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 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 211 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 211 Ratings

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Brick

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: March 31, 2006 | R

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

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Critic Reviews

Scott Tobias

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

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

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

Neva Chonin

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

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

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

Steven Rea

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

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User Reviews

TrevorB.

Apr 24, 2006

Joseph Gordan- Levitt has come along way, from 3rd Rock from the Sun. He's on well on his way to becoming a movie star. Rian Johnson has an uncanny ability with language that you don't hear everyday. I can't wait to see his follow up film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Feb 11, 2007

In my mind, the noirisms hit their stride when the character of Brain is introduced and he utters the line: "Lunch? Lunch is difficult...." A better summation of high school I've never heard. And NO LAPTOP! He got the reputation as "Brain," not by being a geek computer whiz or building In my mind, the noirisms hit their stride when the character of Brain is introduced and he utters the line: "Lunch? Lunch is difficult...." A better summation of high school I've never heard. And NO LAPTOP! He got the reputation as "Brain," not by being a geek computer whiz or building robots, but by his detailed knowledge of social strata and teenage communication. In fact, aside from a loner cell phone, most communication in the movie is done longhand - either person-to-person or in symbollic notes, etc. I love all of it. The Brat Pack movies have at last been put under.… Expand

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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 2 users found this helpful02

Lopez17

Aug 11, 2010

Film noir was one of cinemas most popular and most profitable genre or it uses to be back in the last stretch of the golden years in Hollywood (1940-1950). The last neo-noir the golden era pushed out was Orson Welles "Touch of Evil"(1958) while during its release, it was well received butFilm noir was one of cinemas most popular and most profitable genre or it uses to be back in the last stretch of the golden years in Hollywood (1940-1950). The last neo-noir the golden era pushed out was Orson Welles "Touch of Evil"(1958) while during its release, it was well received but it sadly failed to reignite the flame of a fading genre. Noir seemed almost dead until an up and coming director named Roman Polanski took on the dangerous task of trying to breathe new life into the deceased genre. I never thought it could be done someone being able to bring back one of cinema's most beloved genres but Polanski did it and his film "Chinatown"(1974) was the film that restarted the film noir genre. Launching a whole new era of Neo-Noirâ… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

Apr 29, 2016

Brick is a very decent film and it makes a brick worth watching, construction or destruction. What makes Brick look unique is not the fact that you're thinking bad, but it's the script that saves the movie from being a bomb.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

seancriswell

Nov 16, 2012

High school kids masquerading as characters from an old school hard boiled detective movie. This is an interesting premise, and one that you can tell Johnson probably wanted to make from the moment he decided he wanted to make movies. Unfortunately there is little going on of interest pastHigh school kids masquerading as characters from an old school hard boiled detective movie. This is an interesting premise, and one that you can tell Johnson probably wanted to make from the moment he decided he wanted to make movies. Unfortunately there is little going on of interest past the niche premise. Some of the acting and writing is pretty decent here, so you will not be bored. However there is nothing in the story or characters that makes you care what happens to them, which gives you no emotional tie to anything that ultimately happens. Overall a disappointing film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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

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99	#99 Best Movie of 2006
62	#62 Most Discussed Movie of 2006
82	#82 Most Shared Movie of 2006