At the Golden Globes on January 5, The Brutalist won the top award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, defeating other strong contenders like A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Nickel Boys, and September 5. Director Brady Corbet accepted the prize, moments after star Adrien Brody won the Best Actor award. Corbet also won Best Director earlier that evening.
During his speech, Corbet expressed his gratitude to the people who supported the film, especially those who remained committed even when the movie faced challenges. “I prepared one speech, not two,” he began. “Thank you to everyone who believed in this film, which kept falling apart but was supported by all of you through thick and thin.” He continued by thanking his producers and everyone involved in making the film a success.
Corbet also shared a message to fellow filmmakers: “Final-cut tiebreak goes to the director. It shouldn’t be controversial at all.” He recalled being told that the film wouldn’t work and that it would be hard to distribute, but he didn’t let those opinions hold him back. Instead, he used the moment to encourage support for filmmakers and lift them up. “Films don’t exist without the filmmakers. Let’s support them,” he said.
The Brutalist tells the story of a Hungarian-Jewish architect who emigrates to the U.S. after the Holocaust, with Adrien Brody starring in the lead role. The film was nominated for seven Golden Globes, including Best Actor for Brody and supporting nominations for Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce.
Other films nominated in the Best Motion Picture – Drama category included A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Nickel Boys, and September 5. A Complete Unknown is a music biopic featuring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, focuses on the papal conclave and stars Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini. Dune: Part Two, the second part of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi saga, earned nominations for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Original Score. Nickel Boys, based on Colson Whitehead’s novel about abusive reform schools, was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama. September 5 tells the story of the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage situation and was also nominated in the same category.
The 82nd Annual Golden Globes were broadcast live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, where the stars gathered to celebrate the best in film and television.
