A Shakespearian take on a high school coming of age murder mystery, Brick provides a viewing experience different than any I've ever seen. Showing random elements similar to those that could be found in films by Guy Ritchie, Wes Andersen, or David Lynch, this film almost demands a second viewing to clearly understand all that actually happens. Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, an actor quickly climbing to the top of my favorite actors list, leads the wordy, dark, and shadowy search for the killer of his long lost, but ex- girlfriend, finding teenage mob bosses, opposing clans in the vein of A Clockwork Orange, and deceptively disguised vixens, all leading to a run of the mill unexpected conclusion. This film has become a popular underground, cult film, much in the way that Donnie Darko became an era-defining classic, but the key elements don't seem nearly as put together as the Richard Kelly masterpiece. The cinematography was surprisingly fantastic at times, utterly disappointing at others. The characters in the film were acted well, allowing this to be the tense high school drama it is. Falling somewhere between a first-time festival film and a major motion picture, I can't say I'd recommend this film to the average viewer, but for the film aficionado, Brick provides a very unique and alternative experience.
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2/11/2010
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