The recent 97th celebration of the Oscars Awards has sparked widespread conversation about the biggest and most talked-about films of 2024. With Anora taking home the top prize for Best Picture, producers Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker received well-deserved recognition. The Brutalist also made waves, with producers Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim, and director Brady Corbet leading the way. Adrien Brody, who previously won Best Actor for The Pianist in 2003, earned the award again for his role in The Brutalist.

Photo by: Rich Polk

While the celebration was well-received, several factors have surfaced, sparking controversy surrounding Brody’s recognition. His Best Actor win has raised eyebrows, especially after it was revealed that AI technology had been used to alter his performance, particularly in enhancing his Hungarian accent. This revelation has sparked a heated debate about the authenticity of performances and the growing role of AI in filmmaking, leading many to question the legitimacy of his award and recognition at the Oscars.

The controversy began when editor Dávid Jancsó discussed how they used AI technology from a Ukrainian company called “Respeecher” to refine the Hungarian dialogue in the film. Brody and Jones, both non-native Hungarian speakers, worked closely with dialect coaches to learn their lines. However, in order to make their accents more authentic, the production used AI to further alter their performances, particularly in the case of Brody’s character, who has Hungarian roots but does not speak the language fluently. 

Jancsó revealed that his own voice was used to train the AI, which adjusted the actors’ pronunciations to match his specific accent. “Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there,” he stated in an interview. The goal was to ensure that even native speakers could not detect any differences in the accents. Although the technology was initially introduced as a cost- and time-saving tool for a modestly budgeted film, it still raised eyebrows within the film industry. 

Photo by: Courtesy of Venice Film Festival

The problem many critics have with the use of AI in The Brutalist is that it could compromise the authenticity of the actors' performances. As Paul Swartz points out, "Brody’s performance in The Brutalist is genuinely breathtaking, but having to use AI to improve an accent makes it less impressive." Critics like Swartz argue that acting is about more than just delivering lines, it’s about capturing the emotion and personality of a character. If technology steps in to adjust an actor’s voice or accent, it can feel as though the essence of the performance is lost.

For an actor like Adrien Brody, known for his deep commitment to his roles, the use of AI to alter his voice feels particularly problematic. Brody has spent his career diving deep into characters and giving performances that resonate on an emotional level. The thought that AI was used to adjust even the smallest detail of his accent takes away from the authenticity that Brody, and many other actors, work so hard to create. 

This is especially relevant when we consider how Adrien Brody’s performance is evaluated by critics and audiences alike. Brody has received critical acclaim for his skill and emotional depth in roles that demand nuance and subtlety, such as his Oscar-winning performance in The Pianist. Critics have long praised his ability to bring complexity to his characters. For instance, The New York Times called Brody’s portrayal in The Pianist “a masterclass in restraint and vulnerability. However, with the revelation that much of Brody's Hungarian dialogue in The Brutalist was heavily modified by AI, a new question arises: Is the performance truly his?

Photo by: EPC

The concern is that if AI becomes a tool to refine acting, it could undermine the very essence of what makes acting special, human emotion, and talent. The critic Paul Swartz argues that the use of generative AI could set a dangerous precedent, one where "eventually, it won’t just be small touch-ups; it will be full scripts, landscapes, and directions, all done without human involvement."

The debate also raises significant questions about the future of acting and filmmaking in an era where technology has the power to alter so much of a performance. The use of AI in The Brutalist opens a broader conversation about where the line should be drawn between artistic integrity and technological convenience. It is one thing to use technology to assist with visual effects, but modifying an actor’s voice to perfect their performance is a different issue entirely. If AI continues to be used in this way, it may blur the lines between an authentic human performance and one that is heavily altered and edited.

The debate surrounding the use of AI in The Brutalist raises critical questions about the future of acting and filmmaking. While AI offers potential benefits like efficiency and cost savings, its impact on altering performances—especially in high-profile awards like the Oscars introduces concerns about the authenticity of the craft. With critics divided and Adrien Brody’s win now surrounded by controversy, the film industry may need to reconsider the balance between technological innovation and preserving artistic integrity. As this discussion continues, it will be interesting to see how the industry adapts to the evolving role of AI in film.