Brick Movie Review

“A Film Noir Set in High School“ 

 I was reading Rolling Stone maybe 2 years ago…maybe…can’t really remember.  We’ll say awhile.  Herego, I remember reading article about that years Sundance Film Festival and stumbling upon one of the reviews for a film that the reviewer reviewed(hehe).  The film was a detective story set in high school with a gritty noir tone.  The film was called Brick.

I got mad.  I had the idea to do a similar thing, certainly not the first time the spies of Hollywood have tapped my brain and listened to my subconcious. Either way, I wanted to check the flick out as it sounded really awesome.  Fast forward about, well 2 years, and I stumble upon some movie news on my favorite movie website, Joblo.com.   The site featured a poster review on Brick and some other news as well as a trailer.  I was psyched.  The trailer was awesome and you guys can actually watch it here. It wasn’t coming out wide-release, but was being limited release in some Boston theaters.  I picked my stuff up and went out to check out at Coolidge Corner.

Let me say this: It’s too bad that more movies like this aren’t made.  Like most independent movies, though, I’m sure part of the allure is that most people don’t know about this, so maybe the hidden gem is part of why I liked this movie so much.  I don’t consider myself an elitist, rather an avid movie fan that enjoys good flicks.  But let me say that if every fucking emo/indie/scene kid or whatever segregated alternative group anguished teens are into nowadays start quoting this movie and totally misinterpreting the flick (a la Donnie Darko), that would anger me.  The originality of this film is such a strength that you are captivated at the first rag-tag line.

Ok so I write a lot.  I’m starting my review now.  Brick has some very good preformances by younger actors.  Notably, Joseph Gordon Levitt of 10 Things I Hate About You and 3rd Rock From the Sun as Brendan Frye, the Bogart-esque character plays the part to a T.  The not so clean, but not dirty detective who’s actions aren’t so clean but his hearts pure.  Following him through the flick is the capturing part of this movie.  The other actors do a fine job filling their role, with Laura filling the “dame” perfectly.

It’s an old-style crime drama told through the eyes of high schoolers who walk and talk with jargon straight out of a black and white detective flick.  The lines are part of the coolness of this movie.  You have to love any movie where the hero “breaks teeth and sets things straight”.  The soundtrack was an incredibly surprising effective jazzy mood setting bunch of tracks and it was shot in stylish color noir.

So the downpoints are really slim in my opinion.  It was an independent flick so the audio was a little messed up.  Some lines are spoken so fast you almost don’t catch them.  The tangled web of stories is hard to follow even being riveted by the story.  Some parts you don’t understand; Brendan suddenly developing a dehabilitating cough being an example.  Your not sold on some relationships and chemistry is a little rough in areas.

For all of that, this movie kicked my ass.  I loved it and I loved it’s originality.  A movie that I could watch over and over again.  Maybe that’s because I was a group of few who saw it.  But look…If I was Rian Johnson, I would want me to spread the word, so I’m doing it.  But please…don’t Donnie Darko,Brick.  I want this director to be praised and to profit off of this, but not sell fucking T-Shirts at Hot Topic.  Overall, this movie get’s 9 Bones out of 10 for sheer vision, coolness and misses the 10 for the little issues. 

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