This 3-Minute The Brutalist Scene Shows Why Adrien Brody Should Win The 2025 Best Actor Oscar

Brady Corbet's The Brutalist is a sweeping historical epic about fictional architect László Tóth, who travels from Budapest to Pennsylvania in search of the American Dream that's been sold to him from across the ocean. But when he lands his first client, a wealthy man looking to build a memorial to his late mother, Tóth quickly realizes that the immigrant experience is one of suffering and pain. It's an extremely powerful film that explores themes of generational trauma and repression, and one of the frontrunners to win Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars.

The Brutalist features several staggering performances that have found themselves nominated at the Oscars, from Guy Pearce as Tóth's old money client to Felicity Jones as his estranged wife. But it's Adrien Brody's lead performance that's deservedly being awarded at every corner, beating stars such as Timothée Chalamet and Ralph Fiennes at many of the major precursors. There are multiple scenes in The Brutalist that prove that Adrien Brody deserves to win the Oscar, but one moment stands out among the rest.

"They Do Not Want Us Here" Is Adrien Brody's Best Scene In The Brutalist

László & Erzsébet's Argument In The Car Is A Highlight Of The Brutalist

One of the most shocking and upsetting scenes in The Brutalist comes towards the end of the second act when Tóth is assaulted by Harrison van Buren, the wealthy man who accepted him into America and first took a fondness for his work. The moment is a clear turning point for the protagonist, forcing him to realize that he and his people will never be seen as more than a convenience for others to exploit and manipulate for their own benefit. This realization comes during an explosive conversation with his wife as they're driving away from the construction site.

László showing his blueprint to a huddle of men with umbrellas in The Brutalist

Every Award The Brutalist Has Won

The Brutalist has been one of the biggest winners during awards season, racking up victories for Adrien Brody, Brady Corbet, Guy Pearce, and more.

Posts

This discussion features some of Brody's most heartbreaking acting in The Brutalist, as he breaks down at the wheel and cries "they do not want us here" to his wife Erzsébet. This three-minute scene distills some of The Brutalist's most profound themes into one conversation, as László finally reaches his breaking point and realizes that everything he's worked towards has been for nothing. Brody navigates the scene with a gut-wrenching vulnerability that makes his character's suffering tangible and unavoidable for the audience. The Brutalist is one of Adrien Brody's best films, and this may be the strongest scene within it.

Why Adrien Brody Deserves To Win The Best Actor Oscar

It's Time For The Actor To Take Home His Second Academy Award

While there's a strong argument to be made for Timothée Chalamet winning the Best Actor award for his immersive portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Brody's work in The Brutalist is ultimately just as affecting and arguably more powerful. He's given a more complex and emotional role that forces him to reach inside himself and bring Tóth's pain to the screen. His character is also more well-rounded, exploring a huge range of emotions — from optimism to cynicism, euphoria to depression, and love to hatred.