Natalie Portman Slams Hollywood’s ‘Franchise Fatigue’

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Over the past few decades, top-tier franchise blockbusters have ruled Hollywood, particularly in recent years with an abundance of upcoming superhero films and content that seems to prioritize data over artistic creativity. However, filmmaker Brady Corbet is bucking this trend, as noted by Natalie Portman following her viewing of his 3.5-hour epic, “The Brutalist,” which includes a scheduled intermission. She commended him for creating grand, ambitious narratives that stand out against the norms of today’s film industry.

In a piece for Deadline, the Academy Award-winning actress, who had collaborated with Corbet on Vox Lux earlier, expressed thoughts on The Brutalist’s portrayal of an opposing approach to the current studio-dominated system. In her words, she described this in the article.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m captivated by Brady’s grand yet intimate storytelling – especially his brutalist masterpieces that are revolutionizing cinematic production in our era swamped with algorithmic content and franchise exhaustion. The Corbet Way represents a paragon of efficiency, managing to convey the depth and complexity of a 19th-century novel on a smaller scale.

Portman appears to admire Corbet’s style due to his skill in weaving intricate, historically grounded tales with a deep emphasis on character development. Notably, The Brutalist, which recounts the journey of an immigrant architect in post-World War II America, was filmed within 33 days and cost less than $10 million to produce. Despite being made under tight budgetary restrictions and boasting a lengthy runtime, this film has been acclaimed as one of the most visually and thematically daring productions in recent memory, drawing comparisons to masterpieces by David Lean and Sergio Leone. This demonstrates that while many believe 90-minute movies are optimal when executed well, longer films can sometimes be superior.

As a passionate cinephile, I’d like to emphasize the unique brilliance of Alia Corbet’s work in an industry frequently shaped by financial caution and cookie-cutter formulas aimed at mass appeal. The extraordinary film, “The Brutalist,” now a multiple Golden Globe winner, is a testament to this, breathtakingly bringing history to the screen in a manner that resonates as deeply personal yet universally relatable. This is particularly true for its protagonist, László, whose professional journey echoes real-life Brutalist architects such as Marcel Breuer and Louis Kahn.

In addition to their historical elements, Portman noticed similarities between “The Brutalist” and “Vox Lux”, the 2018 drama she starred in under Corbet’s guidance. Both films focus on characters who embody their era, mirroring broader societal changes through their talents – be it architecture or music. In “Vox Lux”, Portman’s character Celeste used national tragedy to fuel her pop fame, while “The Brutalist” tells the story of László transforming his war trauma into revolutionary design.

Due to the widespread praise for the movie “The Brutalist,” our critic Eric Eisenberg awarded it a 4-star rating. Moreover, with numerous Oscar nominations in 2025, it seems that Corbet’s perspective is striking a chord. Furthermore, Natalie Portman’s glowing review implies that this film transcends being just remarkable—it serves as a powerful statement.

If you can’t wait to watch “The Brutalist”, mark your calendars as it is scheduled for a movie release in 2025. Keep an eye on your local cinemas or stay tuned for its online streaming availability in the near future.

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2025-02-18 20:37