The Brutalist

The Brutalist begins as a masterfully crafted immigrant epic with stunning visuals and compelling character development that had critics comparing it to classics like The Godfather. However, the film suffers a significant decline in the second half, with reviewers criticizing excessive melodrama, implausible plot developments, and tonal inconsistencies that undermine the earlier excellence. Despite strong performances throughout and technical brilliance, the ambitious three-and-a-half-hour runtime ultimately feels like a missed opportunity that collapses under its own weight.