Has anyone seen the Brutalist? Contains spoilers [Title edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[NetZeroZealot]

I think it’s the sort of film I’d enjoy but at over 3 hours long I need someone whose seen it to recommend it!
and I’m not sure it’s DH’s cup of tea!

It seemed to be basically lots of men in suits whispering to each other.

Me too - although I love the BBC series, with Alec Guiness, even more.

Hi OP, just literally come out from seeing it and I'd clocked your thread so I thought I'd give you my verdict.
Yes it's dark but there are moments of humour and more importantly I think it's an enormously rich and complex film that ultimately celebrates the capacity of humans to rise above and transform into art and beauty even the very darkest of experiences.
I was gripped from beginning to end. Personally I would not have cut a single moment. Go see it. Maybe a bit much for your DH, but on the other hand maybe it would hit the spot, I don't know.
I thought it was phenomenal. There was a small amount of applause in the cinema at the end which rarely happens in films in my experience. It didn't take off (I joined in) but it was there.
If Adrien Brody doesn't get an Oscar, well, I cannot imagine a better, more moving performance. I was moved to tears more than once.
Ultimately not depressing IMHO. Far too complex and full of transcendant moods for that.
Edited for a typo.

Not yet. We’ll probably have to wait until it’s available to stream. Really like both lead actors.

Agree with your review heldinadream Dh and I both thought the same. Also it ends on a positive uplifting note. We both thought it was very very good and came out with the thought “wow”. Worth the time investment. What else are you doing on these dark January nights!.

I just can't face it, and I have an Odeon limitless card and will usually watch any decent film. But it's way too long.

@Arran2024 it really doesn’t feel long at all and is only 15 minutes longer than Oppenheimer.

I thought Oppenheimer was too long....thing is, I am a carer for my daughter. I have a slot to see films on a Tuesday afternoon but I don't have the time to fit it in.

Loved

way better than Oppenheimer. Totally engrossing

Reported as the hate speech this is

There are reasons for not wanting to see it - but not they're not generally as callous, blinkered and myopic as this.

This made me laugh, because it’s exactly one of my criteria for not seeing a film. Men in suits whispering to one another, or men shooting other men, or talking about shooting other men? Yawnorama.😀

Please if you’ve seen it look at my thread on this topic with qs

I've replied on your thread and also PMd you to avoid spoilers.

Is it the kind of movie that should be seen on screen?

@Lentilweaver imo absolutely, it’s shot in “Vista Vision” which was last used in the 60s. I have my reservations about some aspects of the film but it is beautiful to look at and is a great cinematic experience.

We saw it Sunday night, and we both rated it. Quick notes as on phone: AB was fantastic. I felt the first half was more about him and his struggles and impressions as a newcomer to America rather than about the architecture (which was my area of interest). It didn’t feel long at all, and also not violent either. (The sexual violence that happened in the second part was fully clothed and not graphic.) it was beautifully shot. The building itself, I just didn’t feel like I saw it in its entirety which was a bit frustrating. The 3rd part was set in the 80s and was the conclusion of the piece. It felt a bit cheesy, and the description of the hidden parts of the building was too rushed.

I've declared these stupidly long films patriarchal constructs.

I'm making Wicked the exception, and only just.

Women tend to have to much to do for this sort of shit.

NB: my ex has seen it. Of course he has.

I saw it last night (in a Brutalist building ) and thoroughly enjoyed it, although I would have liked to have seen the building properly too. It is long, but I can't say that it bothered me and it was beautiful to look at.

I also thought the ending felt tacked on and rushed, @LadyCrumb . I assume it was deliberate but I don't think it worked as well as the rest.

I didn’t find it dull or too long. I don’t know if it would be good on small screen as it’s beautifully filmed and that’s a lot of the appeal. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t win best film and best actor Oscars. It’s more memorable than most of the other contenders.

Definitely one to see at the cinema.

Livid I think you may be projecting there! Us parents of teens with jobs still have plenty of time for the cinema on a January Friday night however long the film - not all women are at home washing up and crying!

I really want to see it but already feeling terribly sad because of all the horrible news. Not sure if I have the stomach

Same. I was very excited to see it when I thought it might be a biopic about one of the Brutalist greats in the architecture... Took the interest away when I realised it's all fiction.

I prefer fiction to be left to gnomes, superheroes and dragons (for obvious reasons).
There's plenty of protracted, brutal and cerebral to be had directly from real life - adds weight to the movie.

There’s a one-off podcast by a trio of architectural historians/critics complaining about how off it is architecturally, and being cross at the way it departs from the actual life of Breuer, on who it’s clearly based, for ‘Oscar-bait’ purposes (Breuer like Gropius and Mies van der Rohe emigrated before WW2, quite apart from anything else).

I personally would watch the hell out of a film about Mies van der Rohe and Edith Farnsworth during the design and build of her house (with EF played by Gwendoline Christie and van der R by Toby Jones).

@FrutenGlee

ThatMerryReader · 26/01/2025 02:21
Not another holocaust movie please...So utterly hackneyed now.
I am not wasting 3 hours of my life in another dull as a dishwasher movie about this theme.
Reported as the hate speech this is

Why is this hate speech? It's just @ThatMerryReader s opinion that they find films on a particular subject dull. It's not expressing hate or violence towards anyone or any group of people.

Many people might disagree with this opinion. Many people might agree that they don't want to see films about the holocaust for other reasons including they find them upsetting but either way its not hate speech.