Reel Review: Adrien Brody Endures the Dark Side of the American Dream in The Brutalist
After escaping the horrors of postwar Europe, Laszlo Toth (Adrien Brody) makes his way to America to pursue the American dream. Welcomed into the country by his cousin (Alessandro Nivola), Laszlo puts his architecture skills to work. After remodeling a home office for a prominent and rich man (Guy Pierce), his talent is recognized and then exploited.
The three and a half hour American epic features a fifteen minute intermission where theater goers can grab a snack, hit the bathroom, and stretch their legs. The structure of the film does coincide with the intermission as if has two acts and an epilogue. While three and a half hours is a long time to sit in a theater, this movie must be seen on a big screen to be fully appreciated. From the grandiose architecture, to the intimate close ups, this movie feels every bit like an Academy Award nominee, if not winner. However, be warned that this film does include depictions of some very heavy material, check trigger warnings before watching.
The first act of the film details the beginning of a new life and the hope accompanying the pursuit of the American dream. Laszlo is hit with some setbacks including getting kicked out of his cousin’s house, getting fired from the furniture store, and not getting paid for his two thousand dollar office renovation. As he returns to a manual labor job, Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. pays him a visit that changes the trajectory of his life. Apologizing for his behavior after the office renovation, Harrison shares the he has seen much of Laszlo’s work from back home. The buildings are structurally sound, surviving the war, and a spectacle to see. Harrison presents Laszlo with an opportunity to put his past practices back to work, an opportunity at face value that seems like his golden ticket.
A beautiful place to live, an opportunity to do the work he is best at, and the assistance to get his wife (Felicity Jones) and niece (Raffey Cassidy) into the United States all welcome a space for hope. Something that many immigrants can relate to as they start to feel momentum once welcomed into the country. While this all seems like a seamless and priceless opportunity, there are consequences for Laszlo that he could never see coming. No good deed goes unpunished.
The second act is where things go off the rails a bit. Laszlo’s wife and niece finally join him in America, pulling him into a false sense of security. Unbeknownst to him, Erzsebet is suffering from osteoporosis and is operating from a wheelchair and experiencing unbearable pain. When she runs out of medicine one night, Laszlo does the only thing he can and injects her with heroin. His long winded battle with the drug has had a grip on him since first coming to the country. The effects of the drug use have put him into a spiral which is exploited by Harrison when the two take a trip to Italy to look at marble. In what seemed like an evening of fun and celebration, Harrison takes advantage of Laszlo’s drug induced state of vulnerability showing just how far he will go to assert dominance.
Adrien Brody turns in an incredible performance which was recognized at the Golden Globes where he won best actor. The way in which he is able to portray such a span of emotions in one film is impressive to say the least. His physicality is what really elevates this character as well. The visceral scenes of drug use to the vulnerable moments of intimacy, you don’t see an actor on screen, you see the real character. The madness driven man is just a human battling demons while trying to build a legacy and provide for his family.
Guy Pearce is a pleasant yet unexpected surprise. From his very first scene you are both enthrawlled by and scared of him, much reflected of the character’s arc through the movie. His ability to be charismatic, charming, and authoritative is captivating but the moment when he exerts true anger, dominance, and control is where he shines most. Balancing both sides of the character is a fine line in protecting his ego but showing his true self. Seen as the villain at the very end, the self-proclaimed savior shows his true colors.
The Brutalist is a cinematic spectacle about the American dream and sequential exploitation of hope and determination harbored by immigrants. Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce turn in career-topping performances that are impossible to ignore. The Brutalist must be seen on the big screen and experienced in the fullest immersion. While there is heavy subject matter, and not every element was perfect, The Brutalist tells a cautionary tale about the opportunities given to immigrants and how Americans assert dominance instead of instilling hope in those looking for a better life.
The Brutalist is playing in theaters now.
