41/30
When a visionary architect and his wife flee to post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of the modern United States, their lives are forever changed by a mysterious, wealthy client. This film features an interlude on an actual 70mm film reel that counts down from fifteen minutes. Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.: When dogs get sick, they often bite the hand of those who fed them until someone mercifully puts them down. Featured on The 7PM Project: Episode 10, December 2024 (2024). A Hungarian-Jewish architect narrowly escapes to America from post-World War II Europe in hopes of making a new life for his family. His arduous career in the new country takes a few twists and turns before he is passed on to a discerning, prosperous industrialist in Pennsylvania who admires his work and eventually hires him to carry out part of his vision. Adrien Brody gives one of his best performances ever as Laszlo Toth, a hard-working and determined immigrant hoping to start a new chapter and rebuild his legacy, both literally and figuratively. But it’s Guy Pearce who almost steals the film with a fierce and charismatic performance as the blue-blooded tycoon who gives Toth a second chance at his architectural career. He shifts easily from sympathy to revenge. Brody’s character is certainly not a paragon of virtue. He struggles with drug addiction, sometimes disregards the chain of command, teeters on the brink of madness, and even turns on some of his closest friends in moments of stress. Ultimately, he’s likable but complicated. Director Brady Corbett provides a rich sense of historical context. The only criticism of the film is that it only gives a vague idea of what this innovative architect did in the long run. It focuses on his first and most ambitious project for this mercurial employer and all the troubles that came with it. Still, this is one of the best epics of recent times and comes highly recommended for its all-around great work. From Alien: Romulus to Road House, take a look back at some of our favorite posters from 2024.