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*** THE BRUTALIST *** (Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce)

8,885 Views | 60 Replies | Last: 5 mo ago by cr0wbar
Col. Steve Austin
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In reply to GoAgs92 • 2:26p, 12/15/24
AG
nm

(double post)
I am not the Six Million Dollar Man, but I might need that surgery. "We have the technology, we can rebuild him!"
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TCTTS
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8:25p, 12/18/24
AG
Seated.

In IMAX.

3h 35m runtime.

At an AMC, so probably 25 minutes of trailers, at least.

Roughly 4h total.

Sold out showing.

No idea if we're getting an intermission or not.

Either way, let's do this.
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Quinn
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In reply to TCTTS • 8:25p, 12/18/24
AG
Jealous, enjoy it.
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TCTTS
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10:36p, 12/18/24
AG
Movie is ****ing incredible so far.

Currently at intermission.

They're really implementing it, and it's actually part of the film itself, ending the first half on a triumphant note, then cutting to specific intermission titles, "wait" music, etc.

Never experienced this before.
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TCTTS
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In reply to TCTTS • 2:22a, 12/19/24
AG
The first half absolutely lives up to the hype, and was well on its way to being my number two movie of the year, behind Dune: Part Two. Just incredible filmmaking on every level, especially the acting, to the point where, when the intermission lights came up, I was convinced Adrian Brody was taking home the Best Actor Oscar (and he still very well might).

That said, while the second half isn't bad by any means, due to the nature of the story, it's more brutal (no pun intended), more of a downer, and not nearly as satisfying in comparison. It's good, there just aren't any highs like in the first half. Not to mention, the ending (or "The Epilogue" as it's titled) is pretty random/out of no where, and when the end credits appeared I was definitely left with somewhat a "huh" feeling. Not "What the hell was that?" but more "Hmmm, that was... interesting?"

Again, it's still an affecting - I would even say phenomenal - achievement overall. The There Will Be Blood comparisons are apt. It's just that The Brutalist is a bit more artsy, and while memorable and even iconic in its own right, it's not nearly on the level as Blood in either regard. But it is very much a similar vibe/dynamic. I just have a feeling the second half, and especially the ending, is going to be somewhat of a turnoff for a number of people.

Also, it's not that Brody wavers at all - he really does deliver possibly the performance of his career - rather, it's that because I don't think the movie will quite resonate with general audiences the way it is with critics, the door is now left open for Chalamet to swoop in and "steal" Best Actor.

All that said, if you're even mildly interested, it's definitely worth seeing, especially in theaters. That, and the runtime doesn't feel like three-and-a-half hours at all. It's engrossing from start to finish. I would just go in expecting a really good film, but something short of the films it's being compared to.
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Quinn
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In reply to TCTTS • 7:40p, 12/19/24
AG
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I'm really hoping for an all timer out of this, but it's probably good to temper expectations somewhat.
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TCTTS
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In reply to Quinn • 7:50p, 12/19/24
AG
Yeah for sure.

Will be very curious to hear what you, others here, and non-critics in general think.
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TCTTS
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4:19p, 12/22/24
AG
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8:38p, 1/6/25
AG
Just FYI, this is starting to expand this weekend, hitting the "top 15 markets" (which I assume includes at least one of Austin, Dallas, and Houston if not all three), and then finally goes wide on the 24th.

As for IMAX, I haven't seen anything official yet, but starting Thursday surely it'll hit at least a few IMAX theaters as well, then potentially expand from there.
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Quinn
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8:25p, 1/8/25
AG
Looks like it's showing at a few AMC theatres in DFW, but mostly on small screens. Going to hold out a few weeks and see if it get an imax showing around here.
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TCTTS
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12:47p, 1/9/25
AG

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TCTTS
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2:45a, 1/13/25
AG
Agreed. The intermission made it feel like so much more of an event...

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toucan82
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11:49p, 1/23/25
That was.... something

Definitely agree about the 1st half being much better and the epilogue. It really felt like they just added that on instead of doing some text telling what happened
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Brian Earl Spilner
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8:17p, 1/24/25
AG
I'm all for a slow burn, but that was a slog to get through. At least an hour longer than it needed to be.

But worse than that, I don't really know what the point of the movie was to be honest.

Not one I'll ever watch again.
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Mega Lops
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7:56a, 1/25/25
AG
Glad I Wikied the plot. Seems like the term "brutalist" describes a person who enjoys this kind of story.

Probably won't ever see this since there's no way Adrien Brody can top his masterful performance in The Village two decades ago.

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Quinn
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9:29p, 1/26/25
AG
Saw this one yesterday and found it very fascinating. I really enjoyed it.

It's an epic of a film, not pretending to be anything but an attempt at landing in the all time pantheon of cinema. I found it beautifully shot (saw it in IMAX) and the score was terrific. Brady Corbet was indulgent in the making of this film, including every scene it seemed that he thought merited inclusion. If you don't like this, that's fine, go see a 2 hour movie. I felt the length of the film, but it didn't bother me at all, I wanted to see every conversation he wanted to include.

This film is and will get compared many times to The Master and There Will Be Blood, and these films certainly came to mind for me too. All three are grand, big movies that are really about the relationship and the power dynamic between two individuals and the push and pull between the two. Whiplash is the other movie this reminded me of, specifically the drive to be great, what it cost, does it drive one mad, and is it all worth it.

The performance by the actors are terrific all around. Brody and Pearce dominate the screen and made for an outstanding pairing. The tension between the two of them as Van Buren admires and is put off by Toth, while Toth seemingly knows how to play the game with the benefactor at first, but then gets lost in his project. Joe Alwyn does a great job as Pearce's business minded and snide son. Felicity Jones made her character more fleshed out than the wife character tends to be in these types of movies.

The first half of the movie is stronger than the second, that's true, but I enjoyed all of it and didn't think it was a major drop off.

Overall, really interesting movie to watch and discuss that I'd recommend.

Spoiler specifics
- Interesting that the movie opens and ends with the niece. Someone who has taken English class since Hs will have to tell me the symbolism of that.
- I thought the shot of Toth emerging from the bowels of the ship to the upside down Statue of Liberty as the score crescendoed was awesome.
- Was anyone else waiting for Van Buren or Toth to kill the other in the quarry?
- Harry's reaction to Erzsebet confronting Harrison made me think that he has abused him as well.
- Though it was interesting that Toth's cousin sent Van Buren Toth's way even after he said he wouldn't help him anymore. I enjoyed that actor as well.
- I expected Harrison's body to be on the alter during the manhunt, but I'm glad they didn't go that route as the movie wasn't about the religious aspect at all.
- I don't think Corbet could have been any more clear of his disdain for other directors with the Jim Simpson architect character.
- Same with his needle drop of "One for You, One for Me"
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TCTTS
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In reply to Quinn • 9:37p, 1/26/25
AG
Really glad you liked it. All very well said.
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Quinn
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6:33p, 1/31/25
AG
Anyone else seeing the movie this weekend? I'm still thinking about it and hope others get to see it and enjoy it.
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TCTTS
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7:38p, 2/18/25
AG
Now available to rent digitally...


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Jim01
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4:07p, 2/24/25
AG
Just watched this one in prep for the Oscars.

I concur that the first part is the stronger. That opening and the shots of the statue could become iconic. So well done. There is a lot to love about this film including the aforementioned cinematography, the score, the performances, the font and layout design of the title/credits/intermission and overturn cards, etc.

I like the comparison to Oppenheimer in that it is a epic genius versus the world type film.

- However, where Oppenheimer has a weight to it that was warranted given the subject matter, this one felt like it had a weight to it that wasn't earned for large parts of the film. There was this ominous tone that felt confusing at times. Scenes where it felt like a murder could happen at any point but not being sure why.

- The acting of the Van Buren family boys was very stylized and I really like the effect it had on the movie. However their attitude was very odd. He seeks out this man because he thinks he is a genius but then they all hate him for seemingly no reason.

- The rape scene may have been one of the all time "Wait a minute? Where the F__ did this come from?" moments in recent film history to me. Just felt completely weird and out of place in large ways. Maybe my opinion will change over time, but, in a second half that was already kind of dragging, it was just an flabbergasting turn.

- I thought the Epilogue really helped save things. The explanation of the meaning of the building changed my perspective a lot. Before that it didn't make complete sense why he was so passionate about a ceiling height other than being steadfast in his art. The epilogue provides so much needed context.

- One of my central issues is that I just felt like he was a bit too muddied of a "hero". Even though they explain that the heroine was given to him for pain relief, he comes off as a self inflicted junky and temperamental artist. He wasn't really a character I was rooting for in any way, so in that sense the Epilogue felt like placing a crown on his head when most of the movie he was far from deserving of it.

Anyway, maybe that makes no sense. Overall it was a hell of a thing to watch, but it will take time to digest. I can see comparisons to TWBB but TWBB is a much better movie IMHO.
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TCTTS
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In reply to Jim01 • 5:38p, 2/24/25
AG
All very well said. In 100% agreement.
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Jim01
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2:29p, 2/25/25
AG
I thought about this movie last night while falling asleep, which in and of itself is a compliment to the movie.

Another movie that it brought to mind was Gangs Of New York. That movie always fell a little flat to me because of a few reasons, but the chief reason was that the entire movie is built around Leo vs. Bill The Butcher. Throughout the movie we see tiny little glimpses of the civil unrest and the brewing war, but they are very minor, especially in comparison to the central two characters. Then, right at the culmination of the movie, as the two are about to battle, this civil unrest explodes and completely overtakes the film and robs us of what we spent 2+ hours waiting to see. Scorsese didn't do a good enough job of making the war and unrest a present character in the narrative for it to overtake the entire movie at the end.

In this movie I get the same feeling from the hatred/resentment of the immigrant/Jewish people. The first half is tense between Van Buren and Toth, but it is all centered on other differences between the men (artist v. businessman, soft spoken v. to the point, etc.). None of it is immigrant/Jewish focused. Van Buren even introduces the Jewish lawyer as his "friend and lawyer, in that order". The Jewish lawyers wife even is a convert, in direct opposition to Toths cousin, who went the other direction.

It isn't until Toths wife arrives, we have the dinner scene, and Van Buren makes his joke about sounding like a shoe shiner, that we get a first glimpse of any kind of immigrant/Jewish tension between the two. At that point we are 2/3 or more into the movie! And even then we don't getting much more of it until the rape and Van Burens outburst there.

So at the end when Toth talks about how the country is against him and his people and it changed his cousin and it is out to get them too (or something to that effect). It felt like this weird tone/vibe of anti-Semitism or anti-immigrant that just wasn't at all effectively included in the film and felt very off to me. Again, I can't remember his exact wording, but I remember feeling like it was very out of left field. The movie was about a lot of things, but that didn't feel like one of them until the very end.
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TCTTS
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In reply to Jim01 • 2:55p, 2/25/25
AG
Spot on, once again. You really put into words what I found "off" about the second half. Either fully commit to an entire movie about the hate certain immigrants endure - or - leave that aspect to the fringes throughout. Because, in the first half, things go about as great for someone in Laszlo's position as possible, save for the accusation from his cousin-in-law, of course. Otherwise, Laszlo is afforded every opportunity imaginable, and basically lives out the American dream. Again, yes, there are slights, hardships, and disagreements, but he (mostly) overcomes them, is rewarded for his talent, and is even reunited with his wife because of it. But then, like you alluded to, a little over halfway through, the movie suddenly becomes a "they hate us" screed. Which - don't get me wrong - is a perfectly valid sentiment. Just either A) do a better job of setting up that hatred in the first half, or B) keep the movie as more of a personal rivalry between Laszlo and Van Buren in the second half, hinging on different theme.
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GoAgs92
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6:40a, 2/27/25
AG
Only a $10M budget, that's impressive.

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TCTTS
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11:52a, 3/6/25
AG
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cr0wbar
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11:19p, 7/24/25
AG
Really enjoyed this. Had it saved on the MAX and pondered when I was gonna venture into a 3+ hour long epic. You got to lock in for it. Enjoyed the first half over the second as well. Will want to go back and rewatch the Guy Pierce monologue about his mother to Brody. That was fantastic.

Maybe I'm tired, but I'll need to rewatch Epilogue again. Felt shoehorned in a bit, I might've missed some of that context

The transition editing was really great. That boat hull in Italy. The railcar and road shots too.

Q: so they found Van Buren's body, right? Was that was implied ?

I tell ya, I don't smoke but watching Adrien Brody slang that zippo around made me crave a heater.

Marble scene in Italy was awesome too. Had no idea those caves were like that.

I would definitely watch this again, much like the extended version of Dances with Wolves. You just gotta lock in.
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