The Brutalist—At Least, Half of It—Is as Exhilarating as Any Movie You’ll See This Year

The film “The Brutalist,” directed by Brady Corbet, explores the question of what sets apart a genius like the character László Tóth from ordinary people. Adrien Brody portrays László, a Hungarian architect who survived Buchenwald and immigrated to the United States. The film opens with a perspective shot that simulates the experience of arriving at New York from a crowded steamer, where the Statue of Liberty appears distorted but still beautiful and welcoming. However, László quickly learns that his reception in America is not as warm as the statue’s expression suggests. Through steadfast adherence to his grand vision, he ultimately achieves great fame, but the story unfolds over a lengthy runtime of approximately three hours, with a 15-minute intermission for convenience.