David Cronenberg Says ‘The Brutalist’ AI Controversy Was a ‘Harvey Weinstein Kind Of’ Campaign Spurred by ‘Other Oscar Nominees’: ‘We Mess With Actors’ Voices All the Time’

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Renowned horror filmmaker David Cronenberg offers insights on the intense opposition to artificial intelligence depicted in “The Brutalist.”

In this context, “backlash” refers to a strong and negative reaction against something, while “depicted” means to represent or portray. The term “artificial intelligence,” often abbreviated as AI, refers to intelligent machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. In the context of a movie or story, this could refer to the use of robots or computers with advanced capabilities.

In January, David Jancsó, editor of “The Brutalist”, stated that AI tools were employed to enhance the Hungarian dialogues of actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. However, the application of this controversial technology sparked a significant online uproar against the film, which was a strong contender for the Oscars. Director David Cronenberg, though, believes that the backlash was not just a heated argument on social media platforms.

David Cronenberg admitted that ‘The Brutalist’ was embroiled in controversy, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter at London’s Royal Festival Hall. There seemed to be an issue regarding Adrien Brody, but it appears they employed artificial intelligence to refine his accent. It seems like a ploy against ‘The Brutalist,’ possibly orchestrated by other Oscar nominees. This feels reminiscent of the tactics used by Harvey Weinstein, although he wasn’t involved.

He went on to say, “We often alter actors’ voices for different roles. For instance, in ‘M.Butterfly’ with John Lone, when he was playing the singer character, I raised the pitch of his voice. When it was time to reveal him as a man, I brought it back down to his natural tone. This is simply one aspect of filmmaking.

In a broader discussion, Cronenberg shared his thoughts about Brady Corbet’s lengthy masterpiece alongside longtime partner Howard Shore. Over the years, they have collaborated on various projects such as “A History of Violence,” “Crash,” “The Fly,” “Videodrome,” “eXistenZ,” and “Naked Lunch” among others.

In spite of facing criticism, ‘The Brutalist’ eventually triumphed, earning three awards at the 2025 Academy Awards. It walked away with honors for Best Actor, Best Original Score, and Best Cinematography.”

Or simply:

“Against the odds, ‘The Brutalist’ won three awards at the 2025 Academy Awards – Best Actor, Best Original Score, and Best Cinematography.

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2025-03-22 21:46