A24’s The Brutalist, an epic, powerful, and brilliantly crafted film, is a rare cinematic achievement. Its three-plus hour running time is fully justified by the richness and depth of its storytelling. Every aspect of the incredible cinematic experience created by director and co-writer Brady Corbet showcases the exceptional talent of the artists involved.
Corbet and co-writer Mona Fastvold set their film in the 1940s and center it on László Tóth (Oscar winner Adrien Brody, The Pianist), a Jewish architect who barely escapes Budapest with his life. He’s forced to leave his wife, Erzsébet (Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything), and niece, Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy, White Noise), behind when he flees to America with just the shirt on his back.
He’s briefly taken in by his cousin, Attila (Alessandro Nivola, The Room Next Door), who owns a furniture store. Harry Van Buren (Joe Alwyn, Conversations with Friends) commissions the cousins to redesign a library for his incredibly wealthy father, Harrison (Guy Pearce, Memento). Unfortunately, Harrison dislikes surprises, and Attila holds László responsible when the Van Burens refuse to pay. László’s prospects seem dim after being booted from his cousin’s employment. He’s stuck doing manual labor while living in a shelter. Compounding matters, he’s addicted to heroin after suffering an injury while escaping Budapest.
The stars finally align for László once Harrison’s opinion dramatically shifts. The tycoon learns about László Toth’s Pre-Holocaust reputation in Hungary where Toth’s buildings are architectural marvels. When Harrison discovers articles featuring László’s work, the ultra-rich industrialist is uncharacteristically contrite. More importantly, Harrison has the ambition and resources to move forward on a massive community center in memory of his dear, recently departed mother.
The Van Buren Center is so important to Harrison that he invites László to live on the property. He also introduces the talented architect to a friend with the connections to bring László’s wife and niece to America. In short, he controls all aspects of László’s life and ensures his complete attention to the massive community center. Everything László does depends on the whims of Harrison Van Buren, a situation that leads to an unimaginable conclusion.
The Brutalist wouldn’t work without Adrien Brody or Guy Pearce’s career-defining performances. Talk about your awards-caliber work. Both Brody and Guy Pearce can expect to have full dance cards come awards season.
Brody delivers a performance as László Tóth that is powerful, raw, and deeply affecting, a physical and emotional commitment to the role that resonates long after the credits roll. Brody’s László is vulnerable to manipulation, and Guy Pearce’s Harrison Van Buren is the sociopathic, charismatic tycoon who seizes the opportunity. Dressed in fine clothing and true nature hidden behind dollar signs, Harrison’s desire to possess László is only matched by his resentment of his artistic genius. However, although Harrison has the money and power, László is the one who holds the Van Buren family legacy in his hands.
The Brutalist includes some of the most unforgettable, stunning shots of any 2024 feature. Impeccably shot by Lol Crawley, The Brutalist is a brutally honest depiction of the American dream. The film explores antisemitism, racism, and classism in all their ugliness. It also depicts sexual violence and, without being graphic, makes its impact clear.
The Brutalist offers an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the immigrant experience, highlighted by its amazing production design and a subtle yet powerful score. As László’s magnificent buildings did in the world Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold created, The Brutalist will stand the test of time.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for graphic nudity, drug use, rape, some language, and strong sexual content
Release Date: December 20, 2024 limited
Running Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
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