As the Oscar season approaches, the spotlight has shifted towards The Brutalist, a film embroiled in controversy concerning its incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the production process featuring Adrien Brody. What sparked this uproar, and to what extent did the film rely on AI technology?
This year, The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez are emerging as the leading contenders across various award categories. Notably, The Brutalist is a three-and-a-half-hour historical narrative based on the life of Holocaust survivor László Tóth, and it has already garnered numerous accolades, positioning it as a strong candidate for the coveted Best Picture award at the Academy Awards.
How AI was Integrated into The Brutalist
The film’s editor, Dávid Jancsó, has publicly confirmed that AI played a crucial role in two key areas of the production:
- Enhancing the Hungarian language performances of lead actors, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
- Creating the drawings and architectural elements depicted in a scene set at the Venice Biennale.
In a recent interview with RedShark News, Jancsó detailed how the team utilized an AI program named Respeecher, a tool celebrated for its proprietary deep learning capabilities in generating high-quality synthetic speech. Jancsó remarked, “As a native Hungarian speaker, I know that mastering pronunciation in this challenging language is not easy. While Adrien showcased remarkable effort given his Hungarian heritage, perfection was our ultimate goal.”
Notably, AI was not the filmmakers’ first choice. Initially, the production team attempted ADR (automated dialogue replacement) but faced challenges with that method as well. Jancsó explained, “We tried various approaches to capture the nuances of the Hungarian language, given the distinct sounds that can be elusive for speakers from the Anglo-Saxon world. After several attempts with different actors, we decided to explore AI.”
He added, “With much of the dialogue in Hungarian, we had to ensure we could expedite the process without compromising the integrity of the performances. AI allowed us to make minor adjustments without losing the actors’ authentic voice.”
Additionally, Jancsó confirmed that AI was employed to enrich the Venice Biennale sequence, where architectural elements created by Brody’s character are prominently featured.
Reflecting on the ongoing discourse about AI in filmmaking, Jancsó advocates for an open dialogue regarding its potential benefits. “While AI usage is contentious, it warrants discussion. The tools we’ve utilized do not introduce anything unprecedented to filmmaking; they simply enhance efficiency, allowing us to focus on details we otherwise couldn’t capture due to constraints,” he stated.
The Backlash Against The Brutalist
Jancsó’s comments have circulated widely, inciting a wave of criticism and calls for The Brutalist to be reconsidered for award nominations. This controversy is not unprecedented in the film industry. For instance, the independent horror project Late Night With the Devil faced backlash in March 2024 for featuring AI-generated still images.
The filmmakers of Late Night With the Devil responded defensively, stating, “Our graphics and production design team, after significant effort, integrated AI for just three still images that appear briefly within the film.”
This growing skepticism surrounding AI stems from concerns about artistic integrity, with some critics labeling its use a “disgrace.” The debate gained momentum following the 2023 Hollywood strikes, where writers and actors rallied against the encroaching role of AI, fearing it could diminish job opportunities for human creatives.
The thematic materials of The Brutalist have also fueled the backlash. Jancsó himself characterized the film as a narrative focusing on “a struggling artist,” making the usage of AI in a film highlighting such dedication to art seem ironic to some critics. A user on X pointed out, “The irony of The Brutalist using AI while portraying the sacrifices of an artist is hard to ignore.”
Despite the criticisms, some defend the film’s AI utilization, believing neither the film nor its stars should face disqualification from awards consideration. As one commenter stated, “The use of AI in films is contentious, but it shouldn’t be misconstrued as solely detrimental. Examples abound in various projects today.”
As the film awards season unfolds, the controversy surrounding The Brutalist raises larger questions about the role of AI in the creative industries. For enthusiasts seeking more film-related updates, explore our list of the best upcoming movies in 2025 and stay current on newly released streaming films this month.
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