Movie Loner

A detective story in a high school setting. Kind of a reach, right? Not in the hands of director Rian Johnson. Wow. This movie really impressed me. I was never a Third Rock from the Sun fan, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt needn’t worry about slumming in the sitcom world ever again. He plays Brendan, a confident loner who delves into the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. With assistance from a kid aptly named The Brain, Brendan uncovers a secret drug ring being run by a mysterious fellow referred to as The Pin. That’s as far as I’ll go with the plot, any further and I’ll ruin a very clever story.

Amazingly, Brick was made for under $500,000. Proof you don’t need a Hollywood budget to produce a lasting film. It might not seem a big deal but most $50 million movies blow. Writer/Director Johnson deserves credit for working around budget limitations and pulling off a minor masterpiece. He also does a fine job channeling the gumshoe genre of the 1950’s with abrupt dialogue and a hero who constantly gets his ass kicked.

Speaking of hero, Gordon-Levitt is the real discovery here. He plays Brendan with a quiet toughness, outwitting his peers every step of the way. He’s relentless in his pursuit and cares little for those he damages. A lesser actor would’ve left Brick with no guide, and no heart. It’s hard not to root for Brendan. He takes his lumps but keeps pressing.

I’m amazed this movie didn’t get more pub. It’s small, but shouldn’t have been ignored. I recently caught it again on HBO, so be on the lookout.

A scene from Brick: