Review: Brick

It's Oscar season, and here I am, still reviewing older movies. What fun is the Oscars when it's the same 6 films in every single category (looking at you, effing Benjamin Button)? I'll admit it was alright, but I've found one equally alright. I bring you the anti-Oscar.

I found Brick (2005) stumbling on a blog about the top 5 movies that you've never heard of but you should watch. Sigh. How cliche. IMDB plot summary: high school...underworld...crime ring...investigate...



I'M SOLD.

First few minutes in, and this is very obviously an indie film. It's refreshing to see one every so often, because watching non-cgi visual effects fills you with a sweet feeling inside, like watching a chill magic show. Do those exist? They do old-school things like filming a scene in reverse and playing it back to get the IMPOSSIBLE!!!! shot. Reminds me of the cheapness of Jacob's Ladder effects too.
Effects and cinematography +1

Head man is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose name or face you might, might recognize. I don't know what you watch. Here, he looks like he could be a cross between John Lennon and a young Heath Ledger. And what could be a better combination for a guy who fearlessly infiltrates a drug ring involving high school students. The support is rather well-played too. Considering that the dialogue is a shitstorm of slang (it took subtitles and some intermittent pauses to get through key plot points), the resulting performances hold up. And thank god it's not the same boring high school stereotypes. I lied. It is the same stereotypes. But not boring though, because it takes the characters from, say, American Pie, and applies a Max Payne story to it. The original video game, not some weird junk with valkyries 'n shit.

Yes, ultimately, it's a noir film and sort of a revenge film, and it grabs you by the collar as it runs down some dank alley. Enjoy.