The Brutalist Move review by Salem Turner - An ambitious epic that embodies the hardships and triumphs of creativity.

 Creativity is a virtue. It can affect people emotionally, physically, and impact relationships with those around them. Unimaginable in direction, scale, and size, The Brutalist starts as a vivid reflection of the harshness of proving yourself and belonging in unfamiliar waters but rapidly turns into something more degradingly vulnerable that allows for a deeper reflection of an artist’s psyche. 

Spanning over 30 years, the story of László Toth, a visionary architect, is engaging yet heartbreaking to watch. Escaping Europe after WW2, he comes to America without anything; only a few familial connections and a promise that his wife, who he got separated from, will join him shortly. Divided into 2 parts, the structure of this has a lot to do with László’s development, as his devastating reality is compared to an ever-growing, ever-changing, idealistic post-war American society. While he eventually gets recognized by a wealthy patron, it cannot be denied that this plays a big role in the narrative this film presents. 

However, ethics also play a tremendous hand, especially in the 2nd half. The character of Harrison Lee Van Buren, played by Guy Pearce, is an ominously blunt millionaire whose supposed interests in architecture and philanthropy distract from his unpredictability. Guy gives a gruffly threatening performance that exposes the dark side of American wealth. His and László’s relationship is a king-and-subject tightrope that always feels like it’s on edge, with differing behaviors and attitudes towards plans. Adrien Brody’s performance as László is magnificent and gives steadiness upon the ever-changing first part, yet becomes more tensely maniacal later on. He embodies feelings of struggle and endurance throughout, with it only becoming muddled at the very end of his legacy. 

The ever-talented Joe Alwyn plays Lee’s son in this, giving a deeply dramatic and over-the-top performance that only escalates over the years this takes place. His role in the climax is hilariously off putting, as it exemplifies the rich-kid nature of his character. While not as memorable as the leads, he still gives a great performance that proves he’s a career actor. 

Shot on VistaVision, the cinematography in this is gorgeous. The opening crescendo set to László’s first sight of the Statue of Liberty immensely embodies the initial promise and hope that the American Dream holds while towering shots of buildings and plots of land relate to the architectural aesthetic the film presents. Solitariness is also present in the wide shots of the vast Van Buren estate and the dim-lit nature of Italian streets. 

Overall, The Brutalist is a towering, ambitious epic that embodies the hardships and triumphs of creativity and deserves praise, despite being a lot to take in at first.