The Brutalist

The Brutalist

An Ambitious Deconstruction of the American Dream

★★★½☆

An intriguing yet uneven spectacle that aims for the grand scale of Hollywood’s past.

Directed by Brady Corbet, The Brutalist is an intriguing yet uneven cinematic spectacle. It aims to deliver the large, epic mature storytelling of big Hollywood films of the past, even featuring an Overture, an intermission, and the VistaVision widescreen format. The actual story is an ambitious deconstruction of the American Dream told through the character study of László Toth (Adrien Brody), a broken yet talented architect struggling to exist in a post-WWII society.

"The film like its protagonist is disjointed and uncomfortable. Which is by design and often challenges the audience with presenting fleshed out characters who are messily, flawed and unabashedly human."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Epic Credentials

• Director: Brady Corbet
• Starring: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce
• Format: 70mm VistaVision
• Runtime: 3 hours 35 minutes (with Intermission)

A Monumental Scale

Director Brady Corbet effectively juxtaposes the beauty of nature with the turmoil and brutality of society. Some of the imagery and visual set pieces are truly awe-inspiring. However, as admirable as it is to present realistic and fully dimensional characters, the film lacks a powerful narrative driving force to ascend the storytelling to the next level. It results in a fascinating but not exactly engaging experience that falls just short of greatness.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• VistaVision Revival: This is the first film in decades to utilize the high-fidelity VistaVision format for its entire production.
• Award Pedigree: Adrien Brody has been widely praised for this "career-best" performance, marking a significant return to leading man status in prestige cinema.
• Venice Success: The film received a 12-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.

✅ Pros

• Jaw-dropping visual set pieces and technical ambition.
• Fleshed out, messily human characters that feel uncompromisingly "adult."
• A massive, epic tone reminiscent of Hollywood's golden age.

❌ Cons

• Lacks a powerful narrative emotional through-line.
• Disjointed and uncomfortable pacing may alienate some viewers.
• Ambition doesn't always translate into a rewarding experience.

🏆 Final Verdict

There is a lot to like in The Brutalist, but unfortunately not much to love. While its technical mastery is undeniable, the lack of an inspiring story to match the epic tone makes it an experience more to be admired than enjoyed.

View original review on Letterboxd