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The Brutalist
The screenplay definitely could have used some tightening, but 2024's The Brutalist is a sweeping and disturbing epic that initially appears to be one man's pursuit of the American Dream but takes the viewer on a journey that leads to an ugly and disturbing climax that galvanizes the viewer, but it shouldn't have taken as long as it did to get where it went.
The story introduces the viewer to Lazlo Toth, a Jewish immigrant who escapes post war Europe in the 1940's looking to begin a new life with the help of his brother. Though he initially finds work in construction/contracting, he is eventually revealed to be a brilliant architect through his work on the remodeling of a library of a wealthy industrialist named Harrison Van Buren who has the power and influence of a mob boss and who is so impressed with Toth's work that he enlists his skills in building his own empire in 1947 Philadelphia. The bond between Toth and Van Buren appears to be unbreakable until the arrival of Toth's wife and niece.
Director and co-screenwriter Brady Corbet deserves major kudos for the scope and power they have brought to this story of one man's pursuit of a new life that, I'm not sure why, had me flashing back to films like Citizen Kane and There Will Be Blood as we watch a central character initially bathed in penniless obscurity but revealed to be man with his own vision and a passion for what he does and not willing to compromise said passion, even for this guy Van Buren. And it's a little jarring when Van Buren respects Toth's vision and is shockingly protective of the guy, even when Toth pisses off business associates. Something is off about his blind loyalty to Toth until Toth is behind a tragedy that is a PR nightmare for Van Burnett which we think is going to spell the end of their relationship but it definitely sends it in an ugly direction we don't see coming.
The story takes a little too long to kick into gear, spending almost a half hour showing Toth's journey to America in the hull of a ship, with nothing to his name until he manages to unite with his brother Atilla, who gives him a job in his furniture store. But it's after Van Buren hires and fires Toth and discovers his past in Europe as an architect and that the film really begins to engage the viewer. Those opening scenes might have been better spent exploring Toth's backstory as an architect. Also loved the hate/hate relationship that develops between Toth and Van Buren's son, Harry, one of the slimiest characters I have seen in a movie in a long time. Harry's place in the finale is crucial to its power, though I did find the epilogue a little longer than necessary.
The film has been nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Corbet, and Best Actor for Adrien Brody's riveting performance as Lazlo, that could definitely land this richly talented actor a second Best Actor Oscar. The incredibly versatile Guy Pearce has landed his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as did Felicity Jones for her performance as Lazlo's sickly wife, Erzebet. I would love to see this one win the cinematography Oscar it has been nominated for. The images of storm clouds about to burst but never doing so perpetuate a lot of scenes and stayed with this reviewer. The ugliness of the climax could keep this film from winning Best Picture, not to mention the fact that it had no business being three hours and 21 minutes long, but this is still one journey worth taking.
The screenplay definitely could have used some tightening, but 2024's The Brutalist is a sweeping and disturbing epic that initially appears to be one man's pursuit of the American Dream but takes the viewer on a journey that leads to an ugly and disturbing climax that galvanizes the viewer, but it shouldn't have taken as long as it did to get where it went.
The story introduces the viewer to Lazlo Toth, a Jewish immigrant who escapes post war Europe in the 1940's looking to begin a new life with the help of his brother. Though he initially finds work in construction/contracting, he is eventually revealed to be a brilliant architect through his work on the remodeling of a library of a wealthy industrialist named Harrison Van Buren who has the power and influence of a mob boss and who is so impressed with Toth's work that he enlists his skills in building his own empire in 1947 Philadelphia. The bond between Toth and Van Buren appears to be unbreakable until the arrival of Toth's wife and niece.
Director and co-screenwriter Brady Corbet deserves major kudos for the scope and power they have brought to this story of one man's pursuit of a new life that, I'm not sure why, had me flashing back to films like Citizen Kane and There Will Be Blood as we watch a central character initially bathed in penniless obscurity but revealed to be man with his own vision and a passion for what he does and not willing to compromise said passion, even for this guy Van Buren. And it's a little jarring when Van Buren respects Toth's vision and is shockingly protective of the guy, even when Toth pisses off business associates. Something is off about his blind loyalty to Toth until Toth is behind a tragedy that is a PR nightmare for Van Burnett which we think is going to spell the end of their relationship but it definitely sends it in an ugly direction we don't see coming.
The story takes a little too long to kick into gear, spending almost a half hour showing Toth's journey to America in the hull of a ship, with nothing to his name until he manages to unite with his brother Atilla, who gives him a job in his furniture store. But it's after Van Buren hires and fires Toth and discovers his past in Europe as an architect and that the film really begins to engage the viewer. Those opening scenes might have been better spent exploring Toth's backstory as an architect. Also loved the hate/hate relationship that develops between Toth and Van Buren's son, Harry, one of the slimiest characters I have seen in a movie in a long time. Harry's place in the finale is crucial to its power, though I did find the epilogue a little longer than necessary.
The film has been nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Corbet, and Best Actor for Adrien Brody's riveting performance as Lazlo, that could definitely land this richly talented actor a second Best Actor Oscar. The incredibly versatile Guy Pearce has landed his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as did Felicity Jones for her performance as Lazlo's sickly wife, Erzebet. I would love to see this one win the cinematography Oscar it has been nominated for. The images of storm clouds about to burst but never doing so perpetuate a lot of scenes and stayed with this reviewer. The ugliness of the climax could keep this film from winning Best Picture, not to mention the fact that it had no business being three hours and 21 minutes long, but this is still one journey worth taking.