Director Brady Corbet’s epic historical drama The Brutalist is set to hit theaters this Friday, and it’s already garnering a ton of critical acclaim for strong performances from both Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. That being said, the movie is also at the forefront for being the first American film in decades to feature an intermission, and now, the stars of The Brutalist are offering their opinions on what moviegoers should do during their 15-minute break.
Lasting a whopping 3 hours and 35 minutes, including the intermission, The Brutalist is a compelling look at Brody’s character of László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust and immigrates to the United States to pursue the American dream. Split into two parts dubbed The Enigma of Arrival and The Hard Core of Beauty, the stars of the film discussed with The Hollywood Reporter what fans should be doing when the film breaks, and the responses vary from the sensible to the risqué.
Brody urges moviegoers to take time to reflect on the movie, adding that he believes the intermission only adds to the event-like feel of The Brutalist. “The beauty is you have a moment to reflect. Or go to the restroom, get a piece of candy — whatever you’d like,” he said before elaborating:
“I find that it’s a moment to sit there in the silence and darkness with an image that’s evocative while you contemplate a chapter and let it sink in before a new chapter unfolds. It’s quite special and beautiful, and it makes the experience feel like an event, especially in a theater.”
Related
‘The Brutalist’ Team Filmed a Secret Musical With an Insanely Stacked Cast
The team behind one of this year’s biggest awards contenders made a new musical with Amanda Seyfried, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, and more.
Jones, who portrays Brody’s wife, Erzsébet Tóth, believes that audiences are “desperate for a proper story” right now, and that The Brutalist fulfills that need. Her suggestion is to either down a cup of tea, have a smoke, or “have a chat with the person you’re watching it with.”
Director Brady Corbet’s Response Is Hilarious
While some moviegoers might be left scratching their heads wondering what to do during The Brutalist’s 15-minute intermission, writer Mona Fastvold suggests fans “run to the bathroom, and then get a drink.” Corbet, who also serves as writer in addition to director, believes people can fill their time in a more risqué manner, humorously adding, “or f**k in the bathroom.” Please don’t do that.
When it comes to Guy Pearce – who portrays wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren – he believes a bathroom break is warranted, but just make sure you’re back in time for the start of The Hard Core of Beauty:
“Go to the bathroom, have a little chat about what you’ve observed in the first half, and then maybe get another little serving of popcorn or something. But don’t be too late going back in for the second half.”
Joe Alwyn portrays Pearce’s son in the film, and he also got the chance to chime in, telling fans to “go and get a stiff drink and some popcorn if you want.” It’s a reasonable suggestion, or – hear us out – you can go listen to Taylor Swift’s 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” Sorry, Joe, we couldn’t resist.
Either way, it’s clear that excitement for The Brutalist is at an all-time high. An intermission hasn’t really been featured in a movie since 1982’s Gandhi, so like Brody said, it really does feel like an event not to be missed. Whether that translates into big box office dollars remains to be seen, but for now, we suggest coming up with your own creative ways to fill your time during intermission when you check out The Brutalist in theaters on Dec. 20 from A24. Be sure to check out our interview with Brody above, where he discusses his take on the American dream, and his personal connection to the film.
Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…
- Release Date
-
December 20, 2024
- Cast
-
Adrien Brody
, Guy Pearce
, Felicity Jones
, Joe Alwyn
, Raffey Cassidy
, Stacy Martin
, Emma Laird
, Isaach De Bankole
, Alessandro Nivola
, Michael Epp
, Jonathan Hyde
, Peter Polycarpou
, Salvatore Sansone
, Ariane Labed
, Jeremy Wheeler
, Jaymes Butler
, Matt Devere
, Natalie Shinnick
, Stephen Saracco
, Peter Linka
, Robert Jackson
