Adrien Brody’s The Brutalist Receives 12-Minute Standing Ovation at Venice

Adrien Brody's The Brutalist Receives 12-Minute Standing Ovation at Venice

As a long-time film enthusiast who’s had the privilege of witnessing some truly remarkable performances, I can confidently say that Adrien Brody’s portrayal of László Tóth in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is one for the ages. Having followed Brody’s career since his Oscar-winning role in The Pianist, it’s heartening to see him return to the spotlight with such a powerful and emotionally charged performance.


As a passionate cinephile, I couldn’t help but be thrilled by the standing ovation that lasted a remarkable twelve minutes for Adrien Brody’s latest film, “The Brutalist,” at the Venice International Film Festival. Directed by Brady Corbet, who made the transition from acting to directing, this historical drama is creating quite a buzz and is seen as a chance for Brody to reclaim his place in Hollywood after taking a step back and focusing on lesser-known productions. Clearly, such a prolonged ovation speaks volumes about the film’s potential.

In Corbet’s “The Brutalist”, the protagonist Brody portrays László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who, after surviving the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust, finds a fresh beginning in America with his wife, Erzsébet. Spanning over four decades, they witness and embrace the optimistic post-war American era. A turning point comes when Tóth enters into an agreement to collaborate with a prominent client, Harrison Lee Van Buren, whose assistance significantly influences Tóth’s life. However, an unforeseen incident will drastically alter their lives.

As a fervent admirer, I can tell you that when the movie concluded, Brody was visibly moved to tears. The audience erupted in applause, recognizing the depth of his emotional portrayal. For long moments afterwards, the cameras lingered on him, and despite his attempts to share the limelight with the director and fellow actors, he could no longer contain his joy when he understood that the applause was for him.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but express my excitement for the upcoming premiere of “The Brutalist” at the Toronto International Film Festival. This gripping film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Alessandro Nivola, Jonathan Hyde, Isaach De Bankolé, and Raffey Cassidy, among others. Penned by Corbet and Mona Fastvold, “The Brutalist” is vying for the festival’s prestigious Golden Lion award. In just a few days, it will undoubtedly stir conversations amongst film enthusiasts everywhere. As I write this, the movie already has a remarkable 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which bodes well for its success.

The Brutalist is an Early Oscar Contender

Adrien Brody's The Brutalist Receives 12-Minute Standing Ovation at VeniceAdrien Brody's The Brutalist Receives 12-Minute Standing Ovation at VeniceAdrien Brody's The Brutalist Receives 12-Minute Standing Ovation at Venice

The third movie directed by ex-actor Brady Corbet (known for “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and “Melancholia”), is shaping up well for potential competition at next year’s Academy Awards. It falls under the category of historical drama, with a lengthy runtime of approximately 215 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission during its Venice screening). However, many have been quick to criticize Corbet due to this extended running time. According to a Variety article, Corbet addressed these critics at a press conference, stating:

“This movie breaks all the rules we’re supposedly not supposed to, which seems rather absurd to me. It’s almost laughable to discuss its length as if critiquing a book for having 700 pages instead of just 100.”

There’s a strong possibility that Brody might vie for the Academy Award next year in the Best Actor category, given his impressive performance in The Pianist, which won him recognition back in 2003. This film, directed by Roman Polanski, was highly acclaimed at various film festivals. In The Pianist, Brody beautifully depicted the real-life character Władysław Szpilman as he navigated the devastation of Warsaw to evade Nazi persecution. The resemblance between this movie and potential future projects could indicate a promising future for the film and Brody’s chances in award contests.

As of now, “The Brutalist” hasn’t been released in the U.S., but given its strong performance at the Venice Film Festival, it won’t be long before a distributor picks it up. Keep an eye out for future announcements.

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2024-09-03 00:07