The Brutalist (2024) ***

A good film and nice (albeit expensive) to see in 70mm (though the VistaVision felt underutilized) at The Coolidge Corner Theatre, but I couldn't help but compare it to Paul Thomas Anderson in my mind. Which isn't a bad thing, as I haven't loved a few of his films on the first viewing either. Brady Corbet's The Brutalist (2024) has got some great elements (the first half was excellent and Guy Pearce in Orson Welles/John Huston mode is fun) and maybe wants to say something profound about Jewish diaspora, but more so than feeling challenged by the film I was left wanting (I am impressed that it was made for under $10 million though*).

*(1/20/25 update) Upon finding out this film used AI, this is less surprising. Also, lame.