The Brutalist has officially been dubbed the heavyweight champion of cinema by the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) in 2024. Directed by the actor turned Director Brady Corbet, the movie impressed the critics with its trailing narrative and elaborate exploration of post-war Europe, centered around an architect’s immigrant experience. Think of it as a fusion of The Grand Budapest Hotel and your weird uncle’s retro architecture blog—just with a lot more existential fright.
In a surprise to absolutely no one but with a lot of pride, Adrien Brody bagged Best Actor for his exceptional performance in The Brutalist, channeling emotions so raw they could be served at a sushi bar. Meanwhile, Carol Kane won Best Supporting Actress for Between The Temples, a performance that critics called “simultaneously unhinged and heartbreakingly tender.” It’s unclear if her character was dealing with existential questions or just forgot her coffee order, but either way, it worked out well for her.
Kieran Culkin got the Best Supporting Actor award for A Real Pain, proving yet again that Culkins is the gem that keeps on giving. His role in the darkly comedic film about family drama left audiences both laughing and emotionally wrecked—a combination only Kieran can pull off. An emotional that the audience needs to balance things out. Because let’s face it our therapists just leave us emotionally wrecked before healing us.
What makes The Brutalist‘s victory extra juicy is that it scorned major studio productions to claim the top spot, adding to the NYFCC’s tradition of championing indie films. Last year, they crowned Killers of the Flower Moon as Best Film and hailed Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer. This year, they’ve made it clear: quirky, independent narratives are where it’s at.
The Brutalist is a darkly comic drama that explores the existential fright of architecture through the story of an ambitious architect (played by Adrien Brody) trying to leave his impact in post-war Europe. The film’s stark visuals and minimalist aesthetic are almost as joyless as your attempts to understand it without a PhD in architectural theory. It’s like watching a movie that’s 50% about the struggle to communicate with your neighbors and 50% about the struggle to remember where you parked. Critics are divided: some see it as a deep exploration of human creativity, while others are just confused as to why everyone’s so obsessed with concrete. The Brutalist—because why not make cinema a workout too?
So, while Hollywood’s big hitters were busy designing Oscar bait, The Brutalist swooped in with its brooding aesthetic, immigrant narratives, and emotionally tormented leads. Critics say it’s a film that sticks with you—kind of like when your Uber driver shares too much about their personal life. Here’s to indie cinema reminding us that the small guys can play big too! For more such news keep reading GupSups.
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