Hold up movie fans a fresh face just grabbed a golden statue at the Oscars and it's for a movie you might not have expected to be such a big deal. Daniel Blumberg a British composer who is relatively new to the film scoring scene just won Best Original Score for " The Brutalist ." Yeah you heard that right. This three-and-a-half-hour flick about a Hungarian architect has become way more significant than anyone predicted.
Blumberg's Breakthrough: From Indie Rock to Oscar Gold with 'The Brutalist' Score
Daniel Blumberg might be a name you are just hearing but this Oscar win is not his first taste of awards love. He actually snagged a BAFTA last month for the same score and even an Ivor Novello Award before that for his work on "The World to Come." Not bad for a guy who just a few years ago was better known for indie rock!
Blumberg's score for "The Brutalist" is getting tons of praise and for good reason. It is not your typical Hollywood soundtrack. Think of a mix of cool piano jazz and saxophone sounds thrown together with some harsher brass and drum beats. This unique blend perfectly captures the inner feelings of the main character László Tóth. Some folks are even comparing Blumberg's style to Mica Levi another British composer known for avant-garde scores. High praise indeed!
Interestingly "The Brutalist" is only Blumberg's second time ever scoring a full feature film. Before diving into film scores he was actually the frontman for the band Cajun Dance Party and later played in another indie band called Yuck. He's also released solo music and is known for his experimental sound often working out of Cafe Oto a cool venue in East London. In his Oscar speech Blumberg even gave a shout-out to his buddies at Cafe Oto and the "radical uncompromising" musicians who helped him create the score for "The Brutalist." It seems like his indie roots are still a big part of who he is.
'The Brutalist' Unpacked: More Than Just a Long Movie About Architecture
So what is "The Brutalist" actually about? In short it tells the story of László Tóth a Hungarian architect played by Adrien Brody . László is a Jewish Holocaust survivor who starts a new life in America after World War II in 1947. The movie follows him as he tries to build this massive community center in Pennsylvania. It is not just any building though. László wants it to be this huge concrete structure almost like a bunker. This style reflects his own trauma and inner turmoil from surviving the Holocaust.
Adrien Brody's performance as László is another highlight of the film and earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination. Brody has said he based part of his character on his own grandfather who was a Hungarian immigrant. He even worked with a Holocaust survivor to nail the accent. For Brody playing László was "an opportunity to honor" his grandparents' struggles and hardship.
Despite being over three and a half hours long and having an intermission "The Brutalist" has surprisingly done well at the box office. It was made for under $10 million but has already made over $36 million. Brody himself calls it "an artistic work" that somehow also works as a "commercial film." That is a rare combo these days.
Brutalism Explained: More Than Just Concrete and 'Ugly' Buildings
You might be wondering about the movie's title and what "Brutalism" even means. "The Brutalist" refers to Brutalist architecture a style that was big in the 1950s to 1980s. Think massive concrete buildings with strong geometric shapes. Some people might call it harsh or even ugly but there is actually a deeper idea behind it.
Brutalism came about after World War II when architects were trying to build a new world from scratch. This style uses raw materials like concrete and brick in a very honest way. It's not about fancy decoration it's about showing the basic structure of the building and the materials themselves. In "The Brutalist" László's focus on plain concrete and even using marble for the altar shows this core idea.
Beyond just materials Brutalism was also about social change. These buildings were often meant for everyday people not just the wealthy. Think public housing schools and libraries. They were meant to be monumental and impressive but also accessible. In the US Brutalist buildings popped up on college campuses showing the expansion of education after the war. Even city halls were built in this style like Boston City Hall meant to represent a new kind of democracy.
'The Brutalist' Asks Tough Questions: Belonging and Identity in a Post-War World
Beyond the architecture and the music "The Brutalist" also touches on deeper themes. Some critics are saying the film even asks the question " Do American Jews belong in America? " This question might seem unthinkable before recent events but in today's world it carries a lot of weight especially in light of rising antisemitism.
The story of László Tóth as a Holocaust survivor trying to build a new life in America becomes surprisingly relevant when viewed through this lens. His trauma his drive to create something lasting his search for belonging all resonate in a powerful way.
The movie is also notable for being filmed using Vista Vision a widescreen high-resolution film format that hasn't been used much since the 1960s. Adrien Brody said this choice gives "The Brutalist" a unique look and feel almost like it's from another era. It adds to the film's artistic and period-specific atmosphere.
Key Facts About Daniel Blumberg & 'The Brutalist'
- Daniel Blumberg: British composer and musician.
- Oscar Win: Best Original Score for "The Brutalist" (2025 Academy Awards).
- Previous Awards: BAFTA and Ivor Novello Award for film scores.
- Musical Style: Mixes jazz avant-garde and abrasive elements often using piano and saxophone.
- "The Brutalist" Director: Brady Corbet.
- "The Brutalist" Star: Adrien Brody as László Tóth.
- Plot: Story of a Hungarian Jewish architect in post-WWII America trying to build a community center.
- Themes: Trauma identity belonging architecture as expression social change.
- Architectural Style: Focuses on Brutalism raw concrete geometric forms social intent.
- Filming Technique: Shot in Vista Vision for a unique period look.
Blumberg's Win and 'The Brutalist' Legacy: More Than Just Awards
Daniel Blumberg's Oscar win is a big moment not just for him but for "The Brutalist" and for independent and art-house cinema in general. This film a long black and white drama about architecture and trauma has somehow broken through to wider audiences and critical acclaim. Blumberg's score is a vital part of its impact adding layers of emotion and complexity to an already powerful story. If you are looking for a movie that is thought-provoking visually striking and musically incredible "The Brutalist" should definitely be on your watchlist. And keep an eye on Daniel Blumberg he is definitely a talent to watch in the world of film scoring.