Spotlight REVIEW Movie review: 'The Brutalist' stands as a monument to smart filmmaking BRUCE R. MILLER Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2024 Updated Mar 17, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Work smarter, not harder.kAm%92E’D E96 >6DD286 H6 86E 7C@> “%96 qCFE2=:DE[” 2 DAC2H=:?8 =@@< 2E @?6 >2?’D =:76 E92E @?=J 4@DE S`_ >:==:@? E@ >2<6] ~? D4C66?[ :E F?7@=5D =:<6 D@>6E9:?8 `_ E:>6D E96 4@DE]k^AmkAm%92E’D 3642FD6 s:C64E@C qC25J r@C36E 92D 7@F?5 4C62E:G6 H2JD E@ 42AEFC6 E96 E:>6D[ E96 A6@A=6[ E96 >@>6?ED] w6 5@6D?’E ;FDE E9C@H >@?6J 2E D6ED[ 4@DEF>6D 2?5 DA64:2= 67764ED[ 96 F?62CE9D F?:BF6 H2JD E@ >2<6 E96 >@>6?ED C6D@?2E6]k^AmkAm(9:=6 :E’D @?6 @7 E96 C2C6 7:=>D E@52J H:E9 2? :?E6C>:DD:@? W:E 6586D ?62C E96 7@FC\9@FC >2C<X[ “%96 qCFE2=:DE” 56D6CG6D :E[ 8:G:?8 FD 2 >@>6?E E@ 4@?D:56C H92E H6’G6 D66?] %96 DE@CJ 7@==@HD 2? 2C49:E64E[ {2DK=@ %@E9 Wp5C:6? qC@5JX[ H9@ =62G6D tFC@A6 27E6C (@C=5 (2C xx 2?5 C6:?G6?ED 9:D =:76[ 7:CDE 2D 2 C67F866[ E96?[ 2D 2 =23@C6C]k^Am People are also reading… 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard addresses women's basketball transfers, Bill Fennelly's future What Iowa State star Addy Brown said in transfer portal announcement What Iowa State's Milan Momcilovic said about future after Tennessee game A year after Trump's DOGE cuts, workers whose lives were upended question what was saved Iowa State's three key freshmen say they're returning. What it means for next season Report: Iowa native Cyclone Aili Tanke planning on entering transfer portal Freshman Freya Jensen changes mind on transfer portal, returning to Iowa State Former five-star prospect departs Iowa women's basketball program after freshman season Former Miss Iowa Basketball, Hawkeye sophomore announces entrance to transfer portal Trump says he has 'no problem' with Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade Florida hospital drops its lawsuit against woman after she finally leaves facility 3 burning questions for Iowa State men’s basketball entering the offseason ‘Stay Low, Shoot High’: How Taylor McCabe trusted the process, transformed herself into the player Iowa needed Gas prices soar past $4 on average for a gallon of regular in the US, the highest since 2022 kAmw@H 96 >2<6D :E :? 2 E@F89 ?6H H@C=5 :D @?=J A2CE @7 E96 ;@FC?6J] u2>:=J E62496D 9:> 9@H 96 ?665D E@ 3692G6 2?5[ BF:4<=J[ 96’D 23=6 E@ 492??6= 9:D 56D:8? D6?D6 E9C@F89 2 4@FD:?’D 7FC?:EFC6 DE@C6] w6 3FEED FA 282:?DE C6=2E:G6D 2?5 @E96CD[ E96? >66ED 2? :?5FDEC:2=:DE WvFJ !62C46X H9@ :D 2D 3CFDBF6 2D 2?J@?6 :? E96 ?6H 4@F?ECJ] (96? {@@< >282K:?6 C2G6D 23@FE %@E9’D H@C<[ E96 36?6724E@C 492?86D 4@FCD6 2?5 9:C6D E96 BF:6E >2? E@ 3F:=5 2 4@>>F?:EJ 46?E6C E92E 492==6?86D E96 2C49:E64E’D D<:==D]k^Am Adrien Brody plays an architect who reshapes his life when he moves to the United States in "The Brutalist." A24 kAm!62C46 :D H@?56C7F= 2D E96 >2? H9@ 4@>>:DD:@?D D@>6@?6 6=D6 E@ 8:G6 9:> G:D:@?] %@52J[ E9@D6 “>@?6J” >6? E9:?< E96J’C6 E96 @?6D H:E9 E96 :562Dj 96C6[ 96 @A6?=J 4656D E96 C6:?D 2?5 %@E9 56=:G6CD]k^Am kAmpD r@C36E 4@G6CD E96 3F:=5:?8 AC@46DD[ H6 D66 E96 492?86 :? %@E9[ A2CE:4F=2C=J H96? :E >62?D 96 42? 3C:?8 9:D 72>:=J E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] w6 E9C@HD 9:>D6=7 :?E@ E96 H@C< W?@E F?=:<6 2 4@>A@D6C H:E9 2 5625=:?6 =@@>:?8X 2?5[ :? E96 AC@46DD[ 65F42E6D @E96CD @? G2C:@FD D49@@=D @7 56D:8?]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio kAm(96? !62C46’D w2CC:D@? {66 '2? qFC6? $C] :?D:DED @? 2 492A6=[ %@E9 5@6D?’E C6D:DE 3FE 8:G6D 9:> D@>6E9:?8 ?@ @?6 4@F=5 92G6 :>28:?65] %96 :>286CJ[ 2=@?6[ D2JD D@>6E9:?8 23@FE 9:D E2=6?E]k^AmkAmq642FD6 E96J’C6 H@CC:65 23@FE E96:C 72E96C’D :?72EF2E:@? H:E9 E96 AC@;64E W2?5 E96 >@?6J :E’D DF4<:?8 2H2JX '2? qFC6?’D D@? Wy@6 p=HJ?X 2?5 52F89E6C W$E24J |2CE:?X @776C C6D:DE2?46] %96 D@?[ :? A2CE:4F=2C[ H@CC:6D H92E E9:D >:89E >62? 7@C 9:> 2?5 =@@<D 7@C 9:D @H? H2J @7 4@?EC@==:?8 E96 D:EF2E:@?]k^Am kAmr@C36E[ 9@H6G6C[ 5@6D?’E ;FDE 49C@?:4=6 E96 4C62E:@? @7 2 >2DE6CA:646] w6 D9@HD E96 H@C< 2?5 ?68@E:2E:@? E92E 8@6D :?E@ :ED 4@>A=6E:@?] {:<6 E96 |65:4:D :? xE2=J[ E96 '2? qFC6?D H2?E >@C6 E92? 4@?EC@=]k^Am kAmx? E96 7:=>’D D64@?5 92=7[ %@E9’D 72>:=J 2CC:G6D 2?5 AC6D6?ED 2?@E96C HC:?<=6 – @?6 E92E :D?’E ?646DD2C:=J 92?5=65 H:E9 2 %\DBF2C6 2?5 2 92>>6C]k^AmkAmr@C36E >2?286D E@ H62G6 A=6?EJ @7 A@=:E:42=[ D@4:2= 2?5 C6=:8:@FD FA962G2= E9C@F89@FE “%96 qCFE2=:DE” WH9:49 C676CD E@ 9:D 2C49:E64EFC2= DEJ=6X 3FE ?6G6C :?D:DED J@F 3FJ :?E@ 9:D E96@C:6D] %9:D :D G6CJ >F49 @?6 >2?’D ;@FC?6J W?@E F?=:<6 ':E@ r@C=6@?6’DX[ :?7=F6?465 3J E96 D:EF2E:@?D 96 6?4@F?E6CD :? =:76]k^Am kAmqC@5J :D C6>2C<23=6 E9C@F89@FE E96 DE286D @7 %@E9’D =:76] w6 4@?;FC6D 2== E96 6>@E:@?D 2?5 6>6C86D H:E9 2 7F==\3@5:65 A6C7@C>2?46 E92E >2<6D J@F 766= =:<6 J@F DE@@5 ?6IE E@ 2 >2? 5FC:?8 E96 8@@5 2?5 325 E:>6D]k^Am kAmu6=:4:EJ y@?6D :D 27764E:?8[ E@@[ 2D 9:D H:76 3FE D96 92D 2?@E96C 286?52[ @?6 :?7@C>65 3J E96 5:DE2?46 E92E D6A2C2E65 E96>]k^AmkAm(96? E96 2C49:E64E >2?286D E@ AC@5F46 H92E 9:D 36?6724E@C H2?ED – “D@>6E9:?8 ?6H[” 2D 96 AFED :E – H6 42? 766= E96 D6?D6 @7 244@>A=:D9>6?E]k^Am kAm{:<6 %@E9[ r@C36E 92D 4C62E65 D@>6E9:?8 >@?F>6?E2= – 2 A:646 @7 4:?6>2 E92E 5:5?’E ?665 9F?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D E@ AC@5F46[ ;FDE 2 =:EE=6 :?86?F:EJ]k^Am Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller Movies in a Minute: "28 Years Ago" Movies in a Minute: "Materialists" Movies in a Minute: "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" Movies in a Minute: "Karate Kid: Legends" Movies in a Minute: "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning " Movies in a Minute: "Nonnas" Movies in a Minute: "Fight or Flight" Movies in a Minute: "Thunderbolts*" Movies in a Minute: "The Accountant 2" Movies in a Minute: "Sinners" Movies in a Minute: "Warfare" Movies in a Minute: "A Minecraft Movie" Movies in a Minute: "Death of a Unicorn" Movies in a Minute: "Snow White" Movies in a Minute: "Novocaine" Movies in a Minute: "Mickey 17" Movies in a Minute: "Flow" Movies in a Minute: "Last Breath" Movies in a Minute: "Captain America Brave New World" Movies in a Minute: "Heart Eyes" Movies in a Minute: "Flight Risk" Movies in a Minute: This Oscar season, musicals are "pop u lar!" Movies in a Minute: "Wolf Man" Movies in a Minute: "Better Man" Movies in a Minute: "Babygirl" Movies in a Minute: "The Brutalist" Movies in a Minute: "Nosferatu" Movies in a Minute: "A Complete Unknown" Movies in a Minute: "Nickel Boys" Movies in a Minute: "Moana 2" Movies in a Minute: "We Live in Time" Movies in a Minute: "Smile 2" Movies in a Minute: "Saturday Night" Movies in a Minute: "Joker: Folie `a Deux" Movies in a Minute: "Megalopolis" Movies in a Minute: "Transformers One" Movies in a Minute: "Speak No Evil" Movies in a Minute: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" Movies in a Minute: "Reagan" Movies in a Minute: "Blink Twice" Movies in a Minute "Alien: Romulus" Movies in a Minute: "It Ends With Us" Movies in a Minute: "Trap" Movies in a Minute: "Deadpool & Wolverine" Movies in a Minute: "Twisters" Movies in a Minute "Maxxxine" Movies in a Minute "Despicable Me 4" Movies in a Minute "A Quiet Place: Day One" Movies in a Minute: "Thelma" Movies in a Minute: "Inside Out 2" Bruce Miller is editor of the Sioux City Journal. 0 Comments Related to this story Movie review: Reality mars a good 'Lion King' story “Mufasa: The Lion King” is an odd movie. Realistic-looking lions, warthogs, meerkats and whatever break into song repeatedly. It’s like a curi… Disability didn't keep Anthony Robles from attaining wresting goals “Unstoppable” follows Anthony Robles' quest to wrestle, get a college scholarship and win a national title — despite being born without a right leg. From 'The Brutalist' to 'Wicked,' where to watch this year's top awards movies The 2025 movie awards season is in full swing, but figuring out where to watch everything can be overwhelming. Here's some help. Oscar nominations snubs and surprises, from Daniel Craig to Selena Gomez The film academy had plenty of surprise nominations Thursday for the 97th Oscars. It's to be expected in one of the more wide-open fields in r… The best films of 2024: 'The Brutalist,' 'Conclave' and 'Wicked' | Streamed & Screened “Wicked” proved there’s still life in big-budget studio films. But the bulk of 2024’s best still came from independent studios, streaming serv… Movie review: Timothee Chalamet shines as Dylan in 'A Complete Unknown' Spanning a handful of years, the movie includes a lot of music and more than a few iconic songs. Timothee Chalamet makes a great Dylan, all fl… 'The Piano Lesson' becomes a family affair for Malcolm Washington A graduate of the American Film Institute, Malcom Washington, a son of actor Denzel Washington, was looking for something to capitalize on his skills. Who will win the Golden Globes? Think: 'Brutalist,' 'Shogun' The Golden Globes air Sunday on CBS. Here’s how this year’s competition stacks up. Movie review: Nicole Kidman steams up office relationships in 'Babygirl' “Babygirl” could crack the door to upending office relationships. It’s a juicy story that practically begs to be on the cover of a tabloid. Movie review: Pamela Anderson lights up 'Last Showgirl' After “Baywatch,” that “Pam and Tommy” miniseries and a documentary on Netflix, Pamela Anderson was ready for a change. She gets it with "The …
Movie review: Reality mars a good 'Lion King' story “Mufasa: The Lion King” is an odd movie. Realistic-looking lions, warthogs, meerkats and whatever break into song repeatedly. It’s like a curi…
Disability didn't keep Anthony Robles from attaining wresting goals “Unstoppable” follows Anthony Robles' quest to wrestle, get a college scholarship and win a national title — despite being born without a right leg.
From 'The Brutalist' to 'Wicked,' where to watch this year's top awards movies The 2025 movie awards season is in full swing, but figuring out where to watch everything can be overwhelming. Here's some help.
Oscar nominations snubs and surprises, from Daniel Craig to Selena Gomez The film academy had plenty of surprise nominations Thursday for the 97th Oscars. It's to be expected in one of the more wide-open fields in r…
The best films of 2024: 'The Brutalist,' 'Conclave' and 'Wicked' | Streamed & Screened “Wicked” proved there’s still life in big-budget studio films. But the bulk of 2024’s best still came from independent studios, streaming serv…
Movie review: Timothee Chalamet shines as Dylan in 'A Complete Unknown' Spanning a handful of years, the movie includes a lot of music and more than a few iconic songs. Timothee Chalamet makes a great Dylan, all fl…
'The Piano Lesson' becomes a family affair for Malcolm Washington A graduate of the American Film Institute, Malcom Washington, a son of actor Denzel Washington, was looking for something to capitalize on his skills.
Who will win the Golden Globes? Think: 'Brutalist,' 'Shogun' The Golden Globes air Sunday on CBS. Here’s how this year’s competition stacks up.
Movie review: Nicole Kidman steams up office relationships in 'Babygirl' “Babygirl” could crack the door to upending office relationships. It’s a juicy story that practically begs to be on the cover of a tabloid.
Movie review: Pamela Anderson lights up 'Last Showgirl' After “Baywatch,” that “Pam and Tommy” miniseries and a documentary on Netflix, Pamela Anderson was ready for a change. She gets it with "The …
