I felt that the narrative fell short of the epic nature of the cinematography, sound, and score. I felt underwhelmed when I left the theater. Too many themes wanting to be explored without payoff or further development. In contrast to the beauty of the visuals, the story felt uneven, at times meandering and then abrupt, leaving us with an epilogue that felt tonally different/ off and honestly anticlimactic. I feel that the script didn’t pull the thread through on what critics say is supposed to represent “the immigrant experience.”
This is a problem you see in so many movies and TV shows - the artists can't resist making the whole thing about their own experiences acting, directing, etc. It's a big world and I want to see more of it explored then the corner of Hollywood, Bollywood, whatever, they live in.
If you find out about a movie… stop right there. don’t follow up til you watch it. Way too easy to have a movie overhyped now and it’s very clear the fact that it was overhyped colored your perspective.
I just watched a masterfully done Danish film *The Promised Land*. It is also about a man who is of humble birth trying to achieve the impossible and leave legacy behind. Despite reading subtitles, I never felt a dull moment from beginning to end. I was looking forward to watching this film However, your ending note give me a pause because I just don't feel comfortable watching a film inspired by the ambitious of Israel and its construction while Gaza homes are in a ruble. Maybe one day.
The other side of the spectrum was amazing, walking in not knowing much besides “it’s a movie about architecture” which was the only selling point needed to get me in, as I am deeply interested in design&architecture; going in knowing nothing, with an open mind, I was blown away by the scope of this project and its execution. It’s not an action packed thriller, or all the way a slow burn drama, to me watching this movie was like watching a painter struggle through a painting, yet lost in fascination till the very second the masterpiece is complete.
Your problem with the movie could be the campaign and the great expectations which it raised. I saw the movie at Viennale festival in Vienna and know little of it before. It was breathtaking for me, I really loved the movie. A great epos with a gigantic performance of Brody!
Dude, it’s okay to go against the grain. People hail the Emperor’s New Clothes all the time. I hated this movie, so can you. 😂 I hear people comparing this to There Will Be Blood and think they’re out of their minds. There’s not a single scene in TB that is as well shot or dramatically compelling as TWBB’s many memorable scenes. Nothing happens in this movie, and it horribly misuses VistaVision, IMHO. Free world. 👍
I for one thought the Brutalist was a masterpiece for its cinematography, script and cast. It absorbed me entirely. With that said, I did appreciate your review and perspective, especially when it comes to the character of Erzebet and her niece. I guess my mind filled up all the gaps where they’re concerned.
I hated how the epilogue felt rushed leaving you with this message of the journey doesn’t matter. It’s all about the destination, so your life doesn’t matter until you “make it” After such brutal scenes just to be left with this man in a wheelchair, barely able to enjoy his success, and we’re being told that the destination is the most important part. What a lazy ending. I would’ve loved to see the Director of the Northman fix this movie 😂
Corbet said he wanted to take his time to tell his story, which is fine, but unfortunately, it doesn’t pay off. The characters are never fully developed, particularly Laszlo, and the supporting characters feel cartoonish. Some key events take place off-screen, leaving the audience waiting for payoffs that never come, while the director resorts to exposition instead of showing us the story unfold. The film’s small budget is evident, which hinders its ambitious scope. The story itself isn’t engaging. Brody was overacting, and Jones was okay; her best scene was at the dinner table
I will say as one point I do disagree with - I thought this movie looked great and is an achievement in the fact that it was made for approx. $10 million
The idea of it being a “masterpiece” “monumental” is really just marketing coming off of the film festivals. I think it’s a solid movie about, like you said, making art and those who finance art. Those who want to make the art, those who want to own the art (or artist). I think regardless of the praise heaped on it, it’s a well made movie that falls into similar issues as a lot of movies. The first act to me really lived up to what I was expecting. It was fantastic. The second part was harder to come to terms with due to the surprising twist and how quickly it barrels towards the ending. Idk don’t get hung up on marketing. In my opinion it has strong performances, a strong script, a strong score, great cinematography. It was a win for me!
Ben, I was most appreciative of your assessment. I too came out of The Brutalist (yesterday) feeling intrigued. I was largely impressed with the acting, the visual appearance, and (mostly) the use of the musical score. Yet I did not feel that the movie reached the level to which it aspired. In part, it was because there were too many ideas introduced. Yes, there was the theme of the artist exploited by his patron. There was also the theme of an immigrant of great talent having to struggle against great adversity to make it in America. Those themes should have been the focus. However, the viewer was sidetracked by the issues of sexism, racism, antisemitism, drug addiction, complicated intimate relationships, the Holocaust, the existence of Israel. (I am appalled by the anti-semitic, anti-Israel response to the movie, but that should not have even been a factor in a movie that didn't address that controversy in a meaningful way.) I would have preferred a shorter movie that fleshed out the main themes more fully and made those messages stronger and less ambiguous.
I think your viewing is pretty shallow. You mix up a publicists-driven Oscar campaign with the film, which results in dime-store psychology. Lazlo is not the director. Did you even bother to find out what Brutalism is? Admittedly you have to work more with this film than your typical Marvel movie. BTW, a film that genuinely announces its importance is CONCLAVE, in big bold letters and chords.
We walked out short after the intermission. Nothing good about this. Painfully bad. AB overacting at all times; obvious low budget film patently attempting to disguise that fact; no characters are relatable; plot weird; just abominable. So sick of the lemmings telling us a film is good or great and shoving garbage down our throats. What a joke.
You speak as if your opinion is objective. You're CLEARLY not the target audience so don't leave the theatre crying because you didn't like a 3h 35m movie about architecture.... You drove there, you bought a ticket to something I'm assuming you knew you wouldn't like, you sat down through more than half the film, and walked out knowing you hated it. ITS. YOUR. OWN. DAMN. FAULT!
@@oneAndyHicks Not crying. Went home and watched Lawrence of Arabia again. An actual epic. Did not pay. Free access. All art is subjective; nothing I said contradicted that. Take a chill pill.
@ Why do you feel the need. To talk like this. In an effort - to enunciate - your sentences? Interesting how everyone immediately flocks to Lawrence of Arabia when they become defenceless. This notion that it's an untouchable masterpiece that compares to nothing is pure lunacy. Whether you actually watched it or are just saying that because you feel the need to amplify your comment, in the end it's pointless because if you feel the need to compare anything to a movie of that magnitude and scope, you may as well just give up watching movies entirely because clearly nothing will convince you something could surpass it. "A real epic", let me just quickly google the definition of an epic... "An epic film is a movie that is large in scale, dramatic, and often focuses on a heroic character. Known for their spectacle, grandeur, and sweeping scope, lavish costumes, extravagant settings, and sweeping scores, with heroic characters, such as royalty or important figures in history." I don't know about you, Lazlo may not be heroic, but I'm certain many of these can be applied to The Brutalist. On the subject of you claiming you never contradicted subjectiveness, you ABSOLUTELY did. You never once said it's only your opinion, and only spoke about it in a negative tone as if there's no possible redeeming qualities. Using words such as "obvious" in a statement you claim to be subjective is just hypocritical. Others I'd point out are, "painfully bad", "garbage", and "nothing good about this". All of which really speak to the subjectiveness of your opinion. But if you walked out before even finishing the film, then you're in NO position to lecture the public or have an opinion on just how "garbage" it is. Good-day.
Firstly ... What is a Masterpiece? You've got to be looking at 8/9/10-10 films. What I will say is part 1 is good enough to be talked about in masterpiece terms. Part 2 doesn't reach part 1 or masterpiece highs.
There was a noticeable shift post-intermission. I won't go so far as to say it went downhill, but it definitely... changed. The first half was dang near flawless, in my opinion.
What makes you think the pro Zionist message was not intentional? Seems to be the tenet of the entire movie. One could argue the community center in the middle of nowhere represents the creation of Israel.
I felt that the narrative fell short of the epic nature of the cinematography, sound, and score. I felt underwhelmed when I left the theater. Too many themes wanting to be explored without payoff or further development. In contrast to the beauty of the visuals, the story felt uneven, at times meandering and then abrupt, leaving us with an epilogue that felt tonally different/ off and honestly anticlimactic. I feel that the script didn’t pull the thread through on what critics say is supposed to represent “the immigrant experience.”
This is a problem you see in so many movies and TV shows - the artists can't resist making the whole thing about their own experiences acting, directing, etc. It's a big world and I want to see more of it explored then the corner of Hollywood, Bollywood, whatever, they live in.
good..now go make movie..forget about making a good movie..just try finishing a movie. Then your comment is worth reading.
Movie had a weird ending, kinda turned it into a joke.
If you find out about a movie… stop right there. don’t follow up til you watch it. Way too easy to have a movie overhyped now and it’s very clear the fact that it was overhyped colored your perspective.
I just watched a masterfully done Danish film *The Promised Land*. It is also about a man who is of humble birth trying to achieve the impossible and leave legacy behind. Despite reading subtitles, I never felt a dull moment from beginning to end. I was looking forward to watching this film
However, your ending note give me a pause because I just don't feel comfortable watching a film inspired by the ambitious of Israel and its construction while Gaza homes are in a ruble. Maybe one day.
@@danisalusha5739
Loved “Promised Land.”
Great film.
@@JamesElliott-ne9rg Can't wait to see it, thanks!!!
The other side of the spectrum was amazing, walking in not knowing much besides “it’s a movie about architecture” which was the only selling point needed to get me in, as I am deeply interested in design&architecture; going in knowing nothing, with an open mind, I was blown away by the scope of this project and its execution. It’s not an action packed thriller, or all the way a slow burn drama, to me watching this movie was like watching a painter struggle through a painting, yet lost in fascination till the very second the masterpiece is complete.
Your problem with the movie could be the campaign and the great expectations which it raised. I saw the movie at Viennale festival in Vienna and know little of it before. It was breathtaking for me, I really loved the movie. A great epos with a gigantic performance of Brody!
Dude, it’s okay to go against the grain. People hail the Emperor’s New Clothes all the time. I hated this movie, so can you. 😂 I hear people comparing this to There Will Be Blood and think they’re out of their minds. There’s not a single scene in TB that is as well shot or dramatically compelling as TWBB’s many memorable scenes. Nothing happens in this movie, and it horribly misuses VistaVision, IMHO. Free world. 👍
I agree w you a hundred percent. This is overrated Hollywood slop imo.
I for one thought the Brutalist was a masterpiece for its cinematography, script and cast. It absorbed me entirely. With that said, I did appreciate your review and perspective, especially when it comes to the character of Erzebet and her niece. I guess my mind filled up all the gaps where they’re concerned.
I hated how the epilogue felt rushed leaving you with this message of the journey doesn’t matter. It’s all about the destination, so your life doesn’t matter until you “make it” After such brutal scenes just to be left with this man in a wheelchair, barely able to enjoy his success, and we’re being told that the destination is the most important part. What a lazy ending. I would’ve loved to see the Director of the Northman fix this movie 😂
Corbet said he wanted to take his time to tell his story, which is fine, but unfortunately, it doesn’t pay off. The characters are never fully developed, particularly Laszlo, and the supporting characters feel cartoonish. Some key events take place off-screen, leaving the audience waiting for payoffs that never come, while the director resorts to exposition instead of showing us the story unfold. The film’s small budget is evident, which hinders its ambitious scope. The story itself isn’t engaging. Brody was overacting, and Jones was okay; her best scene was at the dinner table
I will say as one point I do disagree with - I thought this movie looked great and is an achievement in the fact that it was made for approx. $10 million
The idea of it being a “masterpiece” “monumental” is really just marketing coming off of the film festivals.
I think it’s a solid movie about, like you said, making art and those who finance art. Those who want to make the art, those who want to own the art (or artist).
I think regardless of the praise heaped on it, it’s a well made movie that falls into similar issues as a lot of movies. The first act to me really lived up to what I was expecting. It was fantastic. The second part was harder to come to terms with due to the surprising twist and how quickly it barrels towards the ending.
Idk don’t get hung up on marketing. In my opinion it has strong performances, a strong script, a strong score, great cinematography. It was a win for me!
I hope The Brutalist wins Best Picture over Anora or Emilia Perez
Anything but Emilia Perez
SAG snubbed it big time with only 1 nod.
That's really because that they don't care for it, and the academy might feel the same way.
Agree totally ….the script was below par….writer/director problem !
Ben, I was most appreciative of your assessment. I too came out of The Brutalist (yesterday) feeling intrigued. I was largely impressed with the acting, the visual appearance, and (mostly) the use of the musical score. Yet I did not feel that the movie reached the level to which it aspired. In part, it was because there were too many ideas introduced. Yes, there was the theme of the artist exploited by his patron. There was also the theme of an immigrant of great talent having to struggle against great adversity to make it in America. Those themes should have been the focus. However, the viewer was sidetracked by the issues of sexism, racism, antisemitism, drug addiction, complicated intimate relationships, the Holocaust, the existence of Israel. (I am appalled by the anti-semitic, anti-Israel response to the movie, but that should not have even been a factor in a movie that didn't address that controversy in a meaningful way.) I would have preferred a shorter movie that fleshed out the main themes more fully and made those messages stronger and less ambiguous.
This movie is overrated Hollywood slop, boring, slow, underwhelming all around.
Hype AIPAC propaganda 😂
I think your viewing is pretty shallow. You mix up a publicists-driven Oscar campaign with the film, which results in dime-store psychology. Lazlo is not the director. Did you even bother to find out what Brutalism is? Admittedly you have to work more with this film than your typical Marvel movie. BTW, a film that genuinely announces its importance is CONCLAVE, in big bold letters and chords.
It's decent. It's not a masterpiece.
We walked out short after the intermission.
Nothing good about this.
Painfully bad.
AB overacting at all times; obvious low budget film patently attempting to disguise that fact; no characters are relatable; plot weird; just abominable.
So sick of the lemmings telling us a film is good or great and shoving garbage down our throats.
What a joke.
Never been a fan of Brody but I guess he's got friends in the business to promote his work.
Yup.
You speak as if your opinion is objective. You're CLEARLY not the target audience so don't leave the theatre crying because you didn't like a 3h 35m movie about architecture....
You drove there, you bought a ticket to something I'm assuming you knew you wouldn't like, you sat down through more than half the film, and walked out knowing you hated it.
ITS. YOUR. OWN. DAMN. FAULT!
@@oneAndyHicks
Not crying.
Went home and watched Lawrence of Arabia again.
An actual epic.
Did not pay.
Free access.
All art is subjective; nothing I said contradicted that.
Take a chill pill.
@ Why do you feel the need.
To talk like this.
In an effort -
to enunciate -
your sentences?
Interesting how everyone immediately flocks to Lawrence of Arabia when they become defenceless. This notion that it's an untouchable masterpiece that compares to nothing is pure lunacy. Whether you actually watched it or are just saying that because you feel the need to amplify your comment, in the end it's pointless because if you feel the need to compare anything to a movie of that magnitude and scope, you may as well just give up watching movies entirely because clearly nothing will convince you something could surpass it.
"A real epic", let me just quickly google the definition of an epic...
"An epic film is a movie that is large in scale, dramatic, and often focuses on a heroic character. Known for their spectacle, grandeur, and sweeping scope, lavish costumes, extravagant settings, and sweeping scores, with heroic characters, such as royalty or important figures in history."
I don't know about you, Lazlo may not be heroic, but I'm certain many of these can be applied to The Brutalist.
On the subject of you claiming you never contradicted subjectiveness, you ABSOLUTELY did. You never once said it's only your opinion, and only spoke about it in a negative tone as if there's no possible redeeming qualities. Using words such as "obvious" in a statement you claim to be subjective is just hypocritical. Others I'd point out are, "painfully bad", "garbage", and "nothing good about this". All of which really speak to the subjectiveness of your opinion. But if you walked out before even finishing the film, then you're in NO position to lecture the public or have an opinion on just how "garbage" it is.
Good-day.
Exactly!
Firstly ... What is a Masterpiece? You've got to be looking at 8/9/10-10 films. What I will say is part 1 is good enough to be talked about in masterpiece terms. Part 2 doesn't reach part 1 or masterpiece highs.
There was a noticeable shift post-intermission. I won't go so far as to say it went downhill, but it definitely... changed. The first half was dang near flawless, in my opinion.
@@adrienbrodywithsprinkles Agreed
What makes you think the pro Zionist message was not intentional? Seems to be the tenet of the entire movie. One could argue the community center in the middle of nowhere represents the creation of Israel.
Good video.
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why on earth is it 3hrs 35min?? LOL.
I think this film critic isn't the masterpiece he believes he is. He's way too overhyped by some people around him, including his parents.
Yes exactly. You're spot on!