
As technology evolves, the entertainment industry finds itself grappling with the implications of AI usage. Here's a deep dive into the recent debate sparked by 'The Brutalist'.
- Jan 21, 2025
AceShowbiz - Amid numerous recognitions in the days leading up to Oscars nominations announcement, Adrien Brody's "The Brutalist" landed in the eye of a storm following revelations that AI technology was heavily used to tweak some elements in the production.
Criticism erupted after the movie's editor, Dávid Jancsó, disclosed in an interview that AI tools were utilized to enhance the Hungarian dialogue spoken by the film's stars, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
The AI tools, from Ukrainian specialist Respeecher, were employed to tweak specific vowels and letters in Brody's and Jones' Hungarian dialogue for greater authenticity.
"I am a native Hungarian speaker and I know that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce, even with Adrien's Hungarian background," Jancsó told Red Shark News. "We coached [Brody and Felicity Jones,] and they did a fabulous job but we also wanted to perfect it so that not even locals will spot any difference."
While praising the actors' performance, Jancsó explained the necessity of AI for the critics darling that was made under tight budget, "If you're coming from the Anglo-Saxon world, certain sounds can be particularly hard to grasp."
Jancsó confessed he had played a significant part in the actors' performances. "Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there. We were very careful about keeping their performances," he said. "It's mainly just replacing letters here and there."
The admission quickly sparked a heated discussion online, with many suggesting it should disqualify the film from awards consideration. In response, director Brady Corbet issued a statement to clarify the digital editing done in the movie.
"Adrien and Felicity's performances are completely their own," Corbet insisted, defending the actors. "They worked for months with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents. Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy."
"No English language was changed. This was a manual process, done by our sound team and Respeecher in post-production. The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicity's performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft."
Amid the controversy, "The Brutalist" is among the favorites for Oscars this year. It maintained a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned several Golden Globe awards, including best film director for Corbet and best actor in a drama for Brody.
As the film industry navigates the evolving landscape of AI, "The Brutalist" serves as a focal point for ongoing discussions about technology's role in creative arts. "Every aspect of [the film's] creation was driven by human effort, creativity, and collaboration," Corbet affirmed, highlighting the intricate balance between innovation and artistic integrity.