The Brutalist

From the asymmetrical, Bauhaus-inspired typography in the opening credits to its conclusion at the end of a 3.5-hour runtime, The Brutalist is a visual feast for cinephiles. The attention to detail, particularly in the protagonist’s craftsmanship, is captivating, and the film takes its time savoring every small nuance. It’s a slow burn, but one that rewards patience.

Director Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is the first film in decades to be fully shot in VistaVision and it's divided into two parts, The Enigma of Arrival, and The Hard Core of Beauty. A retro intermission divides the film.

At the core of the film is László Tóth (played by Brody), a Hungarian Jewish immigrant and visionary architect who escapes post-war Europe for America in a bid to rebuild his life, career and marriage. The characters and scenarios are so richly detailed and convincing that you might find yourself Googling whether Tóth is a real person—he’s not, but the portrayal feels utterly authentic.

It’s also a story of class, Zionism, architecture, addiction, toxic masculinity and the compromise between art and money. Corbet masterfully weaves a narrative that contrasts the 1950s New World promise of opportunity with the harsh realities faced by those left on the margins.

While I may be famously against indulgent directors with brutally long films, I found this film worth every second. In fact, its flaw lies in the final act, where the film shifts from its wonderfully simple narrative to a more event-driven climax, rushing toward a conclusion that feels overly dramatic, short on character and definitively abrupt.

In a nutshell: The Brutalist is a 3.5-hour slow burn, rich in detail and ambition. The pre-intermission portion is perfection, the back half disappoints in comparison.

Where to find it: In theaters now.

Would it be better with Olivia Colman: Everything is, but not a clear role for her here.

Awards potential: Expect two-digit nomination numbers for this one.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

The Wizard of Oscar predicts...

With a record of 82.7% accuracy at predicting nominees like a wiz, here are my predictions for an Oscar race that will reward The Brutalist, Emilia Perez and Conclave with a towering 10 nominations each, with a wicked six for A Complete Unknown and Wicked. Let’s see who follows the yellow brick road to Oscar gold.

And the nominees are...

PICTURE

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Perez

September 5

Sing Sing

The Substance

Wicked

Potential Surprise: A Real Pain, All We Imagine as Light

DIRECTOR

Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez

Edward Berger, Conclave

Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine As Light

Sean Baker, Anora


Potential surprise: Coralie Fargeat's The Substance is peaking at the right time and would fill another director slot with a female pick. Less likely, the bold work of RaMell on Nickel Boys. Equally deserving, Jon Chu for Wicked.

ACTOR

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothee Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice


Potential surprise: Hollywood has a current bromance with Sebastian Stan, elevating him for his work this year, but he could get it for A Different Manor instead, or more likely, split votes which benefit Daniel Craig, Queer.

ACTRESS

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofia Gascon, Emilia Perez

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance

Potential surprise: Above are my picks but at any moment I'd feel equally confident to replace any of above for: Angelina Jolie for Maria and her career best in a movie that didn't work, or Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here if they saw it (and her campaigning this week is on fire). However, with the fires in CA, they probably saw more of Jamie Lee Curtis on social this week than screenings which benefits Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl, and there is tremendous last-minute buzz for Kate Winslet and Lee. And what if the voters put Zoe Saldana in this category for Emilia Perez?

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Ed Norton, A Complete Unknown

Guy Pearce, The Brutalist

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Potential surprise: Stanley Tucci, Conclave,  Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing, Denzel Washington for Gladiator II

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

Jamie Lee Curtis The Last Showgirl

Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez

Potential surprise: Margaret Qualley, The Substance is peaking at the right time. Michele Austin, Hard Truths would be an excellent pic. Selena Gomez in Emilia Perez and Monica Barbaro in A Complete Unknown would not surprise me either.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Emilia Perez

Nickel Boys

Sing Sing

Spoiler: Wicked, Dune: Part Two

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY


All We Imagine As Light

Anora

The Brutalist

A Real Pain

The Substance

Spoiler: September 5, Kneecap, Challengers, Hard Truths

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

Emilia Perez

Flow

I'm Still Here

Kneecap

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Flow

Inside Out 2

Mermoir of a Snail

Wallace and Gromtit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Wild Robot

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Daughters

No Other Land

Porcelain War

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat

Sugarcane

Potential surprise: MTV doc Black Box Diaries

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Brutalist

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Maria

Nosferatu

Spoiler: Emilia Perez, Nickel Boys, A Complete Unknown

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Wicked

Spoiler: Nosferatu,The Brutalist, Maria, Blitz, Gladiator

FILM EDITING

Anora

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Perez

Wicked

Spoiler The Brutalist, September 5, A Complete Unknown

MAKEUP & HAIR

A Different Man

Emilia Perez

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

The Substance

Spoiler: Wicked, The Apprentice

ORIGINAL SCORE

The Brutalist

Challengers

Conclave

Emilia Perez

The Wild Robot

Spoiler: Nosferatu

ORIGINAL SONG

Compress/Repress, Challengers

El Mal, Emilia Perez

Kiss the Sky, The Wild Robot

Mi Camino, Emilia Perez

Sick in the Head, Kneecap


Potential surprise: The Journey by Diane Warren or Elton John's Never Too Late

PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Brutalist

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Wicked

Spoiler: The Substance

SOUND

A Complete Unknown

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Perez

Gladiator II

Wicked

Potential surprise: Blitz

VISUAL EFFECTS

Better Man

Dune: Part Two

Gladiator II

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Wicked

Potential surprise: Twisters

September 5

September 5, director Tim Fehlbaum’s gripping newsroom thriller about the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack, doesn’t just evoke the look of the '70s; its grainly look and gritty dialogue-driven script feels like it was plucked straight from the era’s cinematic vault (All the President’s Men The China Syndrome).

The film takes viewers inside a TV control room in 1972, where ABC Sports broadcasters face an unprecedented crisis: gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Black September have infiltrated the Olympic village, killed two members of the Israeli athletic team, and taken nine others hostage. The movie dives into the moment live television transformed into something more than just news—it became entertainment too.

The ABC Sports team is overseen by network executive Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard), who declares that rather than give the story to the news division and let it be reported remotely. But it’s John Magaro’s portrayal of producer Geoffrey Mason that steals the show as Manson’s every move is tinged with the moral weight of broadcasting tragedy in real-time.

It’s also a fascinating “process movie” as Fehlbaum leans heavily into the logistics of getting the crisis on the air, including fabricating new logos with photos and art supplies and then shooting them with a video camera, and very quickly developing 16mm film of events to be shown on live TV (this is where the phrase “Film at 11” comes from). Simply put, September 5 is a meditation on the birth of modern media.

Even if you’re familiar with the tragic outcome of the Munich attacks, September 5 keeps you on edge. It’s the feel bad thriller of the year.

In a nutshell: A morally complex newsroom drama that lingers long after the credits roll.

Where to see it: In theaters, starting January 17, 2025. Sneak previews begin January 10 in Dallas with a recorded Q&A.

Would it be better with Olivia Colman? Everything is. The one female part, however, is played brilliantly by Leonie Benesch, a female and German translator who brings poignant humanity to the film in some small but key scenes.

Award potential: It’s a very quiet film in late release with understated performances and isn’t heavily promoted but despite all that, it's likely to end up with a few top nominations such as the big one, Best Picture.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

Where to stream all the films of Award Season

Did you catch the Golden Globes and find yourself shouting, “What is that movie?" like a senior? Don’t worry, you’re not alone—some of those films have barely touched a theater screen, and a few have never seen one at all. In fact, one of the frontrunners quietly dropped on your Netflix the same night as the Tyson fight, and somehow, no one noticed.

But don’t worry movielovers, Ten Buck Review has the inside scoop on where to catch those elusive films, along with a sneak peek at the Oscar frontrunners you’ll want to pencil in for your 2024 watchlist.

BEST PICTURE CONTENDERS (Information as of 1/6/2025)

Currently in theaters: A Complete Unknown, Anora, Babygirl, A Real Pain, Sing Sing, Hard Truths and Wicked

Wicked is in theaters and also available for $19.99 on Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube or Google Play Movies.

Conclave is available for streaming on Peacock as well as purchase for $19.99 on Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

Emilia Pérez Is available now on Netflix.

Anora is in theaters and available for rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango at Home for $19.99.

Dune: Part 2 is available on Max and Netflix. Users can also use premium subscriptions on Hulu, YouTube, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video and The Roku Channel, or rent the movie for $3.99 on Fandango at Home and $7.99 on Google Play Movies.

The Substance, the horror movie starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, is available on Amazon Prime Video with the Mubi subscription, or for rent starting at $5.99 on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

A Real Pain is available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies and Fandango at Home for $19.99.

Sing Sing is being re-released in theaters on January 17.

The Brutalist, an undetermined wide release in January. 

September 5, January 17 wide release.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig, All We Can Imagine As Light, Nickel Boys: Currently playing in NY and LA

BEST ANIMATED PICTURE CONTENDERS

Moana 2, it's in theaters now.

Flow, the frontrunner, is available on Apple TV for $3.99 or The Roku Channel for free with ads.

The Wild Robot is available for $5.99 on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies and Fandango at Home.

Inside Out 2 is available on Disney+ and other VOD.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, is available on your Netflix.

Memoir of a Snail is available for purchase on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home as download or you can rent it on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home and more.

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE CONTENDERS

Emila Perez (France) available on Netflix.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany), You can stream on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, NEON, and IMVBox. You can also buy it on Fandango at Home.

Touch (Iceland), watch it on Peacock TV, ROW8, Fandango at Home, Prime Video or Apple TV.

Flow (Larivia) is currently available to stream on digital video-on-demand platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Fandango at Home. 

From Ground Zero (Palestine), in theaters and on WatchDocs.

Waves (Czech Republic) is available to stream on Netflix, and you can buy or rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Video and Cineplex.

I’m Still Here (Brazil), no streaming options at blog-writing time.

BEST DOCUMENTARY CONTENDERS

Sugarcane is currently streaming on Disney+, Hulu and Nat Geo.

Black Box Diaries, by MTV docs, is naturaly on Paramount+ with Showtime, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ and Roku Premium Channel.

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Eetat, you can rent on Fandango at Home, or buy it on Fandango at Home.

Daughters, can currently be streamed on Netflix.

Will & Harper, with Will Farrell, is also available on Netflix.

Porcelain War, is in a theater run (opens Friday in Dallas), or you can rent through Eventive.

Dahomey, streaming on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, and available to buy on Apple TV or Fandango At Homel.

Union, in theaters, expect streaming dates soon.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, available on Netflix.

No Other Land, still seeking U.S. distribution.

ACTOR/ SUPPORTING ACTOR CONTENDERS

In theaters now: Timothee Chalamet and Ed Norton in A Complete Unkown, Kierian Culkin in A Real Pain

In theaters soon: Adrian Brody and Guy Pearce in The Brutalist

Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci in Conclave, available for streaming on Peacock and purchase for $19.99 on Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing, now being re-released in theaters on January 17.

Sebastian Stan in A Different Man, rentable on VOD, and on Max on January 17.

Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong in The Apprentice, rentable on VOD.

Yura Borisov in Anora, in theaters and available for rent on Apple TV, AmazonPrime Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango at Home for $19.99.

Denzel Washington in Gladiator II, in theaters and on VOD.

ACTRESS/ SUPPORTING ACTRESS CONTENDERS

In theaters now: Fernanda Torres in I’m Still Here, Nicole Kidman in Babygirl, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michele Austin in Hard Truths.

In theaters soon: Felicity Jones in The Brutalist.

Demi Moore and Coralie Fargeat in The Substance, available on Amazon Prime Video with the Mubi subscription, or for rent starting at $5.99 on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Perez, available on Netflix.

Angeline Jolie in Maria, on Netflix.

Mikey Madison in Anora, in theaters and available for rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango at Home for $19.99.

Isabella Rosselini in Conclave, available for streaming on Peacock as well as purchase for $19.99 on Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked, in theaters and also available for $19.99 on Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube or Google Play Movies.