The Brutalist
Updated: 1 day ago
A new American epic showcases the dark-side of the American dream

There is a common refrain when people complain about long films: “A movie is as long as it needs to be.” While many films are unnecessarily lengthy, some demand time to fully unfold. The Brutalist (2024), with its 3-hour and 34-minute runtime, is one such film.
The Brutalist tells the story of Hungarian Holocaust survivor and architect László Toth (Adrien Brody), who emigrates to the United States in search of the elusive American dream. Spanning from 1947 to 1960, with an epilogue set in 1980, the film follows László as he struggles to bring his journalist wife, Erzsébet (Felicity Jones), and niece, Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy), to the U.S. His aspirations become entangled with wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), whose patronage proves both an opportunity and a curse.
This marks former actor Brady Corbet’s third feature film as a writer-director, and he continues to demonstrate a distinct sense of originality and style. His unconventional approach to storytelling and cinematography pushes the boundaries of traditional filmmaking. Despite a relatively modest $10 million budget, The Brutalist boasts a scale and ambition that put many $100+ million productions to shame. Corbet achieves this through creative framing, utilizing tight camera angles to minimize the need for elaborate background dressing while maximizing locations and character focus. The result is a film that feels grand in scope, even with its intimate storytelling.
The film’s vast scale serves its critique of the American dream, underscored by an echoing, operatic score and cinematography that highlights the enormity of the American landscape—often dwarfing the characters within it. Like Giant (1956) and There Will Be Blood (2007), The Brutalist explores the treacherous and often Faustian nature of the pursuit of success in America. Corbet leans into the darker aspects of the immigrant experience, setting his story in the 1950s—an era mythologized as a golden age of prosperity, frequently evoked by “Make America Great Again” rhetoric. The film peels back the veneer of this idealized time, exposing the exploitative capitalism that mercilessly consumes immigrant talent, only to discard it at whim.
Adrien Brody, no stranger to portraying Holocaust survivors after The Pianist (2002), delivers a strikingly different performance here. He is extraordinary, capturing both László’s desperation and his unwavering dignity. His character's passion for architecture shines through his weary eyes, even as he toils shoveling coal before being discovered by Harrison. Brody’s performance is a slow-burn transformation, moving through stages of hope, frustration, and the painful realization of America’s true nature.
In a smaller but impactful role, Felicity Jones is spectacular as Erzsébet, portraying her as both kind and intelligent while subtly conveying the trauma she carries. Meanwhile, Guy Pearce has an absolute blast embodying the mustache-twirling Harrison. However, he wisely avoids overacting, which could have undermined the film’s message. Instead, Pearce strikes the perfect balance—mocking his character’s excesses while revealing the chilling, unpredictable nature of his power.
Corbet has crafted a true American epic, one that delivers a scathing critique of the so-called American dream. The immigrant story at its core is both fascinating and emotionally gripping, elevated by a stunning visual and cinematic scale. Combined with some of the year’s most powerful performances, The Brutalist never overstays its welcome. By the time the credits roll, you are left in silent awe, recognizing that you have just witnessed pure cinema.
8.7/10
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