AI controversy hits Oscars talk: 'The Brutalist' under fire

(NEXSTAR) — It wouldn't be movie awards season without a little drama, would it? But with the 97th Academy Awards just months away, recent revelations about the use of AI in one of the ceremony's biggest contenders has film industry folks and film fans alike unsure how — if at all — these developments will (or should) affect its consideration.

For starters, it's quite likely that Brady Corbet's historical drama "The Brutalist" will be a frontrunner for Best Picture at this year's Oscars. The stirring and terrifically crafted film (which we named among our 10 best films of 2024) has been a critical hit for its intimate glimpse into the life of fictional architect László Tóth, who immigrates to the U.S. after surviving the Holocaust.

But controversy about the A24 Films production, which stars Academy Award winner Adrien Brody, arose over the weekend, when editor Dávid Jancsó told technology magazine Red Shark News that artificial intelligence was used to enhance the Hungarian accents of Brody and co-star Felicity Jones.

"I am a native Hungarian speaker and I know that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce," Jancsó said. "It's an extremely unique language. We coached [Brody and Jones] and they did a fabulous job but we also wanted to perfect it so that not even locals will spot any difference."

Jancsó explained that the use of AI via the Ukranian speech synthesis software Respeecher helped shape certain, more difficult Hungarian vocal sounds, which couldn't be tweaked satisfactorily with ADR and other editing tricks.

More controversially, Jancsó revealed that generative AI (the most polarizing form of the technology) was used to “conjure a series of architectural drawings and finished buildings in the style of the fictional architect” in the film's ending.

After much criticism about this use hit social media (especially since "The Brutalist" itself is a film that heralds the existence of art without technological/capitalist interference), Corbet released a statement. Corbet explaining that production designer Judy Decker "did not use AI to create or render any of the buildings," and that AI was only used to to make photos or artwork look older than they actually were.

"All images were hand-drawn by artists," said Corbet. "To clarify, in the memorial video featured in the background of a shot, our editorial team created pictures intentionally designed to look like poor digital renderings circa 1980."

Corbet further explained, in part: "Adrien and Felicity’s performances are completely their own. They worked for months with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents. Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only... 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.”

So far, it's unclear how or if generative AI's use will impact chances of a "Brutalist" win but Corbet's film isn't the only Oscar contender under fire over AI.

Netflix's "Emilia Pérez," which recently won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, meanwhile, is receiving criticism over the use of AI cloning to enhance the singing voice of star Karla Sofía Gascón. According to the film's re-recording mixer, Cyril Holtz, the film used Respeecher to expand Gascón's vocal range and to blend her voice in with another character's, for artistic effect.

"Emilia Pérez" is one of 2024's most controversial movies, however, the use of AI hasn't eclipsed fervent debate regarding the film's polarizing representation of trans people.

Artificial intelligence's use in the entertainment industry — and the potential for studios to replace or replicate an artist's work without paying them — was a major sticking point for the entertainment industry strikers during the 2023 Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

While the studios and workers ultimately came to an agreement on guardrails against unfettered use of the technology, the agreement also acknowledged that the issue will likely arise (and debated over) again in the near future.

"The Brutalist" is currently playing in theaters across the U.S. "Emilia Pérez" is available to stream with a Netflix subscription.