Brick

Directed by: Rian Johnson
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Luka Haas, Nora Zehetner, Noah Segan

We have here what is one of the greatest films of this past decade. This is a film that belongs on the same list of some of the greatest classics that have ever hit the noir genre. The Maltese Falcon, North By Northwest, Chinatown, Le Samourai and many others would sit appropriately next to this crime classic. The originality and strength that this film holds in both it's plot, characters & direction sucks you into this dark tale of murder, drugs, revenge and self-destruction so tight, that you'll have to take a walk after the credits just to separate yourself. And here's the twist: It all takes place in a suburban high school.

First-time director Rian Johnson uses this idea in full effect to drive home this dark caper. This is a story in the same vein as the previously named movies, but with a usually happy backdrop. Even better, all of these dark, seedy characters maintain their 50's-60's era dialogue as they are placed in parallel roles from what they would've obtained in an adult, metropolis setting! The police chief who wants our star detective back on the case = The Principle. The showgirl harlot who has information from the inside, using her sexuality as a tool to gain & sell information = The school's leading Drama Club actress. The tough-as-nails muscle who runs the streets under orders for the crime kingpin = The school bully. Pure Genius.

Carrying this film is the acting revelation, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. At the time this movie was made, he was still considered the sitcom kid from NBC's "3rd Rock From The Sun". After this film, not only did every director want him as their star, he sky rocketed to many film goer's favorite actor(including myself!). He is performing the role of a lifetime, as you see his hard-nosed, always-one-step-ahead sleuth, Brendan, take a dark journey to find the murderer of his ex-girlfriend, whom he still loved. He plays the classic "they pulled me back into the game and this is the last case I'll ever take" noir-trope we've seen as our leads in almost every form of the genre. As the movie begins, he immediately brings a quite, subtle brooding that occasionally explodes off the screen into aggressive bits of confident, physical anger. And the entire time, never losing his mental edge over his opponent.

The transformation this character makes is an even greater accomplishment to Levitt's skills. Like most noir stories, the dark journey of unraveling so many layers of crime, deceit and corruption take both a physical and mental toll on our hero. You'll feel every bit of the weight of this journey because Levitt is FORCING you to. From difficulty to breath or stand, yet still maintaining his burning desire for vengeance(his character disguises as justice), you'll feel the gravity of every line and the weight of every punch or cough these characters inflict upon each other.

Speaking of which, Rian Johnson is now a LEGEND for this film in the indie world. His first film and he creates one of the headlining classics in a genre that is hard to even gain notice in. From the subtleties of the music, the appropriate shadows and cinematography of the school to give it the feel of a filthy metropolis or how the increasing intensity of the atmosphere makes you sweat in the inevitability of the consequences of a punch or a pulled trigger. His direction feels like he's been training for this all his life and it's funny to think he has so much ahead of him.

As for the rest of the performances in this movie, they all have to be seen to be believed. These kids are giants on the screen. To name the characters would be to reveal more than I care to, but watch every subtlety. Their insecure natures shielded by rays of confidence as they battle our hero mentally, verbally & even physically in many cases. Each performance shows they exist in an empire of corruption, and like all empires that use that as their base, it's falling down. And they all can feel it as they grasp for anything they can hold on to around them.

Brick may be the greatest film you'll ever find on Netflix. Take it in, enjoy and have repeat viewings to enjoy those subtle intricacies that make this dark tale even stronger. You'll never look back.