Empire's Brick Movie Review

Plot
After receiving a panic-stricken phone call from his terrified ex-girlfriend Emily (de Ravin), high-school loner Brendan (Gordon-Levitt) sets out to infiltrate the illicit cliques she left him for, aided by sidekick Brain (O’Leary) and the mysterious Laura (Zehetny).

There’s a scene in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet that takes visual shorthand to new heights: a shot of the hero’s family TV set, it purports to be footage from a ’40s film noir thriller. In crisp black-and-white, we see a hand holding a gun and a shadowy figure who appears to mounting a set of stairs. You could waste a lot of time trying to find out which movie it’s from, but in all likelihood, it doesn’t exist. With one fake shot, Lynch is capturing the essence of the entire film: how crime, threat and menace actually titillate us. Whose hand is it? Whose gun? Where is it going and why? This teasing fragment tells us a lot about the nature of entertainment and our rapacious appetite for thrillers, cop flicks and trashy whodunnits.

With Brick, first-time director Rian Johnson appears to have taken that one observation, then stretched it, twisted it and salted it to create one of the most original and entertaining movies of the year so far. You might (hard)boil it down to The Outsiders as scripted by classic pulp writers Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain or, most obviously, Raymond Chandler. But more simply, Brick understands the beauty of an honest mystery, elegantly mounting a series of clues — with twists and red herrings along the way — before weaving it all together for a mind-reeling climax.

Be warned, though: it does take some time for the film to settle, because Brick has one major gimmick in its grasp. Though shot in lustrous colour and filmed in the wide-open, sunny suburbs of San Clemente in California, Johnson’s high-school teens converse in a lingo that owes more to tough-guy private dick Sam Spade than the Valley-speak of Clueless and American Pie. Cops are “bulls”, drug addicts “dose” themselves and “duck soup” is pretty hard-to-see slang for “easy pickings”. It’s not always convincing, and the mostly unknown cast sometimes struggle with it, but Brick sticks with its convictions, and after a good 20 minutes, all the jive talk sifts into the background.

Chiefly responsible for the movie’s success is a strong lead performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. As loner Brendan Frye, a maverick defined by his preference for eating lunch by himself round the back of the school, the former Third Rock From The Sun star firmly establishes himself as an evolving talent to watch. A kid who’s prone to the rough stuff, Brendan is a sad but dedicated avenging angel, hung up on his poor ex, Emily (Emilie de Ravin), and determined to save her from the in-crowd of chic drug users and pushers whose approval she so desperately craves. Which is vital to a proper understanding of Brick’s basic mechanism, because although on paper it seems like a hollow stylistic exercise, it has plenty to say about the world of teenagers. Next to no adults appear (just two, and they’re hardly proactive), and Brendan’s hunched-up isolation stands in stark defiance of those around him, including Kara (Meagan Good), the showgirl with a human lapdog forever in tow, and femme fatale Laura (Nora Zehetner), the beautiful girl from the beautiful world of the beautiful people.

Brendan circles this demi-monde like a shark, unfazed by the glamour, watching with unimpressed eyes as the likes of Laura’s boastful jock-dork boyfriend pimp out their dignity for popularity. But not being with the winners doesn’t make Brendan a loser; he has equal contempt for sad-sack stoner Dode (Noah Segan), a feckless punk with a connection to Emily. Brendan’s loathing of these cliques and clans is what enables him to transform from the quivering wreck who finds Emily’s body into a Terminator-style vigilante: his mission is not simply to bring down justice, but to play all the angles and be sure that everyone who’s had a hand in Emily’s downfall gets their own sweet, assured and tailor-made destruction.

True, it gets convoluted at times — though it’s not quite as murky as Howard Hawks’ 1946 adaptation of Chandler’s The Big Sleep, which even the novelist himself couldn’t fathom. Johnson follows his own story with a fast-paced logic that sometimes leaves question marks dangling, but all those points add a little more to ponder and savour once the bigger conundrum is finally cracked. It will certainly split people into those who buy the conceit and those that don’t, those who see daffy, sub-Bugsy Malone drivel where others gobble up its Usual Suspects goose-chase and debate its Donnie Darko-like demands for interpretation. But Brick wasn’t made for everybody. It’s a film that nobody should agree on. Like Brendan himself, we should just be proud to differ.

Strange. Definitely strange.
A refreshingly original take on the neo-noir, Brick is a fascinating debut by a promising young director, and features a damn fine performance by the equally gifted Joseph Gordon-Levitt. ... More


Posted by movienut707 at 09:58, 18 December 2012 \| Report This Post




just fucking spectacular... ... More


Posted by BOBBYDeNiro at 17:01, 12 May 2008 \| Report This Post



Different...but good.
I liked it, took a while to get going but I stayed with it, and was handsomely rewarded. ... More


Posted by tallaght24 at 12:58, 22 April 2008 \| Report This Post



Fantastic
I loved it. Like a skinny high school version of Philip Marlow. Well done all. ... More


Posted by jimoakley666 at 17:49, 27 March 2008 \| Report This Post




I honestly can't decide whether I liked it or loathed it, part of me says this was a great highschool thriller, the other part says useless dribble that I'm never going to get into again, its just I had no idea what the hell they were saying, and I'm a teenager, yet I was clueless to what they were saying, and I sort of figured what was happening, so all I can do is buy it and watch it with the subtitles, and hopefully come back and give it a better reveiw, or not, I just can decide... ... More


Posted by dgribble at 15:45, 26 March 2008 \| Report This Post




Perhaps my age has had some impact on my opinion of this film but having watched it many times I have to count it as one of my three favourite films. It’s incredibly stylish and oh so cool whilst being in fact very clever. A high amount of detail has been considered in making Brick visually stunning yet that hasn’t distracted from Rian Johnson’s task at hand- making a film. Maybe it is a little complicated. Maybe it is too reminiscent of a “high school” film but in ... More


Posted by regan at 10:50, 28 February 2008 \| Report This Post



Exceptional
This clever little film is a masterstroke in my honest opinion for many reasons. Just costing under half a million dollars, it's style and look is that film's of 60 and 70 million budgets envy, it's just oozing with cool, Gordon-Levitt is subtle and effective in his role, a strong lead role. Best teen drama of the 2000's. ... More


Posted by johnacide27 at 17:42, 15 February 2008 \| Report This Post



Enjoyable Film...
Just watched it last night on Film Four and what was it on after... Bugsy Malone! The scene in the Pin's House with his mother doting on him made me think of the comparison. BM was a funny film but it would have gone from slapstick to noir if the cast had been 10 years older. It was a very clever and enjoyable film, although i think a second viewing with subtitles would enhance it even further! Joseph Gordon Levitt was superb. ... More


Posted by bignastyjj at 08:54, 02 August 2007 \| Report This Post



Up there with Memento, if you ask me
Only two times before this have I seen such assured work from a new filmmaker (Eraserhead and Reservoir Dogs). Brick is fresh, imaginitive, engrossing, engaging, and stylish to boot. The noir-speak coming out of the mouths of highschool kids could have seemed gimmicky, but it's treated as such a given that you accept it immediately. Johnson's clever script is matched by his solid direction, Gordon-Levitt proves himself a star in the making, and Lukas Haas practically steals the movie as The Pin ... More


Posted by Dr. Benway at 16:35, 07 July 2007 \| Report This Post




maybe becuase i'm a teenager but the slang didn't hinder my understand of the admittedly twisting plot. In fact, it probably enhanced it with a sense of realism in a vaguely surreal film. What I love so much abut Brick is that there are very few 'american high school' cliches and these are toned down further by the gorgeous colour and lighting. There is no cras lurid light to accentuate the beautiful teens and definitely no pop soundtrack. The beautiful xylophone refrain throughout echos of the ... More


Posted by ainsinnes at 21:51, 16 May 2007 \| Report This Post



brick
Great detective story. It shows you how far someone will go to help another. ... More


Posted by elimonator at 14:00, 16 May 2007 \| Report This Post



Brick
trebuchet ms"]]Really loved this movie. I love these types of movies. I am glad to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt making it pass his TV show. I am looking forward in seeing him in KillShot and The Look Out. Both are coming out soon.]t="trebuchet ms"]]DA.] ... More


Posted by dja1231 at 01:25, 01 April 2007 \| Report This Post



Merely plywood.
It comes accross as a script written by a film school graduate who hoped that his core audience wouldn't have seen Blue Velvet or Chinatown. Tis merely a poor imitation of far superior films and has a script that would be far better suited to a stage production. The 'VP'(I forget his name) was in Iron Eagle. Now That was the real golden age of cinema. ... More


Posted by koconnor12 at 06:44, 12 March 2007 \| Report This Post




Witty, gripping and massively original, Brick is this year's cult hit, hands down ... More


Posted by moviemaniac2 at 20:10, 01 February 2007 \| Report This Post



Brick
Brick is a film that splits the audience down the middle. You either love it's visionary direction and language, or you hate it. It's not easy to watch, and it does indeed require some concentration from the viewer, but that's certaninly no good thing, and if you can untangle the film on it's first viewing, every rewatch it improves. Gordon Levitt's character is a geeky dream, both intelligent and good with his fists, he holds the movie together perfectly, rarely off-screen, Lukas Haas' Pin... More


Posted by jamesbondguy at 09:23, 31 January 2007 \| Report This Post



Brick
Brick is a film that splits the audience down the middle. You either love it's visionary direction and language, or you hate it. It's not easy to watch, and it does indeed require some concentration from the viewer, but that's certaninly no bad thing, and if you can untangle the film on it's first viewing, every rewatch it improves. Gordon Levitt's character is a geeky dream, both intelligent and good with his fists, he holds the movie together perfectly, rarely off-screen, Lukas H... More


Posted by jamesbondguy at 09:23, 31 January 2007 \| Report This Post




... More


Posted by MaxiHogea at 21:56, 08 January 2007 \| Report This Post



Entertaining But Oh So Different
Excellent movie had heard so much buzz about it on the net finally got round to catching it on DVD and for once the buzz generated is deserved. Superbly acted Gordon Levitt is a star on the rise take notice Hollywood. The language was a bit hard to to catch on to at times but once the characters and the plot are established its an enjoyabel ride, especially watching all the villans of each clique get there cumuppance. I love the way Brendan can blend in to these cliques even though he despises t... More


Posted by spideyfan666 at 22:00, 31 December 2006 \| Report This Post



GOOD MOVIE
ONE OF BEST INDIE MOVIE OF 2006. ... More


Posted by soulfood at 21:15, 15 December 2006 \| Report This Post



Overrated . . .
In my humble opinion it was okay but certainly not worth spending hard earned cash on . . . ... More


Posted by Rensta6 at 14:13, 11 December 2006 \| Report This Post



Overrated . . .
In my humble opinion it was okay but certainly not worth spending hard earned cash on . . . ... More


Posted by Rensta6 at 14:13, 11 December 2006 \| Report This Post




I enjoyed it, the cross genre was very clever, esspecially the scene in the v.p' office, priceless. well cast, and well portrayed by some of the more unknown actors. personally i thought it could of been a bit more twisted and played more on the noir aspect with smart lighting, but im just a first year film student so who am i to judge. :) ... More


Posted by aden paul at 10:03, 11 December 2006 \| Report This Post




I enjoyed it, the cross genre was very clever, esspecially the scene in the v.p' office, priceless. well cast, and well portrayed by some of the more unknown actors. personally i thought it could of been a bit more twisted and played more on the noir aspect with smart lighting, but im just a first year film student so who am i to judge. :) ... More


Posted by aden paul at 10:03, 11 December 2006 \| Report This Post



Brick
Good to see something a bit different, this film has a nice feel and a story that keeps you watching. Its not for everyone though, as I sat rivetted my girlfriend slowly fell asleep! ... More


Posted by jonnypatterson at 22:01, 10 December 2006 \| Report This Post




Enormously overated. The sub-bugsy malone analogy is right. JGL struts around like an adolescent Lee Marvin. Just not convincing or engaging. ... More


Posted by gurn1427 at 19:25, 23 November 2006 \| Report This Post



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