The Brutalist (2024)

The Brutalist is a cinematic masterpiece for viewers interested in some of the year's rawest and most moving storytelling. Director Brady Corbet holds nothing back as he delves into complex themes of the immigrant experience, the fallacy of the American Dream, capitalism, art, oppression, and corruption, while Adrian Brody brings László Tóth to life with haunting realism. The Brutalist showcases elements of influential films on the immigrant experience and trauma, like Minari, Flee, and The Kite Runner. Viewers should be aware The Brutalist's realism and themes can make for uncomfortable viewing, but those prepared will find it quite a moving tale.

The Brutalist is a film that demands your attention and rewards it generously. Although its over three-hour runtime might seem daunting, don't let that scare you off because every minute is worth it. Adrien Brody shines as László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor who relocates to post-war America. His performance is expertly supported by Guy Pearce as the complex Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. Director Brady Corbet doesn't hold back with his storytelling, even while tackling somewhat sensitive themes like ambition and the immigrant experience in the land of the free.