Brady Corbet’s historical epic,The Brutalist, earned rave reviews in 2024, and recently won somekey Golden Globe Awards, leaving many to wonder what kind of movieThe Brutalistis, and what to watch like it. Premiering at the 81st Venice International Film Festival,The Brutalistfollows László Tóth, an architect and Jewish immigrant from Hungarywho moves to America, hoping to find success after the devastation of World War II. After a chance meeting with a wealthy businessman, Tóth’s luck begins to change.The Brutalistis rising in popularity due to its amazing reviews, but also its shocking runtime.
There are many aspects ofwatchingThe Brutalistthat make it different from an average blockbuster. First, the movie is 215 minutes long, which is more than 3 1/2 hours. Movies of that length typically boast epic stories that take place over many years, andThe Brutalistis no different. Furthermore, this movie hones in on specific themes like immigration, the Jewish experience, and antisemitism in the United States. With Adrien Brody in the lead role,The Brutalistis a distinct project with plenty of positives to back up its success, yet similar movies are not impossible to find.
Vox Lux
Cast
Vox Lux, directed by Brady Corbet, follows the journey of Celeste, who rises to fame after a traumatic event in 1999 with her sister Eleanor. By 2017, as a mother and pop icon, Celeste navigates her career amid scandals and a new act of violence demands her attention.
The first movie to watch after lovingThe BrutalistisVox Lux.Another movie directed by Brady Corbet,Vox Luxtells the story of Celeste, a 13-year-old girl who survived a horrifying school shooting. After singing at the memorial service, Celeste is urged to begin a music career. 18 years later, Celeste is a world-famous pop star, yet her world begins to come crashing down around her as scandals and personal issues start to get the best of her.
Admittedly,Vox Luxhas quite a different premise thanThe Brutalist,but there’s no denying that Corbet’s influence is strong on both movies. In particular, viewers can see howbothVox LuxandThe Brutalisthone in on main characters who have seen tragedy,and have been changed by that in ways that are both good and bad. Like Tóth, Celeste strives for an American Dream that is inevitably harmed by violence and hatred.
The Master
Freddie Quell, a Navy veteran who suffered psychological trauma during World War II, struggles to readjust to civilian life post-war. When he meets Lancaster Dodd, leader of a philosophical movement known as The Cause, he believes he has found his place — but some think his new home may be a cult.
A major element ofThe Brutalistis the relationship between Tóth and HarrisonLee Van Buren, and another movie that showcases this type of bond isThe Master.Released in 2012,this Paul Thomas Anderson film follows Freddie Quell, a man who is struggling after World War II,but finds solace in a man named Lancaster Dodd, who runs a religious movement called the Cause. Just likeThe Brutalist, The Masterboasts a fantastic cast, from Joaquin Phoenix to Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Just likeThe Brutalist,The Mastertells a complex emotional story that doesn’t seek to answer any concrete questions.
The Masteris a strong follow-up toThe Brutalistbecause it delves into the consequences of men with little to no power becoming caught up with those who have plenty of power. Quell and Tóth are in the same boat in many respects, as they are both reeling from the war and looking for a way to escape these feelings. Most excitingly though,The Masteris not interested in holding the audiences' hands. Just likeThe Brutalist,The Mastertells a complex emotional story that doesn’t seek to answer any concrete questions.
Tar
Tar is a film that tells the story of a fictional composer/conductor, Lydia Tar, portrayed by Cate Blanchett. Tar, in this story, is the first-ever female chief conductor of a large-scale European Orchestra and examines the fluid nature of power and its effect on the modern world as it documents her ascent to her position and subsequent fall from grace.
Amid the postwar trauma Tóth is facing,The Brutalistalso explores what it means for him to be overly dedicated to his craft via his passion for architecture. Another outstanding look at the detriments of greatness isTár.The 2022 psychological drama is about Lydia Tár, a world-renowned conductor who has gained power that she often abuses. In turn,Tár’s career begins to unravel when her peers start publicly accusing her of favoritism, inappropriate relationships, and cruel misconduct.
Tárhas little ofThe Brutalist’shistorical context, but both movies definitely have elements of a character study. Although Tóth is easy to root for due to his difficult situation, it is hard to ignore the fact that he can be a terrible person at times. A similar situation occurs inTár.Despite the fact that she is our main character,Tár proves to audiences again and again that she may just be the awful person that everyone makes her out to be. Not even her talents can redeem her in the end.
Hester Street
Hester Street is a drama film directed by Joan Micklin Silver, set in the 1890s immigrant community of New York City. Steven Keats stars as Jake, who has embraced American life, while Carol Kane plays his wife, Gitl, who arrives with their son from Russia, holding onto traditional beliefs. The film explores the cultural adjustments and conflicts experienced by Jewish immigrants adapting to their new environment.
For more dark stories centered on immigration, an underrated pick would beHester Street.Released in 1975,the movie follows Jake, a Russian immigrant who moved to the United States and completely assimilated, changing his name and his habits to fit those of his American peers. However, when his wife and child move to be with him, his new lifestyle causes cultural clashes with his family, throwing their futures into question.
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Adrien Brody’s historical epic, The Brutalist, has garnered an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score, making many wonder what makes the film so incredible.
Based on the premise alone,it is clear thatHester Streetdirectly parallels the themes ofThe Brutalist.Jake and Tóth share the same situation of leaving Europe for what they hope to be a better life. As a result, they embrace this new world around them. Jake may be more successful than Tóth in certain respects, but either way, the two men end up struggling to figure out who they are and who they want to be in the grand scheme of things.
Gentleman’s Agreement
Gentleman’s Agreement follows a magazine writer who adopts a Jewish identity to investigate and expose anti-Semitism in post-World War II America. Released in 1947, this film explores societal prejudices and ethical journalism, with Gregory Peck starring in the lead role.
The oldest movie on this list isGentleman’s Agreement.Starring Gregory Peck,this 1947 movie is about Phil Green, a journalist who takes on a high-stakes project: writing a piece on antisemitism in America. Green decides to pretend to be Jewish in order to get a better idea of what it’s like to be Jewish in America, and soon finds himself facing surprising prejudice. This endeavor becomes even more complicated when it affects his budding relationship with a charming woman.
Because of the movie’s age, one might assume thatGentleman’s Agreementhas no real ties toThe Brutalist,but clearly, that is not the case. In fact, both movies are moving in the same thematic direction.Gentleman’s Agreementshows audiences the cruelties faced by Jewish people, particularly in the 1940s.The Brutalistdoes the same thing, but in retrospect and on even grander terms. If anything,Gentleman’s Agreementis a solid precursor toThe Brutalist,giving an introduction on the film’s largest themes.
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer is a film by Christopher Nolan, which follows the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy will play the titular role, with the story based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
The Brutalist’slong runtime may intimidate some viewers, but others may be reminded of another historical epic that came out just two years ago:Oppenheimer.The Christopher Nolan filmcenters onthe life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, and in particular, his journey towards inventing the atomic bomb.Oppenheimeris not just set in the years of and around World War II, but it also delves into the real-life implications of the war, especially within the United States.
Best Original Score
Challengers
Oppenheimerwould almost definitely be of interest to those who enjoyedThe Brutalist.Both movies are rooted in American history and the massive shockwaves that went through society following the Holocaust. What is particularly interesting is thatOppenheimerhas a major focus on the aftermath of the atomic bomb, and how it affected Oppenheimer’s views specifically.Similar to Tóth’s story,Oppenheimershines a light on the decay of successful mendue to what they have seen and done.
The Godfather
The Godfather chronicles the Italian-American Corleone crime family from 1945 to 1955. Following an assassination attempt on family patriarch Vito Corleone, his youngest son Michael emerges to orchestrate a brutal campaign of retribution, cementing his role in the family’s illicit empire.
One outstanding movie that has been compared toThe BrutalistisThe Godfather.Based on novels by Mario Puzo,The Godfatherisan epic movie franchise created by Francis Ford Coppola which centers on the Italian mob family, the Corleones. The first film narrows in on the family patriarch, Vito Corleone, and his son Michael, who slowly starts to enter the family business, and starts to change in worrying ways.
At first glance, the comparisons toThe Godfathermake sense.The Brutalistis long, dark, and, as the name suggests, brutal. However, the similarities go deeper than that. Despite coming from a totally different background,The Godfatheris another form of immigration storythat shows how European families had to change as a result of the American landscape.The Brutalistmay not share the same central topics asThe Godfather,but the movies have spiritual similarities.
The Pianist
The Pianist is a historical drama directed by Roman Polanski, featuring Adrien Brody as Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish pianist in Warsaw during World War II. The film follows Szpilman’s harrowing journey of survival amidst the horrors of the Holocaust, capturing his struggles and resilience. The Pianist showcases the impact of war on individuals and art, emphasizing themes of perseverance and human spirit.
Another big movie that is inevitably compared toThe BrutalistisThe Pianist.In 2002, Roman Polanski directedThe Pianist,which followsa Jewish radio pianist who watches his hometown of Warsaw crumble under the occupation of Nazi Germany. When his family is taken to a concentration camp, leaving him alone and without a home, the pianist continues hiding throughout the city for the remainder of the war.
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The most obvious parallel betweenThe BrualistandThe Pianistis the fact that Adrien Brody stars in both movies. To be fair, this is a significant point for both movies, especially considering how strong Brody’s performances are. However, beyond that,The Pianistis yet another movie that is focused on Jewish historyand treatment during the mid-20th century. It is heartbreaking, emotional, and incredibly important. Arguably,The BrutalistandThe Pianistmake for an interesting pair of films.
Once Upon a Time in America
Once Upon a Time in America tells the story of a group of Jewish gangsters in New York City over several decades, from their youth in the 1920s to their final days in the 1960s. Robert De Niro and James Woods star in the 1984 crime drama directed by Sergio Leone.
In terms of plot, one very similar movie toThe Brutalistis 1984’sOnce Upon a Time in America.With Robert De Niro in the leading role,this movie is about David “Noodles” Aaronson, a man who returns to New York in his old ageafter getting his start as a bootlegger and criminal in the 1920s. Told through flashbacks, viewers get to see how Noodles went from another Jewish kid living in the slums to a respected crime boss who had the whole city at his fingertips.
Once Upon a Time in AmericaandThe Brutalistare both allegories for the American Dream.
Once Upon a Time in AmericaandThe Brutalistare both allegories for the American Dream. Though told during different historical eras and with different protagonists,both films dive deep into the idea that the American Dream is definitely aligned with success, yet it also brings ruin to one’s mental stateand relationships with others. In many ways, these movies are opposite sides of the same coin, offering up the same story but with slightly different hues.
Minari
2020’s Minari is a Drama film that showcases a young boy’s upbringing by Korean immigrants in the United States in the 80s. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, the film is a partial autobiography about his own experiences and stars Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Noel Kate Cho, and Alan Kim as a family trying to make it in rural Arkansas.
One of the greatest stories of immigration to come out in recent years isMinari.Released in 2020,this movie follows a South Korean family who moves to Arkansas in the 1980s, hoping to grow Korean produce and sell it. Through the eyes of the father, children, and other characters, viewers see the different ways in which immigrants are affected by the so-called American Dream. There is tension, pain, and a sense that family is more important than ever.
In some ways,Minariis just as difficult to watch asThe Brutalist,but then again, it may also be more hopeful. Of course, the history and the context ofMinariis quite different from that ofTheBrutalist,and that puts a wedge between the films. However, at their cores, both movies set out to tell heartwrenching stories about people who simply want to make better lives for themselves, regardless of what society has in store for them.
The Brutalist
Architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee Europe in 1947, seeking a fresh start in America. Their fate shifts after meeting a wealthy, enigmatic client.
