Brady Corbet’s Golden Globes Speech Was Absolutely Needed

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  • Brady Corbet Fought for Years to Make ‘The Brutalist’
  • Brady Corbet Made a Well-Deserved Plea to the Studios

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the awards season is in full swing now! The Golden Globes, held last Sunday, marked the start of this exciting time for the movie industry. Contenders like Kieran Culkin, Zoe Saldaña, and Adrien Brody received a significant boost as we approach the final voting rounds for Oscar nominations.

The films “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Perez” triumphed in the Best Picture categories (Drama and Comedy/Musical respectively), solidifying their position as strong contenders. Demi Moore’s triumph in the Best Actress category, delivered with a powerful speech, has truly made her comeback unforgettable. Lastly, Nikki Glaser managed to erase the lingering aftertaste of Jo Koy’s hosting blunder from last year.

Perhaps no moment was as impactful as during the ceremony’s conclusion when “The Brutalist” was awarded Best Picture. Director Brady Corbet, who had already won Best Director earlier that evening, seized the opportunity to deliver an unexpected, provocative comment: “I’d like to share something for contemplation: In a final cut tiebreak, the director holds the power. It’s somewhat contentious. It shouldn’t be.” This statement sparked a wave of applause from the audience, but what prompted Corbet to make this remark and what are the potential consequences of his words?

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Brady Corbet Fought for Years to Make ‘The Brutalist’

In his speech, Brady Corbet mentioned that he was informed this film would be undistributable and no one would watch it. However, that’s being rather gracious on his part; The Brutalist took him seven years to complete, a project initially announced in 2018, and he faced numerous challenges during the development phase. After two years without any updates, it seemed like things were progressing by the end of 2020, with Joel Edgerton, Marion Cotillard, and Mark Rylance signed on as the main actors.

The post-COVID precautions’ expenses and losses due to family tragedies among the cast and crew significantly pushed back the project. By 2023, when things resumed, the original actors were no longer accessible, prompting Corbet to recruit Brody, Guy Pearce, and Felicity Jones instead. Despite this, when filming started, Corbet encountered numerous challenges because he was producing the movie independently without any studio support, and for a project of such grandeur and aspiration, the budget was merely $10 million.

Interestingly enough, Corbet’s difficulties in getting his voice recognized as a filmmaker fueled his initial motivation to pen The Brutalist. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he admitted, “It was penned as a form of catharsis and retort to many experiences my wife and I had endured.” Given that the final production directly links the immigrant journey with artistic creativity and how commerce dominates much of the latter, it’s evidently a deeply personal project for Corbet.

Brady Corbet Made a Well-Deserved Plea to the Studios

Given the numerous hurdles Brady Corbet overcame just to bring The Brutalist to life, it’s nothing short of remarkable that the movie turned out so brilliantly and has even achieved commercial success. This triumph is particularly astounding considering Corbet’s unwavering commitment to his vision for seven long years, a commitment that ultimately proved worthwhile. It’s truly inspiring to witness a filmmaker, potentially on his way to becoming a generational talent, using his influence to emphasize the crucial role directors play in the creative process.

In simpler terms, when Corbet mentioned the “final cut tiebreak,” he was referring to a situation where a filmmaker has the ultimate decision-making power in creative disputes with financiers. This privilege is rare in the industry but is often seen in directors like Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan. By choosing not to work with a major studio for his movie, The Brutalist, Corbet was able to maintain this creative control, which he wouldn’t have had otherwise. He was fortunate to have A24 as the final distributor of his film, a company known for its openness towards unique visions and stories.

In contrast to independent filmmakers who often struggle for artistic control, Corbet’s speech at the Golden Globes should be a reminder to mainstream filmmakers operating in the era dominated by blockbusters and studio-driven narratives. These stories are primarily designed to cater to a broad audience, which may lead established indie directors to transition into tentpole films as executives perceive their experience as a means to assert more creative influence. Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced some exceptional movies, figures like Edgar Wright and Jon Favreau have publicly expressed their concerns about the creative limitations they experienced while working with the studio.

The Brutalist stands out due to its bold ambition, daring to be perceived as excessive or pretentious, understanding that striving for “greatness” often results in not being universally liked at first.

Corbet himself hinted at this in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “If you’re not willing to take risks and potentially fail, then you’re not really doing much.” This sentiment rings true, and the exhilarating award-winning film The Brutalist serves as a reminder for studio executives to heed this advice and have faith in their filmmakers as they strive for greatness. Currently, The Brutalist is playing in cinemas.

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2025-01-09 07:01