JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonBrick (2005): In Cinemas-Trailer Included
August 23rd 2006 00:41
A John Doe Cinema Review
Brick
Brick
DVD Cover
Cinematography: Steve Yedlin
Starring: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Lucas Haas, Nora Zehetner, Richard Roundtree
From time to time I pull my finger out and actually make it to see a film in a moviehouse as opposed to my living room. On these special occasions, if I dig the movie even though this is a DVD Blog, I will post a review. So here it is John Doe's first Cinema Review.
The world of noir is a murky one full of amoral characters, double dealing and dangerous dames. A genre that was stylistic. Conceived in Germany and then embraced by filmmakers like John Huston, Fritz Lang and Sam Fuller.
Capturing the cinematic essence of this well worn label and taking it into fresh new territory. Director Rian Johnson (Editor of May) makes his directorial debut with this controlled powerhouse of scripting and cinematography.
Brendan (Joseph Gordon Levitt) is a troubled teen turned shamus who carries around enough angst to rival Phillip Marlowe himself. He has given his love to the wrong girl, Emily (Emile De Raven) and now she has gone missing. Stubborn and lacking tact, it isn’t long before he collides with a jargon splattered world of crime kingpins, dealers, hustlers and femme fatales.
With a sly wit, this is a story that is all in the telling and not for all taste buds.
From the opening shot we enter a unique new world that bleeds of surreal mystery. Beautiful to look at, colours seep through the out of focus fog while faces are obscured and revealed through daring use of light and lens.
The underlying atmospheric tension is always present and you find yourself nervously giggling along with the film-makers low key flair. Much of the films strength lies in its restrained approach and understanding of technique.
John Doe says:
After waiting what felt like an eternity to see this I am relieved to say it lived up to expectations.
The screenplay draws you into its Rubik’s cube palette and plot line, every action has an equal reaction. Slang riddled dialogue delivered nonchalantly by a talented cast kept these ears pricked to every syllable uttered. Playing a school yard mix of eccentric characters we recognize, in quandaries that are far beyond the status quo.
I really got a buzz out of the casting. The original bad mutha-fucka Richard Roundtree (Shaft) as the duplicatus principal kept me smiling. Seeing Lucas Haas, the little kid from Witness taking a turn towards the dark side amused me too.
The golden boy though is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He blew me away with last years best performance in the best Picture, Mysterious Skin. Now this, a tour de force of under stated cool and unspoken confusion and pain.
Thoroughly entertained from beginning to end I love nothing more than when a film satisfies intellectually as well as emotionally.
Brick is showing only on the bigscreen at the moment. Scheduled for a DVD release in Australia on December 6th. Its well worth a visit to the cinemas for.
From time to time I pull my finger out and actually make it to see a film in a moviehouse as opposed to my living room. On these special occasions, if I dig the movie even though this is a DVD Blog, I will post a review. So here it is John Doe's first Cinema Review.
The world of noir is a murky one full of amoral characters, double dealing and dangerous dames. A genre that was stylistic. Conceived in Germany and then embraced by filmmakers like John Huston, Fritz Lang and Sam Fuller.
Capturing the cinematic essence of this well worn label and taking it into fresh new territory. Director Rian Johnson (Editor of May) makes his directorial debut with this controlled powerhouse of scripting and cinematography.
Brendan (Joseph Gordon Levitt) is a troubled teen turned shamus who carries around enough angst to rival Phillip Marlowe himself. He has given his love to the wrong girl, Emily (Emile De Raven) and now she has gone missing. Stubborn and lacking tact, it isn’t long before he collides with a jargon splattered world of crime kingpins, dealers, hustlers and femme fatales.
With a sly wit, this is a story that is all in the telling and not for all taste buds.
From the opening shot we enter a unique new world that bleeds of surreal mystery. Beautiful to look at, colours seep through the out of focus fog while faces are obscured and revealed through daring use of light and lens.
The underlying atmospheric tension is always present and you find yourself nervously giggling along with the film-makers low key flair. Much of the films strength lies in its restrained approach and understanding of technique.
Im looking for this girl, who knows this guy, who saw Ferris at 31 flavours last nite.
John Doe says:
After waiting what felt like an eternity to see this I am relieved to say it lived up to expectations.
The screenplay draws you into its Rubik’s cube palette and plot line, every action has an equal reaction. Slang riddled dialogue delivered nonchalantly by a talented cast kept these ears pricked to every syllable uttered. Playing a school yard mix of eccentric characters we recognize, in quandaries that are far beyond the status quo.
I really got a buzz out of the casting. The original bad mutha-fucka Richard Roundtree (Shaft) as the duplicatus principal kept me smiling. Seeing Lucas Haas, the little kid from Witness taking a turn towards the dark side amused me too.
The golden boy though is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He blew me away with last years best performance in the best Picture, Mysterious Skin. Now this, a tour de force of under stated cool and unspoken confusion and pain.
Thoroughly entertained from beginning to end I love nothing more than when a film satisfies intellectually as well as emotionally.
Brick is showing only on the bigscreen at the moment. Scheduled for a DVD release in Australia on December 6th. Its well worth a visit to the cinemas for.
Check out the trailer below-
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Brick is in its third week of release in Oz. Showing in limited cinemas now.
It comes out on DVD in the US next month I think.
Highly Recommended if it sounds up your alley.
Comment by Fermi
Commerce concluded I reclined in the dark and settled in to enjoy. A movie set in and around a California high school usually means cheerleaders and cheese but this is different. Clever dialogue, a mobile plot and stylish camera work make it a very good movie. At times the noir high school world strains internal consistency but this weakness is offset by subtle humour e.g. the Pin’s domestic situation.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Glad you liked it
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Oh well, I can always watch it again at home: I have a big TV and friends willing to annoy me while I try to watch, and I can make sure I use the dimmer switch.
Michaelie