Joe Alwyn, nominated for his role in the seven-time Golden Globe-nominated film “The Brutalist,” recently revealed his surprising inspiration for the character of Harry, the son of a wealthy industrialist played by Guy Pearce. In an interview with *The Guardian*, Alwyn cited President-elect Donald Trump and his family as key influences. He explained that the insular, stunted, and ultimately hollow nature of many family businesses resonated with him, observing that the Trump family exemplified this dynamic. Alwyn stated, “Look who’s the new president of America, and his family. ‘I can do what I want.’ A convicted felon accused of sexual assault and… all of that. He’s unanswerable, unfortunately.” This perceived sense of entitlement and unchecked power informed his portrayal of Harry.
Directed by Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist” chronicles the journey of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian immigrant who, after being discovered by a wealthy patron (Pearce), undertakes the ambitious construction of a monumental project. Following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the film has garnered significant critical praise and is anticipated to be a strong contender at the Academy Awards.
Despite the film’s current success, Alwyn initially harbored doubts about its potential audience reach. He confessed to *The Guardian*, “To be honest, I thought it might be a really good film that not many people would end up seeing… Who knows, maybe it still will? I hope not. But given the things against it – length, content, all of that – anything on top of that is a really nice surprise.” His comments highlight the unconventional nature of the film, defying many contemporary cinematic trends.