Sunday, February 9, 2025

Adrien Brody Sets the Record Straight on The Brutalist AI Controversy: Here’s What He Really Thinks!

Adrien Brody has officially broken his silence regarding the controversy surrounding The Brutalist, a film directed by Brady Corbet, which garnered critical acclaim and numerous accolades but has also faced backlash over its minimal use of AI technology. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Brody provides clarification on the film’s use of AI, emphasizing that it was solely employed to refine Hungarian dialogue and was not intended to replace human effort in the creative process.

In The Brutalist, Brody portrays László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who, alongside his wife Erzsébet, portrayed by Felicity Jones, navigates the challenges of survival during the Holocaust and their pursuit of the American Dream upon immigrating to the United States. While the film has received 10 Oscar nominations, the AI controversy arose after editor Dávid Jancsó revealed that AI software, specifically Respeecher, was used to refine some lines of dialogue in Hungarian.

Brody echoes Corbet’s initial remarks, explaining that the technology was only necessary to enhance certain aspects of the Hungarian dialogue, without compromising its authenticity. “I’m the son of Hungarians and grew up with that language spoken in my home,” Brody noted, underlining his personal connection to the project. He further elaborates, “I actually integrated, within the Hungarian dialogue, curse words that weren’t in the script.” This highlights not only his dedication but also the meticulous attention given to the linguistic details of the film.

His comments reveal an understanding of the ensemble’s hard work. “Brady is a very sensitive, thoughtful filmmaker,” Brody states, reinforcing the idea that design and dialogue choices were intentionally made by the team, with no overshadowing by technology. The actor wishes to dispel the narrative that AI took jobs from individuals involved in the production, clarifying, “There was no technology implemented that takes work from people.” In fact, the entire post-production process, in Brody’s eyes, was quite typical of filmmaking and did not detract from the integrity of the project.

As details about the use of Respeecher emerged, many critics expressed concerns about the implications of AI in filmmaking, raising questions about employment and authenticity in creative industries. However, Brody champions the film’s efforts to use AI as a tool for refinement rather than reproduction. He emphasizes that achieving high-quality dialogue during post-production is a common practice and does not inherently signal a decline in human labor.

The controversies surrounding The Brutalist began gaining traction in January when Jancsó’s remarks sparked debate in the film community. His comments suggested that AI was only a minor part of a larger production strategy, which was mostly labor-intensive. “The technology was only used to tweak minor details in the dialogue, such as adjusting individual letters,” Jancsó explained, further clarifying the limited application of AI.

Brody’s resolve to set the record straight on The Brutalist’s AI controversy comes from a place of frustration. He notes, “It’s frustrating to see The Brutalist’s AI controversy spiral beyond what is reality,” reminding audiences of the film’s monumental achievements achieved through hard work rather than technological shortcuts. As the film continues its run in select theaters, the ultimate impact of this controversy—particularly whether it affects the film’s prospects this March during the Oscars—is yet to be determined.

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