In sunny Southern California, love-spurned loner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Brendan Frye) discovers his former girlfriend's dead body in a watery tunnel. In flashback, Mr. Gordon-Levitt recalls a strung-out Emilie de Ravin (as Emily Kostich) reaching out for help, explaining, "I screwed up real bad." Unfortunately, the soon-to-be-dead blonde speaks in riddles. So, Gordon-Levitt is left with word clues - like "Brick", "Tug", "Frisco", and "Pin". Cross-legged genius Matt O'Leary (as Brain) provides assistance; fortunately, he remembers everyone's locker number.
Realizing the authorities are clueless, Gordon-Levitt decides to carry on his own investigation, beginning with doped-up rival Noah Segan (as Dode). Gordon-Levitt infiltrates the drug ring managed by creepy Tolkien reader Lukas Haas (as The Pin), after mixing with femme fatale Nora Zehetner (as Laura) and bodyguard Noah Fleiss (as Tug). Alas, the closer Gordon-Levitt gets to solving the mystery of his ex's death, the more he gets smacked down.
"Brick" shimmers with potential. Most obviously, debuting director/writer/editor Rian Johnson makes a great impression; there is always something interesting happening on Mr. Johnson's screen. Steve Yedlin's crisp photography, and Nathan Johnson's peaking music, are great mood enhancers. Lead actor Gordon-Levitt continues to work wonders with interesting, offbeat roles; and, importantly, shows he can "carry" a film, with his singular characterization.
The story updates 1940s "film noir" quite effectively. The high school setting may have been a mistake; other than the high-school grounded Mr. O'Leary, the "Brick" cast seem more like post-high school deadbeats. Gordon-Levitt visits his Assistant Vice Principal (Richard Roundtree), but, nobody ever goes to class; and, there are no scenes in the cafeteria or gym, either. The settings used, instead, are a real treat. Paintings, posters, birds, vehicles, and water add stillness and movement to backgrounds; but, the movie is never gimmickry or busy.
Perhaps the best inside joke (and a great visual to boot) was dressing up Mr. Haas as Jonathan Frid from "Dark Shadows", with his Inverness-styled cape, and cane; in silhouette, and behind a screen door, Haas even looks like "Barnabas Collins". As a former "Dark Shadows" star, Gordon-Levitt would have been familiar with the figure; he played "David Collins" and "Daniel Collins" during the series' 1991 incarnation.
"Brick" is a film to watch with focus and concentration; if you can't bring those, wait for the right frame of mind.
******** Brick (2005) Rian Johnson ~ Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Lukas Haas, Noah Fleiss
Realizing the authorities are clueless, Gordon-Levitt decides to carry on his own investigation, beginning with doped-up rival Noah Segan (as Dode). Gordon-Levitt infiltrates the drug ring managed by creepy Tolkien reader Lukas Haas (as The Pin), after mixing with femme fatale Nora Zehetner (as Laura) and bodyguard Noah Fleiss (as Tug). Alas, the closer Gordon-Levitt gets to solving the mystery of his ex's death, the more he gets smacked down.
"Brick" shimmers with potential. Most obviously, debuting director/writer/editor Rian Johnson makes a great impression; there is always something interesting happening on Mr. Johnson's screen. Steve Yedlin's crisp photography, and Nathan Johnson's peaking music, are great mood enhancers. Lead actor Gordon-Levitt continues to work wonders with interesting, offbeat roles; and, importantly, shows he can "carry" a film, with his singular characterization.
The story updates 1940s "film noir" quite effectively. The high school setting may have been a mistake; other than the high-school grounded Mr. O'Leary, the "Brick" cast seem more like post-high school deadbeats. Gordon-Levitt visits his Assistant Vice Principal (Richard Roundtree), but, nobody ever goes to class; and, there are no scenes in the cafeteria or gym, either. The settings used, instead, are a real treat. Paintings, posters, birds, vehicles, and water add stillness and movement to backgrounds; but, the movie is never gimmickry or busy.
Perhaps the best inside joke (and a great visual to boot) was dressing up Mr. Haas as Jonathan Frid from "Dark Shadows", with his Inverness-styled cape, and cane; in silhouette, and behind a screen door, Haas even looks like "Barnabas Collins". As a former "Dark Shadows" star, Gordon-Levitt would have been familiar with the figure; he played "David Collins" and "Daniel Collins" during the series' 1991 incarnation.
"Brick" is a film to watch with focus and concentration; if you can't bring those, wait for the right frame of mind.
******** Brick (2005) Rian Johnson ~ Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Lukas Haas, Noah Fleiss