Title: The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Screenplay by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
Release Date: january 24, 2025
Runtime: 3h 35m
Genre: Drama and History
Possible Trigger Warnings: strong sexual content, rape, drug use.
Plot Details
Escaping postwar Europe, a visionary architect comes to America to rebuild his life, career, and marriage. On his own in a strange county, he settles in Pennsylvania where a wealthy and prominent industrialist recognizes his talent.
My Thoughts
The way my jaw dropped when I found out this wasn’t a true story!
Seriously, I am still reeling. The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, follows a visionary architect who escapes postwar Europe to rebuild his life, career, and marriage in America. Settling down on his own in a strange new country—specifically Pennsylvania—his immense talent is eventually recognized by a wealthy and prominent industrialist.
Everything about this film feels incredibly fleshed out. The characters, the rich story, and the meticulous setting feel so tangible that you’d swear these were real historical figures struggling to get back on their feet after the devastating wake of the war. (Before we dive into the deep stuff, a quick heads-up on possible trigger warnings for this film: it does contain drug use, implied sexual assault, and alcohol use).
If you know me, you know my biggest hesitation with epic dramas. I am usually highly put off by exceptionally long runtimes (yeah, I’m looking right at you, Oppenheimer). I traditionally have a really hard time focusing, especially if a director lets the pacing drag.
So when I saw the length of The Brutalist, I braced myself. But I was so incredibly wrong to worry. The film maintains a beautifully steady pace the entire time. Surprisingly, I didn’t get bored for a single second and stayed completely engaged through every act. A massive contributor to this was a brilliant design choice: a built-in intermission.
Having that intentional pause was so helpful. It gave me a chance to recenter my brain and instantly converse with Denver and our mutual friend about everything we had just witnessed. Honestly, more long-form movies need to bring back the intermission!
If I have to pull out one negative critique, it’s that the film can make it hard to tell when a time jump has occurred. There were a few moments where I was left feeling a little confused as the narrative shifted. Thankfully, I could usually figure it out after a minute by leaning on context clues (like wardrobe and styling changes), but I definitely would have appreciated some sort of clearer on-screen indicator to keep the timeline smooth.
Despite minor timeline confusion, the film as a whole is an absolute must-watch. I am so glad Denver was enthusiastic about seeing this, because missing it on the big screen would have been a tragedy. The cinematography is utterly breathtaking, the script is incredibly sharp, and the acting is nothing short of phenomenal.
And can we talk about a logistical miracle for a second? They filmed this entire massive movie in just 34 days. Let that sink in! Shooting an epic of this scale in just over a month deserves an award entirely on its own.
Final Verdict
If you are looking for a casual, mindless background movie, this isn’t it. But I would absolutely recommend this to someone who wants to sit down and watch a piece of film—not just a movie. It is a beautifully shot, profoundly interesting story. If you’ve been on the fence about checking it out, take this as your sign: you should absolutely watch it!
Let’s Chat
What’s your stance on long runtimes? Do you think more movies should bring back the built-in intermission? Let’s talk in the comments!
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