WOW did I love this. Brady Corbet's epic saga of art, struggle, trauma, pain, love, loss, and beauty hit me hard. Adrien Brody's turn as visionary architect Laszlo Toth, a man who flees post-war Europe for America and tries to rebuild his sense of self, purpose, and dignity, is a profound look at the artistic process, and the human spirit (with all of its frailty).

Guy Pearce is absolutely incredible as his employer, Harrison Van Buren, and Felicity Jones is devastating as his wife, separated by the war and struggling to join him in the States.

For me, the 3.5-hr runtime soared by, and while I thoroughly admired the cinematography, performances, and storyline throughout, it wasn't until the epilogue that I truly began to comprehend what I'd been watching. The final revelations are seismic, but delivered so quietly and matter-of-fact that the impact feels even greater. In the case of this story, the destination may indeed be everything - but it doesn't make the journey itself any less rewarding.

Absolutely one of the year's best films, and possibly my favorite of 2024.

(Also, I cannot begin to comprehend how this film was made for a budget of 10 million. That fact alone is jaw-dropping. We spent more money making OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL).