance that someone in his position shouldn’t have to undergo. Yet, the film does end on some positive notes. The community center is considered a landmark which people visit to admire its beauty. What was initially a greedy businessman’s vanity project instead is hailed as an architectural masterwork born out of the architect’s struggles in the Holocaust. It not only acts as a celebration of the Brutalism movement, but of the importance of art in our culture. Whether it is in film, architecture, paintings, music, or anything else, it will carry more worth than anything that a corporate world will try to sell.
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Few films released last year have reached the heights that ‘The Brutalist’ has in terms of its scope in telling its story. The immersing cinematography, seamless editing, and operatic music turn ‘The Brutalist’ into the large modern historical epic it is. All of the qualities on display are bound to be honored by the upcoming awards season, making it well worth a watch on the biggest screen in town.
Cast: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce
Director of Photography: Lol Crawley | Editor: Dávid Jancsó | Writers: Mona Fastvold & Brady Corbet | Producers: Trevor Matthews, Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, Andrew Lauren, D.J. Gugenheim, Brady Corbet | Director: Brady Corbet
By Elijah van der Fluit
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Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
