‘The Brutalist’ Brings Back Hollywood Golden Era with Intermission

Taking an unconventional approach, the 3 1/2-hour drama film The Brutalist incorporates a 15-minute intermission with a countdown clock included. Ultimately, this bold move pays homage to the epic Hollywood films from the “old days,” which is used to make the moviegoing experience even better. 

Producers Nick Gordon and Trevor Matthews 

Notably, cinematic classics, including Gone With the Wind, The Ten Commandments, and Lawrence of Arabia, featured intermissions during their lengthy run times. Producers Trevor Matthews and Nick Gordon were drawn to this nostalgic touch, considering intermissions that break up lengthy run times as an old-school charm. As the Bookstreet Pictures president, Gordon built on this classic aesthetic.

To accomplish this goal, he and Matthews created a cinematic experience reminiscent of Hollywood’s golden era. Embracing this traditional format, The Brutalist offers a unique viewing experience that stands out from modern films. Chief executive of Brookstreet, Matthews shared a similar sentiment. He also built on the film’s classic aesthetic, noting that the script and movie evoked a bygone era. Furthermore, the nostalgic quality of The Brutalist highlighted a stark reality that movies of this caliber are a rarity in modern times. 

The Brutalist Stands Out

Boldly defining contemporary film industry conventions, the film’s independent script surpasses 160 pages—moreover, the script is divided into an intricate narrative structure. The Brutalist follows the journey of a Hungarian Jewish architect, portrayed by Adrien Brody. In the film, he seeks a fresh start in America after the end of World War 2. Moreover, the film’s ambitious, character-driven takes a deliberate risk. Specifically, The Brutalist bets on the audience’s existence for lengthy, adult dramas tackling complex themes. With a limited debut release, The Brutalist had a nationwide expansion, including IMAX showings, slated in January. 

Distinguishing the film from other indie productions, Gordon acknowledged that The Brutalist lacks obvious commercial appeal. Typically, indie producers prioritize genre-driven projects with clear commercial potential. In contrast, The Brutalist defies easy categorization and instead evokes the grandeur of cinematic classics. Moreover, Gordon and his team loved the film’s sweeping narrative, complex characters, and nuanced story arcs. Specifically, they were drawn to the film’s epic scope and ambition as they felt it set itself apart from more conventional indie fare. 

Making The Brutalist a Box-Office Success

The producers brought The Brutalist with a tight budget of nearly $10 million. To achieve this goal, they secured financial backing through the presale of international distribution rights. Furthermore, Focus Features acquired these rights during the 2020 virtual Toronto International Film Festival, providing the film with a vital financial foundation. While offering essential support, the deal didn’t provide enough funding to justify a large budget. Therefore, the producers had no choice but to remain frugal in their spending. 

Strategically, the producers leveraged a combination of rebates and incentive programs to further minimize risk for equity investors. Specifically, they decided to film The Brutalist in Hungary to utilize the country’s experienced crews and valuable rebate program. Additionally, they were able to capitalize on a second tax credit by securing a postproduction deal in the U.K. Securing investors willing to take on equity risk for a project lacking obvious commercial appeal proved challenging. Overcoming this hurdle required the producers to be creative and aggressive in their financial pursuits. 

A24’s Acquires The Brutalist

As self-proclaimed cinephiles, both producers believe The Brutalist holds deeper significance. Overall, the film is a poignant allegory that juxtaposes the American Dream with harsh reality. In the end, this theme resonates with film audiences in today’s societal landscape. Notably, the film’s script is considered the most exceptional the company has had in its possession in 15 years of collaboration. 

In September, A24 made a strategic move by acquiring the U.S. rights to The Brutalist as several factors influenced their decision. Mainly, the film’s sweeping scope, commitment to its subject matter, and unique storytelling approach caught their attention. Furthermore, A24 appreciated the film’s body use of intermissions, allowing the narrative to breathe and underscoring the producers’ dedication to creating this distinctive theatrical experience. 

Final Thoughts

With moviegoers becoming increasingly selective in watching films in theaters, the market for lengthy, dramatic films remains uncertain. Despite significant summer gains, the box office continues to struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels of success. Still, Christopher Nolan’s 3-hour film, Oppenheimer, displayed prestige filmmaking and achieved mainstream box office success.

However, similar films, such as the Leonardo DiCaprio-starred Killers of the Flower Moon, which is also 31/2 hours long, garnered critical acclaim but failed to replicate similar commercial appeal. Another factor contributing to this disparity is the current moviegoing trend, which favors more escapist and fantastical content. Moreover, these lengthy, heavy films may deter audiences from watching as they may seek lighter entertainment. So, how this disparity affects The Brutalist is anyone’s guess, as these types of films’ box office performances remain unpredictable.