Under the Radar: Great films that may have passed you by: Brick

‘High School Drama’ and ‘Great Film’ are two phrases that you don’t often find together in the same sentence, paragraph of review. Usually High School teen flicks are pretty plotless and formulaic, adhering to a number of genre stereotypes; the geek, the outcast, the jock and the cheerleader and how their lives are (superficially) affected by the presence of the other.

Even the great, intelligent High School films - I’m thinking Cruel Intentions and The Breakfast Club - are party to these conventions.

But once in a while a writer jots these clichés down on a piece of paper, rips them up and throws them in the bin. Or in the case of Brick, chuck them into a pile of Film Noir standards, mixes them up and create an incredibly interesting take on the two genres.

Actually, I do a complete disservice to Rian Johnson for suggesting that all he has done is attach a bunch of Film Noir themes to a high school movie. He has in fact cleverly crafted a complex yet believable neo-noir world, but in the comfortable and approachable setting of a high school. 

The story follows Brendan Frye (Inception’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the films’ ‘hard-boiled detective’ as he tries to uncover the mystery of his ex-girlfriend’s (Lost’s Emlie De Ravin) death, and finds himself mixed up (as the genre is wont) in a world of corruption, drug dealing, murder, thuggery and femme fatales.

The script is fast paced, and multi-layered, introducing a range of subplots and characters to take the viewer on a twisting journey.  It is more than aware of its genre. The dialogue is full of metaphor and colloquialisms honouring writers such as Dashiell Hammett and films like The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep, and the set design is at times reminiscent of Lynch’s Blue Velvet.

Like the aforementioned noir classics, if you don’t pay attention you run the risk of getting lost in the complexities of the story; this certainly isn’t a film to put on in the background, watch with people who are likely to talk or pop on if you’re hungover.

However, investing a little time to listen and acclimatise yourself to the dialect will really pay off. It might take a few viewings to fully understand it, but you’re fortunate that it is an incredibly enjoyable film to watch it over and over again. 

Gordon-Levitt is incredibly engaging as the film’s protagonist, and he is joined by a fantastic supporting cast of well rounded characters; all of whom have their moment to add to the puzzle  (or attempt to stop it from being solved) rather than merely being bit parts to advance the plot.

The films ‘junkyard score’ is a particular highlight; created from blowing bottles and clanging together scrap metals, it adds another dynamic to the story - taking it away from the jazz of classic noir, and the pop score of the high school movie - to help it further develop an identity of its own.

For a début film, it is extremely impressive. It is intelligent, ambitious and a thoroughly enjoyable film. It is deep and engaging, and a perfect mix of approachable subject matter and complex narrative structure. It is, quite simply, a brilliantly crafted film.

Whether you’re looking for a way to ease yourself into classic film noir, want a break from the mass-produced high school movie tat churned out by Hollywood, or are simply looking for an intelligent indie-flick to get lost in - Brick is for you.