Director Brady Corbet Defends Controversial AI Use in 'The Brutalist' Amid Backlash

In a bold defense of his latest film, "The Brutalist," director Brady Corbet has responded to a wave of criticism regarding his use of AI technology during production, particularly in the portrayal of Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones' Hungarian accents. Despite concerns from critics and audiences alike about the implications of using Artificial Intelligence in cinema, Corbet insists that the performances of his leading actors remain authentic and distinctively their own.

“The performances of Adrien and Felicity are completely their own,” Corbet emphasized. He explained that both actors collaborated closely with dialect coach Tanera Marshall for months to master their Hungarian accents fully. “We employed Respeecher technology solely for the editing of Hungarian dialogue, specifically to enhance certain vowels and consonants to ensure accuracy. Importantly, no English dialogue was modified in this process,” he stated, asserting that the modifications were handled carefully during post-production to maintain the integrity of the actors' work.

Corbet further clarified the creative decisions surrounding the film's visuals, stating, “There was no use of AI in the design or rendering of the architectural elements. All imagery was meticulously hand-drawn by talented artists. The memorial video included in a particular scene was crafted by our editorial team to reflect a specific aesthetic akin to poorly made digital renderings from the 1980s.”

Corbet passionately concluded his defense, “'The Brutalist' explores the intricacies of human nature, with every facet of its creation anchored in human creativity and collaboration. We are immensely proud of what our team has achieved.”

This controversy exploded after editor Dávid Jancsó disclosed that AI was indeed employed to refine the actors' Hungarian accents and to generate "architectural drawings and finished buildings" during the film's climactic scenes. “It's crucial that we engage in an open conversation about the tools AI can offer us,” Jancsó remarked. “The use of AI in this project isn’t pioneering; it merely expedites processes that could be time and resource-intensive. We utilized AI for nuanced details that we simply couldn't afford or fit into our shooting schedule.”

As discussions around the ethical implications of AI in the creative industries intensify, "The Brutalist" has become a focal point for debates about authenticity, artistry, and the future of filmmaking. What remains certain is that the film has ignited a significant dialogue that challenges the boundaries of creativity in the modern age—and only time will tell how this discourse shapes the industry moving forward.