In the years following World War II and the Holocaust, architect Laszlo immigrates to the United States, searching for a better life, with hopes that his wife and niece who are still in Europe may one day join him. With a turbulent existence bouncing from one place to the next, Laszlo eventually meets a wealthy businessman who enlists his services on the construction of a new community center. But will Laszlo succeed in his new endeavor, or will challenges like addiction and discrimination derail his American Dream?
Moves chronicling immigrants journeying to the United States in search of the American Dream and a brighter future aren’t exactly anything new. THE BRUTALIST, whose title actually refers to a style of architecture, is one of the latest to pursue this subject. Adrien Brody is at his best here, giving a performance for the ages of a tortured and conflicted man pursuing what he believes to be his best interests. A superb supporting cast and excellent cinematography push this new American epic to deserved heights, even if the overlong running time may be as much of a strength as a weakness.
There are not enough good things to be said about the lead role from Adrien Brody, who gives one of the best performances of his career. As Laszlo, he gives a three-dimensional performance for the ages, which easily ranks among his career best. We see this man at his highs and lows alike, from longing for his missing relatives to struggling with addiction and ways of feeding his vices and the emptiness inside, to the delights and triumphs he achieves. There’s a great supporting cast in THE BRUTALIST, but this is Mr. Brody’s movie first and foremost. He steals every scene he’s in throughout the movie’s lengthy duration.
The shooting style and the look if the film are fantastic. There’s even a vintage-style VistaVision bumper at the beginning of the movie, and a full opening credits sequence reminiscent of epics of days gone by. It’s a beautifully shot film that turns every single shot into a work of art. THE BRUTALIST is always visually interesting, to say the least.
While the film is certainly a bit on the long side, it’s quite involving and its attempts at character study certainly succeed. This combined with beautiful and diverse locales, not to mention not being afraid to show the uglier side of the American Dream with conclusions that aren’t entirely perfect or tidy only add to the strength of the finished product. Director Corbet’s vision shines through, making for a fully-realized epic that rarely loses its way.
THE BRUTALIST won’t be for everyone, but there’s no denying what it is – A modern-day epic of the American Dream, beautifully shot and featuring a career-defining performance from Adrien Brody. And fortunately, the film does feature an intermission to break up its lengthy run time. It’s easy to recommend this one.