Brick

Name: Brick
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Crime
Released: March 31, 2006
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Emilie de Ravin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Meagan Good, Richard Roundtree

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critics

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 180 Ratings

See All

7.6

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 180 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

BRICK

Autoplay On Off

Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: March 31, 2006

Starring: Emilie de Ravin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Meagan Good, Richard Roundtree

Summary: Brick, while taking its cues and its verbal style from the novels of Dashiell Hammett, also honors the rich cinematic tradition of the hard-boiled noir mystery, here wittily and bracingly immersed in fresh territory – a modern-day Southern California neighborhood and high school. (Focus Features)

Director: Rian Johnson

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 110 min

See All Details and Credits

Awards & Rankings

98	#98 Best Movie of 2006
67	#67 Most Discussed Movie of 2006
78	#78 Most Shared Movie of 2006

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

The A.V. Club - Scott Tobias

Manages to be visually arresting, packed with geeky allusions to everything from Raymond Chandler to "Blue Velvet." Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum

Johnson also grabs hold of a fundamental truth and seduces us with it: The schoolyard can be the noirest burg of all. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Carina Chocano

Johnson has taken a well-worn, much-revised genre, adapted to what's become a clichéd setting and transcended both in the process. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Neva Chonin

A weird and near-perfect polyglot of indie art film and noir mystery. Read full review

Variety - Todd McCarthy

The story, while derivative, isn't half bad, and the picture gains in finesse and confidence to the point where Johnson more or less pulls off his peril-fraught exercise. Read full review

Washington Post - Desson Thomson

Like a good campfire storyteller, writer-director Rian Johnson knows how to fuse the amusing and the edgy. And, in Brendan, he has created an endearing character. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

Alas, Brick, from writer-director Rian Johnson, isn't as clever as its conceit. Read full review

SEE ALL 34 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Vltra88

Jun 29, 2011

Well written, Well acted, solid artful piece. The Film Noir/Hard boiled "who dunnit" feel fits really well in the director's childhood California high school setting while only feeling forced for brief moments. It's in my top ten films for sure. The pace is for the patient, and the entireWell written, Well acted, solid artful piece. The Film Noir/Hard boiled "who dunnit" feel fits really well in the director's childhood California high school setting while only feeling forced for brief moments. It's in my top ten films for sure. The pace is for the patient, and the entire vibe requires an understanding or appreciation of Film Noir. Maybe not for everyone, but I saw it as an incredibly well written script with an obvious intended goal for the film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

M.S.

Jun 17, 2006

I've got one word for this film...awsome. This was a superb film I must say. The dialog alone was worth the ticket price and the hype but what is good dialog without an incredibly endearing and believable cast? This cast really pulled their weight, every single one of them acting as a I've got one word for this film...awsome. This was a superb film I must say. The dialog alone was worth the ticket price and the hype but what is good dialog without an incredibly endearing and believable cast? This cast really pulled their weight, every single one of them acting as a cohesive ensemble and with it, creating an aura of fun suspense and mystery that can only be found in black and white noir mysteries of a similar nature. The camera work was wonderful and the story was incredibly well written. The characters were totally engaging, I even felt a pang of sorrow for Dode when he got killed even though he was a slime bucket! I found it incredibly fresh that they would take the nostalgia of the eighties and highschool culture and food chains and use it as a play ground for a mystery. I also liked how it was all highschoolers in this underground society of misfits who were involved with crimes and investigations and research, it gave the film a refreshing authenticity rarely found in films today. To all of those who scorn it for doing what (literally) no noir mystery has done before...forget you. This was a seriously entertaining and effective film!.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DomenicP.

May 3, 2007

This is a great take on the traditional noir. The actors all deliver surprisingly great performances for people their age, and Johnson's direction is pitch-perfect.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MattC.

Jul 24, 2006

A very good film, overall, particularly for a first effort. The performances by Joseph Gordon-Leavitt was particularly powerful, appropriately, while Lukas Hass was very good and Nora Zehetner was breathtaking. The issue that people complain about, not being able to understand the language? A very good film, overall, particularly for a first effort. The performances by Joseph Gordon-Leavitt was particularly powerful, appropriately, while Lukas Hass was very good and Nora Zehetner was breathtaking. The issue that people complain about, not being able to understand the language? That's really more of an issue with them, not the movie. I was able to understand it perfectly. My only real complaints would be: It could have stood being tightened up. When a 110 minute movie feels more like 180, you know it drags in places. Additionally, I felt the music could have been more agressive throughout the film. While I understand the usage of the jangly was supposed to convey a certain mood, the language and subject were more than enough to evoke that, and the soundtrack contributed, I think, to the feeling over of-length.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

worleyjamers

Jun 7, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. IF you can accept that Brick is a film about a bunch of high schoolers involved in their own drug trade, you'll love the film. If you try to use logic and disregard the seemingly implausible plot than you'll find the film tortuous. I for one loved the film and thought it was unbelievably believable. The kids are great and Rian Johnson directs with confidence and style. Absolutely amazing!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AndyM.

Jun 9, 2008

This movie is best described as a bunch of 25 year-olds, acting like 17 year-olds, acting like 35 year-olds. It's ridiculous. This isn't high school, and it never will be. It tries to be original by placing a 50-years-late, washed-up detective genre into a high school setting, and This movie is best described as a bunch of 25 year-olds, acting like 17 year-olds, acting like 35 year-olds. It's ridiculous. This isn't high school, and it never will be. It tries to be original by placing a 50-years-late, washed-up detective genre into a high school setting, and it comes off as plain absurd. As the Wall Street Journal puts it, "It's original, yet it's not". No high school is filled with smooth talking, drug-running teenagers, who spit 1940's lingo like it's the normal thing to do. If you like detective stories and you just HAVE to have a new angle, despite the complete lack of believability, then this is for you. The movie isn't a bad one, don't get me wrong. The writing and the confined presentation just prevents it from being the amazing movie it desperately wants to be. And I mean desperately.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

DavisR.

Aug 29, 2006

this film is tied with Kevin Smith's dreadful Clerks 2 as the worst film of the year. Besides the dialogue which is obviously the worst thing about this film, it is Joseph Gordon-Levitt who propels this disaster toward "Rushmore"-territory. Just because a hack like Gregg Araki sees the this film is tied with Kevin Smith's dreadful Clerks 2 as the worst film of the year. Besides the dialogue which is obviously the worst thing about this film, it is Joseph Gordon-Levitt who propels this disaster toward "Rushmore"-territory. Just because a hack like Gregg Araki sees the irony in casting the kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun in his borefest Mysterious Skin, now everyone wants to cast this American version of Kal Penn in their movies. It's not fair to say he ruined this film because had he been replaced with Curtis Jackson the film would still be a failure. Johnson delivers the worst film debut since Reservoir Dogs and unless you want to waste 2 hours of your life stay far away.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 65 REVIEWS