Flawless Cinematography, Flawed Execution: Brady Corbet’s ‘The Brutalist’
By Natalie McCarty
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A film that is both breathtakingly beautiful and frustratingly uneven, Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is a cinematic paradox. From the opening moments, it is clear that Corbet’s directorial vision is one of grandeur and ambition. The first ten minutes are a masterstroke, particularly the opening scene, which deserves its place among the most stunning sequences in cinematic history. The interplay of light, shadow, and meticulously composed frames immerses the viewer in a world of stark beauty and emotional depth.
The cinematography throughout the film is, without question, its crowning achievement. Every frame feels like a work of art. It’s a deliberate mirror of a thoughtful meditation on the human condition. The visuals oscillate between the ethereal and the grounded, capturing fleeting moments of tenderness; however, for all its visual brilliance, the film struggles to match its aesthetic with consistent storytelling.
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The narrative of The Brutalist is a curious beast. For every one line of dialogue that cuts to the core of the human experience, there are dozens that feel disposable. Monologue after monologue stretches the excessive runtime (of three and a half hours), often veering into self-indulgence. The film seems to lose itself in its ambition, dragging on in places where it could have soared. Tender and profound moments are interrupted by scenes that meander, losing focus and momentum.
The interspersed cinematographic brilliance does provide a reprieve from the weighty dialogue, but the pacing remains uneven. The film oscillates between moments of profound humanity and scenes that feel like they exist purely to indulge the director’s vision, rather than serve the story.
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One of the film’s most contentious elements is its use of AI technology, particularly in altering Adrien Brody’s accent for his character, László Tóth. While the intent may have been to achieve authenticity, the result is unsettling. Brody’s performance is undoubtedly compelling and nuanced, but the knowledge of the AI-altered accent creates a disconnect, pulling the viewer out of the narrative at times.
If we’re being honest, I’d argue that it should disqualify him from winning at the 2025 Oscars. It raises ethical and artistic questions about the use of such technology in cinema—questions that Corbet perhaps should have explored more thoughtfully within the film’s context.
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If the cinematography is the film’s visual heart, the score is its emotional soul. The main theme of the original score is one of the most moving compositions in recent memory. It weaves seamlessly through the film, elevating even its most lackluster moments. The music adds depth and resonance, providing a counterpoint to the uneven narrative.
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The Brutalist is a film of contradictions. It is as visually stunning as it is narratively frustrating, as profound as it is ponderous. Brady Corbet’s ambition is evident in every frame, and the film’s exploration of the human condition is undeniably poignant. Yet, its flaws are too glaring to ignore.
For all its cinematic brilliance, the film’s reliance on monologues and its uneven pacing weigh it down. And yet, when the credits roll, what lingers are the moments of visual and emotional beauty. The ones that remind us why cinema matters.
