See It or Skip It? - The Brutalist (w/ BFF of the BFE: Hermes Auslander)

FIRST 37:00: Spoiler-Free Review with our See It/Skip It Verdict
AFTER 37:00: Full Spoiler Review

Another Oscar week See It or Skip It has us exploring this year's Best Picture field a little deeper by diving into the striking The Brutalist (2024), now playing in select theaters. Directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce, this sweeping historical drama promises to blend grand ambition with intimate storytelling.

Join Ian and Hermes as we step into the austere world of The Brutalist to see if it delivers a compelling, thought-provoking portrait of art and survival or if it buckles under the weight of its own vision. Does it bring a fresh perspective to historical dramas while exploring deeper themes, or does it rely too heavily on its style without enough structural integrity?

We’ll examine the film’s storytelling—What larger themes and ideologies does it lean into? Is it a deeply personal immigrant story, a meditation on artistic resilience, or something else entirely? How does Adrien Brody’s performance anchor the film, and does he bring the emotional depth needed for such a role? And how does Felicity Jones complement or contrast him? 

We’ll also break down the film’s visual and atmospheric elements. Did the stark cinematography and production design elevate the film’s themes, or did they overshadow its emotional core? 

Finally, we’ll debate whether The Brutalist achieves its ambitious goals. Does it leave a lasting impact as a modern cinematic statement, or does it feel too detached for its own good?  Yes, it's clever but is it fair to ask a film to 'get' a movie on such an abstract level?

We’ll tackle all these questions as we dissect the movie and tell you if we think you should SEE IT or SKIP IT!