Run Time: 3hr 35min (including a 15 minute intermission)
I’ll be honest, I feel somewhat ill equipped to review a film as grandiose and monumentous as the Brutalist. Movies like it are why I created this blog. It comes from a class of film that can seem somewhat inaccessible or even pretentious to the average viewer.  However, the stories they tell are ones we cannot overlook, though they so often are. I am a huge fan of epic odyssean style movies but I even I balked at the 3 hour and 35 minute run time, with a 15 minute intermission. However, don’t let it deter you, it is well worth the time. Especially in theaters. I’m a purest at heart and believe most movies should be seen in a theater and this film is an excellent example of that. The way the music, and cinematography come together with the expansive and often overwhelming set design and architecture, creates a viewing experience I’ve never seen before. Act 1 felt as though I was walking through the contemporary and modern art section of the Detroit Institute of Art. The building the DIA resides in is just as much of an art piece as any painting or sculpture in the museum. Similarly, the Brutalist treats the architecture like it’s own character. Ever present in every scene. The modern designs are a direct reflection of a post-war society, invoking a feeling of potential and hope for the future. However, at the center is the tragedy that the holocaust survivors were left to grapple with once the war had ended. A time in history not often explored in film. Act 2 lives up to the the movie’s title. Gut wrenching and of course brutal. It’s not so disturbing that you cannot sit through it, but it is not an easy watch. You see the protagonist go down a dark path and experience violence no one ever should, causing a shift in his design directly reflecting the concentration camps he escaped. It goes with out saying that the performances were top notch. Adrien Brody embodies his character with an incredible amount of complexity and authenticity. I’m expecting plenty of Oscar buzz, I would not be surprised if it gets nominated for and wins best picture. Honestly, I mean that in good ways and bad. This can feel like Oscar bait, it’s a bit slow paced and many people will likely find it boring especially in act one. However, I believe the Brutalist deserves all the accolades it got. It is truly is a work of art. 9/10

UPDATE FOR THIS REVIEW: It’s come to my attention that this film used AI for some of its architectural shots. This is incredibly unfortunate and honestly a bit insulting to architecture. I do not believe AI has ANY place in art, including film. Because of this I have to rescind my initial rating of 9/10 and give the Brutalist a 7.5/10. I just cannot get behind and support the use of AI