The Brutalistis making its rounds as one of the best films of 2024, rising to the top of most film critics' end-of-year lists, and winning three categories at the Golden Globes. The film is a serious contender for many awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture.The Brutalisthas had an interesting rise to popularity and awards contention. The film runs for three and a half hours, going so long that it needs an intermission.The Brutalist’s focus on architecture isn’t as attention-grabbing as most other films in theaters, either.
However,The Brutalisthas plenty of positives that have made the film such a strong awards contender. The film’s stars, Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, deliver career-defining performances.The Brutalistis also masterfully crafted, with an entirely original story that sheds light on issues that still affect life today, such as the struggles immigrants have and how stories about tragedies like the Holocaust are told.
The Brutalist
Who Is László Tóth?
László Tóth is the main character inThe Brutalist,played by Adrien Brody. László is a Hungarian-Jewish man who was living in Europe in the 1940s.He was captured in the Holocaust, but he survived, although he was separated from his family. At the beginning of the film, he is alone and decides to move to America. His new life starts with struggles as he gets fired from his cousin’s business and gets addicted to heroin.
László Tóth is also an architect, focusing on the Brutalist style of architecture, which is where the film gets its name. In America, he renovates the house of a wealthy man named Harrison Van Buren (played by Guy Pearce), and after a brief misunderstanding, László’s work is heralded. He finds out that his architectural work was praised in Europe as well, andHarrison hires László to build a community center. During the Holocaust, László was separated from his wife and niece. However, Harrison is able to bring László’s wife and niece to America.
Oscar Predictions 2025: Where the Race Stands In the Final Stretch
Things have changed. Here are our current frontrunners.
Why ‘The Brutalist’ Is Getting Awards Attention
Although it’s fictional,László Tóth’s story is a rollercoaster of emotions, which is one reason for its awards season buzz. Lászlo’s time in America reflects other immigrant stories, as he’s met with hardship, disappointment, and even addiction. Even though Harrison offers him a job working on the community center, Harrison is not appreciative of László and shows the architect that he’s easily dispensable. It’s a critique of those in power under a capitalist economy that also points to current events. The film isn’t entirely bad for László Tóth, as he’s honored with a ceremony for his architectural works at the end of the movie. His niece, in the final lines of the film, reminds the audience that what matters most “is the destination, not the journey.”
The architecture in the film also acts as a metaphor. Brutalist architecture is bare and minimalist, often revealing the concrete structures of a building. László Tóth describes his work in the film by saying, “My buildings were designed to endure erosion of frivolity.“The Brutalistshows that the stories of Holocaust survivors should be treated the same and need the same seriousness to withstand time.
Adrien Brody’s stunning performance has helped propelThe Brutalistto its spot as a solid awards contender. His Oscar-winning role inThe Pianistwas similar, and the story ofhis own family coming to the United Stateshelped inspire him in the role as well. Inour review ofThe Brutalist, Julian Roman singled out the actor, saying that “Adrien Brody mesmerizes in a sublime lead performance that catapults him to the forefront of awards contention.” Brody has already won Best Actor award from the Golden Globes and multiple film critic associations.
A24’s Best Historical Films, Including ‘The Brutalist,’ Ranked
From horror to coming-of-age, A24 has released more fantastical historical films than we can keep up with.
How to Watch ‘The Brutalist’
Anyone excited by the hype surroundingThe Brutalistwill have to leave the comfort of their home.The Brutalistis still showing in theaters, making it unavailable to watch on any streaming services. It’s a perk that the movie was shot using film intended to look great in theaters, but the film’s massive runtime may deter some viewers. With the film being released in December of last year, fewer theaters are including the film in their showtimes, meaning thatThe Brutalistshould be available to stream soon.
The film is distributed by A24, who released asimilar award-contender,The Zone of Interest, around the same time a year ago.The Zone of Interestreleased on streaming in late February, about two months after the film’s release and a few weeks before the Oscars.It’s likely thatThe Brutalistwill be available to stream around the same time this year.
WhenThe Brutalistleaves theaters, the film will be available to rent or buy on digital retailers including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.A24 also has a partnership with Max, so users with a subscription to the streaming service should be able to watchThe Brutalistthrough the app when it releases.
