Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
âLike just how good could THE BRUTALIST be?â
That was the question I had echoing in my brain during TIFF this past September when the Film had its North American premiere and a seat (not to mention a vacancy in my schedule) for the 3 hour and 35-minute epic was hard to come by. I unfortunately decided to wait to see what had all the critics buzzing.
Flash-forward to this week where the Film just scored 10 nominations from the Academy Awards to go along with the plethora of crucial nominations from the other major awards bodies this month, not to mention thethree big wins it received at the Golden Globes earlier this month â including Best Motion Picture, Drama.
After all of that and now having seen the Film twice â once on glorious 70mm film! â I have the obvious answer to that question from September. It is not just simply âgoodâ; rather, it is an incredible piece of Cinema that challenges, inspires and demands your immediate attention. Full stop.
The Film revolves around LĂĄszlĂł TĂłth (Oscar-nominee and recent Golden Globe-winner Adrien Brody), a brilliant Hungarian-Jewish Architect who has fled Europe for America to start a new life following World War II. He makes ends meet living in the backroom of his cousinâs furniture shop and longs to reunite with his wife ErzsĂŠbet (Oscar-nominee Felicity Jones), who is still living in Europe. His first encounter with wealthy industrialist Harrison Van Buren (Oscar-nominee Guy Pearce) goes terribly, only for Harrison to later apologize and commission LĂĄszló to create a sprawling community centre in a borough of Pennsylvania. What should be the start of a new legacy rapidly evaporates into something much different.
That plot may not sound as monumentally game-changing as the hyperbole has suggested. Make no mistake though, THE BRUTALIST is the real deal. What Co-Writer/Director Brady Corbet (who previously helmed 2018âs Vox Lux starring Natalie Portman and Jude Law) has crafted here is a wildly ambitious and audacious take on the immigrant experience, and how the promises of the fabled American Dream failed so many of them after the war. He pulls no punches with LĂĄszlĂłâs story and the many grim places it goes, zeroing in on the grief and despair LĂĄszlĂł feels physically, emotionally and sexually. And while it may take place primarily in the aftermath of World War II, Corbetâs messages still feel all too relevant to life in contemporary times too.
I will readily admit that I do have frustrations with the ambiguity of some moments in THE BRUTALIST and how underwritten some characters and their motivations are. Yet those criticisms come across as practically trivial in comparison to the spectacular look of each and every scene taking place throughout the Filmâs gargantuan running time. The sheer scale and scope of what the camera captures is nothing short of astounding. Whether inside, outside, or confined to claustrophobic spaces, Lol Crawleyâs majestic cinematography â filmed in the nearly extinct VistaVision format â looks absolutely gorgeous and will remind you of a time when American epics were not dominated by copious amounts of visual effects. Some moments are so simple in their beauty, while others are stark and bleak. It makes for a visually sumptuous journey for your eyes, and is complimented greatly by Daniel Blumbergâs tremendous Score and the Filmâs stellar sound design.
The acting is even better. Brody is magnificent, running through a gamut of emotional victories and losses that will leave you gasping often. He has rarely been better than he is here (perhaps second only to his Oscar-winning work in The Pianist?), and watching him react and interact is a marvelous acting showcase. He brings a real introspective quality to LĂĄszlĂł that keeps you hanging on his every move, even when he is at odds with the fragility of his ego. Pearce is a pitch perfect antagonist and foil for Brody, in sync and matching his intensity. He has always been a dependable character actor and his work as Harrison is further proof of his what an exceptional talent he is. Pearce is just as charming as he is a despicable shit weasel, bringing a real gravitas to a character we cannot help but admire.
And although she does not appear until the second half of the Film â after the truly delightful 15-minute intermission! â Jones brings a much-needed warmth and emotional pull that guides the Film through to its conclusion. She deserves every bit of praise as her male Co-stars, as their top-notch work would not be nearly as strong without her as a scene partner to work off of. The impeccable acting translates down to the supporting work from Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Emma Laird, Jonathan Hyde, Isaach De BankolĂŠ and Alessandro Nivola. Each one is excellent no matter their length of time on-screen.
I could continue singing the praises of THE BRUTALIST, but you really need to experience it for yourself whether you are a fan of cinema or simply just like going to the movies. Corbet and his team have created one of the best films of the decade packed with exquisite performances and stunning visuals. And generative AI âcontroversyâ or not, the Film remains one of the must-see movies before Oscar night. Do not let the running time get in the way of seeing THE BRUTALIST; the reward you get for watching will be one you will not soon forget.
Elevation Picturesâ THE BRUTALIST is now playing in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, and will be opening across Canada on Friday, January 24, 2025.
Be sure to check out our interview with Oscar-nominee and Golden Globe-winning Co-Writer/Director Brady Corbet!
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