A Film a Day – Brick (2005)

Over the weekend, I was hanging out with a friend, visiting some pubs for good beer. We were figuring out what movie to watch, and he tossed in Rian Johnson’s Brick (2005) as one of his top picks. I’d been meaning to check it out, so why not now?

Honestly, after watching The Last Jedi, my enthusiasm for Johnson’s work had waned. While I understand that some people appreciate it, I found it to be not only a lackluster Star Wars film but also a narrative that felt like a first draft (you can read my full review here). Now, don’t get me wrong—it’s just my opinion. If you think The Last Jedi is the pinnacle of Star Wars greatness, more power to you. Opinions are subjective, and that’s the beauty of it. That being said, let’s steer back to the main road and delve into Brick, which turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.

Last year I tried to watch at least one film a day. I failed. This year I am going to try again.

Should you choose to accompany me on this venture, I am writing regular updates, sharing the films I’ve watched and my thoughts on them. I am based in the UK, so I’ll note if certain films may not be available on streaming platforms in your region. Additionally, I’ll be referencing release dates from IMDB.com.

Follow my Film A Day hereEnough preamble – let’s dive straight into my most recent celluloid adventure.

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Brick (2005)

• Director: Rian Johnson
• Writer: Rian Johnson
• Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Noah Fleiss, Matt O’Leary, Noah Segan, Meagan Good, Emilie de Ravin, Richard Roundtree, Lukas Haas
• Watched on DVD

As you can gather from my intro, I was a bit sceptical about diving into Brick. The Last Jedi left me seriously disappointed. Still, having enjoyed Knives Out and its sequel, along with the wonderful Poker Face series, the idea of seeing Johnson’s original take on the detective story intrigued me. Plus, the film boasted a solid cast, and I was curious to see how its gimmick—being a hardboiled detective story with classic dialogue but set in an American high school—played out.

Turns out, it works surprisingly well.

We follow Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Brendan, on a mission to uncover who killed his ex-girlfriend. He goes through the motions of a classic detective story—speaking to classmates, crashing parties, chasing down suspects, getting roughed up—complete with the expected twists, turns, and sucker punches.

Now, the dialogue is straight out of Humphrey Bogart’s playbook, think The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon, but with the occasional high school twist.

“Throw one at me if you want, hash head. I’ve got all five senses and I slept last night, that puts me six up on the lot of you.”

Admittedly, it takes a scene or two to get used to it, but since everyone is taking it seriously, you roll with it and find yourself in a noir mindset. It does lead to some amusing moments. I especially got a kick out of Brendan’s interaction with the school’s Principal, played by Richard Roundtree—it’s the classic exchange between a police chief and his maverick cop. I chuckled, not at the film, but at how it still worked, even if it seemed a bit absurd if you thought about it too much.

I won’t spill more about the plot to avoid spoilers for those who haven’t seen it.

Performances across the board are spot-on. The recurring appearances of Tug, who randomly shows up, beats up Brendan, and then disappears with some quick cuts and sound effects, add a quirky touch. The overall filming is tight, with a few moments reminding you that this was Johnson’s first major film. However, there are also some neat in-camera effects that deliver smooth transitions.

Johnson drew inspiration from Spaghetti Westerns, the Cowboy Bebop anime, and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, and these influences are evident on the screen. Certain moments, especially those at the Pins hideout, exude a Lynchian vibe—with that subtle departure from reality that captivates and leaves you a tad uneasy.

The narrative unfolds toward a satisfying and typically noirish conclusion, rounding off the film’s homage to its various influences.

For those of you partaking in a daily film regimen, I encourage you to share your cinematic journey in the comments below. Let us exchange thoughts on the films we’ve watched—our impressions, delights, and perhaps the occasional disappointment.

Total Films Watched this year – 20

As you can see, I am a little behind with films, but I will hopefully catch up as the week goes on.

Happy viewing!

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