The film 'El Brutalista,' a frontrunner for the Oscars, is facing public scrutiny after revelations that artificial intelligence was used in the editing of Hungarian dialogue between stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
Dávid Jancsó, the film's editor, explained that while both actors did a commendable job, AI tools from Ukrainian company Respeecher were employed to refine their performances, aiming for authenticity that locals wouldn’t notice. "We were very careful to maintain their performances; it was about replacing certain letters to enhance clarity," Jancsó stated.
Despite the controversy, Jancsó emphasized that the use of AI is not new in filmmaking, asserting that it simply accelerates processes that would otherwise take longer. Critics on social media have raised concerns regarding the impact of AI on Brody's performance, suggesting it may have compromised the quality of his accent.
Director Brady Corbet defended the use of AI, clarifying that it was only applied to Hungarian dialogue and that Brody and Jones had worked closely with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents. Corbet also refuted claims that AI was used for architectural drawings in the film, stating that all visuals were hand-drawn by artists.