Oscar-Nominated ‘The Brutalist’ Divides Critics with Historical Inaccuracies and Bold Themes

The film, praised for its artistry but criticized for misrepresenting architecture and postwar America, explores creativity and power dynamics in a fictional narrative.

• The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody, has received critical acclaim for its cinematography, performances, and ambitious storytelling but faces backlash over historical and architectural inaccuracies.
• Architecture critics have pointed out that the film misrepresents brutalism as an architectural style and distorts historical details surrounding postwar immigration and architectural processes.
• The film uses architecture as a backdrop to examine broader themes of artistic genius, power struggles, and the complex relationship between creators and wealthy patrons.
• Critics are divided on the film's portrayal of mid-century America, with some praising its artistic vision and others condemning its depiction of anti-Semitism and capitalism as overly exaggerated and inaccurate.
• Despite its controversies, the film has been lauded for its technical achievements, including its $10 million budget and 70mm cinematography, and is nominated for 10 Oscars.

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