Cold Open · Essay · feb 6, 2025

Does A.i. in the Brutalist Even Matter?

The first Review Roundup: Laura Gommans and Elliot Bloom on The Brutalist — Brady Corbet's Academy Award-nominated epic — and whether the AI controversy surrounding its post-production changes anything about the film's achievement. The episode also considers Pablo Larrain's Maria, which attempts an MCU-style crossover of prestige biopics to mixed results, and revisits Luis Bunuel's Belle de Jour — back in cinemas and as provocative and hypnotic as it was on first release. Three films, one consistent question: what do we watch for?

By Laura Gommans

Film Journalist · Celebrating Cinema

In our first edition of the Review Roundup, a new biweekly cinematic dispatch, Laura Gommans and Elliot Bloom get into the latest films everyone’s talking about. From the swirling controversies surrounding Brady Corbet’s Academy-nominated The Brutalist to the unexpected Marvel-like crossover in Pablo Larraín’s Maria, Laura and Elliot share their reactions. Also in focus: the enduring allure of Luis Buñuel’s Belle de Jour, a film as provocative and hypnotic now as it was upon its release, returning to the big screen in all its dreamlike splendour.

Book tickets to ⁠The Brutalist⁠ @ LAB111

Book tickets to ⁠Belle de Jour⁠ @ LAB111

Book tickets to ⁠Buñuel 125⁠ @ LAB111

Book tickets to ⁠CC Film Club: Velvet Goldmine⁠ @ LAB111

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