The Brutalist (2024) (1 Viewer)

[Alex...]

 

[Alex...]

Runtime is 215 minutes + Intermission

97% on RT

88% on Meta

 

[Alex...]

 

[Tino]

Thinking about seeing this today in IMAX. Anyone here see it?

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Thinking about seeing this today in IMAX. Anyone here see it?

I want to see it but have not had the opportunity yet.

 

[Tino]

I want to see it but have not had the opportunity yet.

Well. I’m here now so……First!

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Well. I’m here now so……First!

Well don't be shy about letting us know what you thought. I have high hopes for this one.

 

[Tino]

Well don't be shy about letting us know what you thought. I have high hopes for this one.

I’m at the intermission.

It’s a very slow deliberately paced film so far. It’s ok. We’ll see how the second half is.

 

[Tino]

.
Ugh.

That had to be one of the most unpleasant moviegoing experiences of my life.

I thought The Brutalist was a dark, depressing, unpleasant, ugly film.

Other than Adrien Brody’s performance as architect László Tóth and that of Guy Pierce, I thought there was little to recommend here.

I thought the story was dull and uninteresting, the pacing terminal, the cinematography drab. I was never drawn in by the characters or their fates.

So many unpleasant, uncomfortable scenes of sex and drug use that seemed pretentious and unnecessary.

Sorry, but this didn’t work for me at all on any level. Pretty much near 4 hours of torture.

YMMV

 

[Malcolm R]

This is why I generally don't listen to critics. This thing has been praised to the heavens, nominated for every award under the sun, and named one of the Top 10 films of 2024 by AFI.

 

[Jake Lipson]

That had to be one of the most unpleasant moviegoing experiences of my life. I thought The Brutalist was a dark, depressing, unpleasant, ugly film.

I know you saw it in 2025. But because it is a 2024 film, I've got to ask: you previously indicated that Kinds of Kindness was your least favorite movie from 2024. Where does Brutalist fall compared to that for you?

This is why I generally don't listen to critics.

I've been in that position before, watching something that is critically acclaimed that just doesn't work for me. But I still think critics fill an important role in the entertainment community because it also works the other way. Critics have helped me find lots of really good movies and shows that I wouldn't have seen without their reviews bringing things to my attention.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

.
Ugh.

That had to be one of the most unpleasant moviegoing experiences of my life.

I thought The Brutalist was a dark, depressing, unpleasant, ugly film.

Other than Adrien Brody’s performance as architect László Tóth and that of Guy Pierce, I thought there was little to recommend here.

I thought the story was dull and uninteresting, the pacing terminal, the cinematography drab. I was never drawn in by the characters or their fates.

So many unpleasant, uncomfortable scenes of sex and drug use that seemed pretentious and unnecessary.

Sorry, but this didn’t work for me at all on any level. Pretty much near 4 hours of torture.

YMMV

Wow, well that's sad to hear.

 

[Walter Kittel]

So many unpleasant, uncomfortable scenes of sex and drug use that seemed pretentious and unnecessary.

Oh, I'm sure I'll love it then.

Seriously, I am interested in seeing this feature; but with a 215 minute run time, it will have to wait for a home viewing in all likelihood. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak - or something like that.

- Walter.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I've got to ask: you previously indicated that Kinds of Kindness was your least favorite movie from 2024. Where does Brutalist fall compared to that for you?

I think it was Tino's review of Kinds of Kindness (or maybe more than one like it) that caused me to pass on Kinds of Kindness in the cinema. I still have not watched it.

I've got no issue with sex scenes or scenes of drug use, but these days not a big fan of depressing. Depressing is a challenge for me in these times.

 

[Tino]

Where does Brutalist fall compared to that for you?

Hmm. Good question.

Different unpleasant experiences. But I disliked Kinds of Kindness more.

The Brutalist was at least coherent and well made with some good performances.

It’s close tho.

 

[Jake Lipson]

with a 215 minute run time, it will have to wait for a home viewing in all likelihood.

The running time includes a 15-minute intermission built in, if that helps.

these days not a big fan of depressing. Depressing is a challenge for me in these times.

Understood.

Did you think it wouldn't be depressing? I haven't seen it, but it appears to deal with very heavy material, including but not limited to the main character being a Holocaust survivor. The trailers never gave me the impression that it would be a happy film.

 

[Tino]

including but not limited to the main character being a Holocaust survivor

That’s barely mentioned.

 

[Jake Lipson]

That’s barely mentioned.

Huh. Thanks. That's certainly a choice.

The marketing for this has not done very much for me. It will surely be required viewing for Academy Awards completists, but I haven't been one of those for a while anyway. The more I hear about it, the more comfortable I am passing. One of my offline friends also hated it.

 

[Tino]

I fully expect other members here to love this film and sing its praises. And that’s cool.

It just left me so sad and depressed after seeing it that it was hard to acknowledge positive aspects of it

I’m obviously in the minority with my take according to critics and audience reviews. So what do I know?