Watch Brick

Brick is a 2005 neo-noir mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson, which revolves around a high school student named Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who attempts to solve the mystery of his ex-girlfriend's death. The film is set in a modern-day California high school, but has a distinct film noir feel, with its dark, moody lighting and use of low angles. The dialogue and tone are similarly inspired by the hard-boiled detective stories of the 1940s and 50s, with characters speaking in slangy, stylized dialogue that is dense with metaphor and innuendo.

As the film opens, we see Brendan standing over the body of his ex-girlfriend Emily (Emilie de Ravin), who has died under mysterious circumstances. When the police fail to investigate the death, Brendan decides to take matters into his own hands, embarking on a quest to find out what really happened to Emily.

To do this, Brendan plunges into the seedy underbelly of his high school, where he encounters a cast of shady characters, including drug dealers, pimps, and corrupt cops. His only ally is a brainy loner named The Brain (Matt O'Leary), while his primary adversary is a ruthless drug dealer named The Pin (Lukas Haas), who seems to hold a key piece of information about Emily's death.

As Brendan navigates this dangerous world, he must use all his wits and cunning to stay one step ahead of his enemies, and uncover the truth about Emily's death before it's too late.

The film is a masterclass in style and atmosphere, with its evocative cinematography and music adding to the sense of unease and tension. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Gordon-Levitt in particular giving a riveting turn as the stoic and determined Brendan.

While the plot of Brick may be convoluted at times, with its numerous twists and turns, the film never loses its grip on the audience, maintaining a sense of mystery and intrigue throughout. The characters are sharply drawn and memorable, with each one adding to the film's sense of danger and menace.

Overall, Brick is an engrossing and original take on the detective genre, combining classic noir elements with a modern-day setting and sensibility. With its intricate plot, strong performances, and stylish visuals, it remains a cult favorite to this day, and a must-see for fans of the genre.

Brick is a 2006 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 72.