Film Review: Brick
Rian Johnson's First Film Gives the Detective Story a Twist
Jan 14, 2009 Jennifer L Mashuga
Brick follows Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, Brendan, as he tries to find out what has happened to his ex, Emily. The only thing that is known without a doubt is that Emily (Emilie De Ravin) is dead, but Joseph is determined to find out what led to her death.
In his first film, Rian Johnson has created a high school that could only exist in the movies. The cliches in Brick are written in dripping, red ink. The loners, jocks and “popular” kids are drawn in glorious, vivid detail, as if they were all ripped from the pages of a comic book.
Brick begins with Brendan finding a note in his locker from his ex-girlfriend, Emily. In the note is written the name of a street intersection, which Brendan goes to. Emily calls him from a pay phone, and it’s obvious that something is seriously wrong.
After reconnecting with an old friend, old girlfriend, and crashing the party of Laura (Nora Zehetner), a “friend” of Emily’s. Brendan is finally able to track her down, only she doesn’t want to talk to him, and after he pleads how much he loves her, she tells him to leave her alone and walks away.
That night Brendan has a dream in which he sees Emily walking out of a tunnel, and wakes up, startled. He goes to the place he dreamt of, and finds Emily, dead. Brendan hides her body, deciding that before her death is revealed to the world, he will find out what happened.
Gordon-Levitt plays the protagonist, a loner with a fierce spirit, determined to find out what happened to the only girl he’s ever loved. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to find out what who is behind Emily’s death, and why. Along his journey is a drug dealer called The Pin (Lukas Haas), his ex Kara (Meagan Good), a hot head named Tugger (Noah Fleiss) and others, all of them with something to lose, and they all with a use or plan for Brendan.
Brick is Dangerous Liaisons locked in a world of teenage angst. The girls are seductive and manipulative, out to claim their next boy-toy or conquest. In Brick, every character has a hidden agenda and a secret they’re trying to keep.
Gordon-Levitt, best known for the TV show Third Rock From the Sun, gives an incredible performance as the boy willing to seek out anyone, and do anything, to get to the truth of who killed Emily, and why. Brick is, if nothing else, a incredibly fun ride that's well worth all the bumps along the way.
- Brick
- Directed and Written By: Rian Johnson
- Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetner
- Running Time: 110 Minutes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emilie De Ravin
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