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Average User Score: 8 (38 sources)

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V_Translanka

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Very cool movie that definitely mixes it up. Though the dialogue is well written, it's sometimes hard to follow, since, well, no one really talks like that anymore...I'm not even sure I'd go so far as to say anyone USED talked like that, but I...
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Very cool movie that definitely mixes it up. Though the dialogue is well written, it's sometimes hard to follow, since, well, no one really talks like that anymore...I'm not even sure I'd go so far as to say anyone USED talked like that, but I like it anyways. It actually makes me want a sequel (or heck, even a prequel) because I just want to see more of the Brendan character.

Just watched it again a while ago. It's a very noir film that happens to be set in a school setting...and, though that might SOUND immediately lame, it's done in a way that's actually quite awesome. I wonder what Brendan would turn into after school...c'mon! SEQUEL ME!

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Posted nov 13, 2008 11:11 am pt

Cryostorm1313

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"Own It" - Anyone with a love of Noir detective story needs to se this modern take on pulp fiction and the distinct heavy dialogue.

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Posted jul 3, 2008 2:12 am pt

The_Gnat_5000

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I have a love/hate relationship with this film. It is a quite solid example of film-noir (if that is considered a genre), but it doesn't keep me entertained extremely well throughout the whole thing. It seems to be fairly full of itself with how...
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I have a love/hate relationship with this film. It is a quite solid example of film-noir (if that is considered a genre), but it doesn't keep me entertained extremely well throughout the whole thing. It seems to be fairly full of itself with how it portrays its story and the main characters, and while it does a decent job of pulling it off, it definitely doesn't allow the viewer to care as much about the film because they act like it is above you.

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Posted apr 9, 2008 10:07 pm pt

Gas0linedream

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Started off OK then I totally lost interest.

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Posted jun 20, 2007 10:44 am pt

luckydagangsta

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Ehhh.. Not as good as some people say it is and not as bad as some people says it is. After I found out what this movie was about I thought "now this is my kind of movie". I went out and bought it for $10. Personally, I think it was...
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Ehhh.. Not as good as some people say it is and not as bad as some people says it is. After I found out what this movie was about I thought "now this is my kind of movie". I went out and bought it for $10. Personally, I think it was worth it.

A great storyline. I've read people's comments on here about it not being believable that this teenager is going around playing detective. But I completely bought it because for one he really loved this girl. If I loved someone and they went through all this trouble then ended up dead I would do the same thing this guy did. I don't get how people couldn't understand them when they spoke because I could. I just couldn't understand them when they talked to fast, but there are some teenagers that really do talk that way. I should know I am one.

There were a few things I didn't like about this movie, though. At the end, when Larua says that Emily didn't love Brendon it just didn't make sense to me. Cause if she didn't love him why would she go though all the trouble to talk to him and why would she keep a picture of them together in her notebook. Then, there's Brendon. I mean, if he loved Emily so much than why did he get together with Laura not that long after Emily's death.

Other then that I enjoyed the film. Most of it keeps you interested, but some parts of it you're just like "God will this never end?". You'll probably enjoy this movie more if you are around your teen years, though. But from this fellow viewer to another this movie is at least worth having a look at.

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Posted mar 28, 2007 11:07 am pt

luckydagangsta

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Ehhh.. Not as good as some people say it is and not as bad as some people says it is. After I found out what this movie was about I thought "now this is my kind of movie". I went out and bought it for $10. Personally, I think it was...
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Ehhh.. Not as good as some people say it is and not as bad as some people says it is. After I found out what this movie was about I thought "now this is my kind of movie". I went out and bought it for $10. Personally, I think it was worth it.

A great storyline. I've read people's comments on here about it not being believable that this teenager is going around playing detective. But I completely bought it because for one he really loved this girl. If I loved someone and they went through all this trouble then ended up dead I would do the same thing this guy did. I don't get how people couldn't understand them when they spoke because I could. I just couldn't understand them when they talked to fast, but there are some teenagers that really do talk that way. I should know I am one.

There were a few things I didn't like about this movie, though. At the end, when Larua says that Emily didn't love Brendon it just didn't make sense to me. Cause if she didn't love him why would she go though all the trouble to talk to him and why would she keep a picture of them together in her notebook. Then, there's Brendon. I mean, if he loved Emily so much than why did he get together with Laura not that long after Emily's death.

Other then that I enjoyed the film. Most of it keeps you interested, but some parts of it you're just like "God will this never end?". You'll probably enjoy this movie more if you are around your teen years, though. But from this fellow viewer to another this movie is at least worth having a look at.

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Posted mar 28, 2007 11:06 am pt

luckydagangsta

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Ehhh.. Not as good as some people say it is and not as bad as some people says it is. After I found out what this movie was about I thought "now this is my kind of movie". I went out and bought it for $10. Personally, I think it was...
[+] Read Full Review

Ehhh.. Not as good as some people say it is and not as bad as some people says it is. After I found out what this movie was about I thought "now this is my kind of movie". I went out and bought it for $10. Personally, I think it was worth it.

A great storyline. I've read people's comments on here about it not being believable that this teenager is going around playing detective. But I completely bought it because for one he really loved this girl. If I loved someone and they went through all this trouble then ended up dead I would do the same thing this guy did. I don't get how people couldn't understand them when they spoke because I could. I just couldn't understand them when they talked to fast, but there are some teenagers that really do talk that way. I should know I am one.

There were a few things I didn't like about this movie, though. At the end, when Larua says that Emily didn't love Brendon it just didn't make sense to me. Cause if she didn't love him why would she go though all the trouble to talk to him and why would she keep a picture of them together in her notebook. Then, there's Brendon. I mean, if he loved Emily so much than why did he get together with Laura not that long after Emily's death.

Other then that I enjoyed the film. Most of it keeps you interested, but some parts of it you're just like "God will this never end?". You'll probably enjoy this movie more if you are around your teen years, though. But from this fellow viewer to another this movie is at least worth having a look at.

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Posted mar 28, 2007 11:06 am pt

shadwell-

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There are films which you will either fall in love with or simply fail to ‘get.’ Rian Johnson’s debut feature, Brick is going to be one such film. What it boils down to is a murder mystery with an anti-hero detective...
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There are films which you will either fall in love with or simply fail to ‘get.’ Rian Johnson’s debut feature, Brick is going to be one such film. What it boils down to is a murder mystery with an anti-hero detective (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) trying to uncover the story of his missing girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin). It follows all the neo-noir tropes of hard boiled dialogue, femme fatales, a seemingly nonsensical plot with crosses and double crosses, only with a rather major deviation: The film is set in and around a modern Californian high school. The ageing drugs kingpin (Lukas Haas) is a mere twenty-six, the school theatre a stands in for a speakeasy and the vice principal (Richard Rowntree) makes a stereotypical a police chief. Not that the police are totally absent from the film, only they’re constantly referred to a ‘bulls’. You already have it in your mind whether this kind of Bugsy Malone meets The Big Sleep - though that’s selling it short and implying it’s childish and one-note - is going to appeal. For those whose ears it falls dead on, fine, but for anyone intrigued by the premise, it is a film which certainly delivers. Quite why it seemed like a good idea in the first place becomes a moot point as thanks to a carefully created tone and a singular vision, Johnson has made a film which refers constantly to (original) pulp fiction and film noir, while incorporating enough of an American high school sensibility to make it all feel fresh and cool. It’s not necessarily the kind of cool that will resonate across a thousand college walls in the same way as other debuts such as The Usual Suspects or Reservoir Dogs, but for the small minority at which this film is aimed, it is definitely one which will resonate and be held dear.

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Posted jan 16, 2007 3:54 am pt

point_zero_xbl

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Once in a while, a film comes around that will completely blow you away, and revolutionize the way you look at film in the future. For me, this was the film. Rian Johnson's directorial debut is such a spell-binding thriller that feels as if it's...
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Once in a while, a film comes around that will completely blow you away, and revolutionize the way you look at film in the future. For me, this was the film. Rian Johnson's directorial debut is such a spell-binding thriller that feels as if it's the only film of its kind, while in reality, it's also a faithful homage to the roots of film noir, particularly The Big Sleep and Miller's Crossing.

The movie centers around Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon Levitt), a lonely, disturbed teen who dives into the underworld of drugs and crime after getting a mysterious phone call from his ex-girlfriend, played by Emilie de Ravin. The film plays out at first like a simple detective flick, Brendan, in a desperate cryout for the truth, goes around asking for answers about her disappearance. But the farther he dives into her story, the farther he goes into a situation that ends in a series of deaths, arrests, and the sweet smell of resolution. Brendan gets involved with The Pin (Lukas Haas), the most powerful drug runner in the city, Brain (Matt O'Leary), the school's resident prodigy, who helps Brendan with his plans to take down who's responsible for his girlfriend's death under everyone's nose, Dode (Noah Segal), a druggie involved with Emily who comes to the conclusion that Brendan is her killer, Tug (Noah Fleiss), The Pin's lackey who's muscles are a bit bigger than his brain, and Laura (Nora Zehetner), a manipulative femme fatale who quickly becomes Brendan's love interest and is responsible for much of the trickery and tragedy that occurs during the film. It's likely apparent that I am being incredibly vague about the characters and the plot of the film, since it's really a film you must see without much knowledge of beforehand, since it will literally blow you away. Rian Johnson's screenplay is so elaborate and creative, it shocks you how you go into the first half of the film, with a ton of questions and thoughts about characters, and by the end, everything changes, and wraps up so well. Every character in the film is so complex, yet so seemingly hazy, you learn to relate to them while there's really nothing relatable about them.

The character's are so well-written and detailed to begin with, so giving a good performance was not very hard, but Levitt, Zehetner, and the rest of the cast still give some wonderful performances that are quite jaw-dropping. Joseph Gordon Levitt, after brilliant performances in Mysterious Skin and Manic, gives what I consider, the best performance of the decade. His performance as a teen desperate for the truth is so heartbreaking, it scares you. Nora Zehetner also does a fantastic job at being a strong, convincing good girl while in fact, being the person who causes most of the chaos. The rest of the cast also does a fantastic job, and really make you believe that what happens in the film is actually happening to them.

The film is also downright beautiful. Every shot is well-crafted, filled with color, and highly stylized. The film never looks dull, as every shot and scene is creative in it's own way. The makeup and art direction are also top-notch, and add to Johnson's already phenomenal direction. The film has to be seen to believed, and like the rest of the film, is almost impossible to write about. This film is just something that you have to see to believe.

Brick is one of the most thought-provoking and interesting films I've ever seen. Not once have I been so engrossed by a film. It's by far the best film of the year, and if that claim doesn't quite seem supported by this review, it's because it's plot is too incredible to spoil, it must be seen without any knowledge of the twists and turns that the film takes. In short, the film is just incredible.

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Posted jan 12, 2007 9:44 am pt

filemanager

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The cinematography for this film was great. I quite enjoyed the unique camera angles!

The only main character I've seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt play is "Tommy" on 3rd Rock from the Sun - and his character in this movie is...
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The cinematography for this film was great. I quite enjoyed the unique camera angles!

The only main character I've seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt play is "Tommy" on 3rd Rock from the Sun - and his character in this movie is quite a bit different. It was really interesting to watch! And I actually like his character a lot in this movie.

All the characters in the movie are supposed to be in high school, but they sure don't act like any high school students I've ever met.

I didn't really follow the story that well (thus, a lower rating than I would have given it otherwise), but after re-watching it, and perhaps watching it with the commentary on, I hope I'll understand it better, and be able to re-rate it properly.

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Posted dec 19, 2006 4:28 am pt

• [+] The Onion (A.V. Club)
  
  91
  Manages to be visually arresting, packed with geeky allusions to everything from Raymond Chandler to "Blue Velvet."

  by Scott Tobias | Read Full Review »
• [+] Baltimore Sun
  
  91
  A Big Sleep with underage bozos, a Maltese Falcon where the stuff that dreams are made of rests in the lockers of a well-worn high school, Brick is a remarkable oddity, audacious and engaging.

  by Michael Sragow | Read Full Review »
• [+] Film Threat
  
  90
  With brilliant dialogue out of the 1940s and graceful visuals that add depth to the dark comedy, Johnson debuts with a smart, self-assured feature that portrays adolescence like no other film has.

  by Jeremy Mathews | Read Full Review »
• [+] Boston Globe
  
  88
  Brick is Bogart goes to high school, in other words, but that thumbnail description doesn't begin to convey the lasting pleasures of Rian Johnson's directorial debut.

  by Ty Burr | Read Full Review »
• [+] Entertainment Weekly
  
  83
  Johnson also grabs hold of a fundamental truth and seduces us with it: The schoolyard can be the noirest burg of all.

  by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Read Full Review »
• [+] Christian Science Monitor
  
  83
  It's reminiscent of David Lynch, who is a master at mixing the ghastly and the risible. Brick would be better with a bit more Lynch in its soul, but Johnson is his own man, and I look forward to what he comes up with next.

  by Peter Rainer | Read Full Review »
• [+] Empire
  
  80
  With a superb lead turn by rising star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rian Johnson's debut is a smart, original neo-noir that works as an ingenious mindgame as well as a slick Hollywood calling card.

  by Damon Wise | Read Full Review »
• [+] The New Yorker
  
  80
  All in all, this twerpy little movie is one of the most entertaining pictures to be released so far this year.

  by David Denby | Read Full Review »
• [+] The Hollywood Reporter
  
  80
  The mean streets don't get any nastier than the high school parking lots in this cool-crafted mystery.

  by Duane Byrge | Read Full Review »
• [+] Los Angeles Times
  
  80
  Johnson has taken a well-worn, much-revised genre, adapted to what's become a clichéd setting and transcended both in the process.

  by Carina Chocano | Read Full Review »
• [+] Salon.com
  
  80
  Brick doesn't work 100 percent of the time, but it's a striking achievement, beautifully shot, often hilarious and occasionally moving.

  by Andrew O'Hehir | Read Full Review »
• [+] Premiere
  
  75
  It takes a good fifteen minutes to fully adjust to the screenplay's rhythms, but once you do, the dialogue is a lot of fun to listen to.

  by Ethan Alter | Read Full Review »
• [+] Rolling Stone
  
  75
  "Sensational" is the word for Joseph Gordon-Levitt (equally striking in Mysterious Skin), who stars as Brendan, the teen outsider who becomes a budding Bogart.

  by Peter Travers | Read Full Review »
• [+] New York Post
  
  75
  It's Gordon-Levitt's pitch-perfect work that makes Brick a hardboiled treat.

  by Lou Lumenick | Read Full Review »
• [+] TV Guide
  
  75
  First-time writer-director Rian Johnson's gimmick is that his SoCal teens talk like film-noir yeggs and dames, slinging hard-boiled shade and spitting out terse, rat-a-tat dialogue peppered with slang that was yesterday's news 40 years before they were born. But the result is, against all odds, marvelously entertaining.

  by Maitland McDonagh | Read Full Review »