thoughts on...brick

the above picture is not from the upcoming spin-off film, harry potter vs. frodo. it's from the recently released on DVD film, brick. brick is very difficult to tag in terms of the genre it falls under. part murder mystery, part film noir, part teen drama, part stylishly directed debut film....a film that's about drugs, but not at all about drugs. in fact, there isn't a single drug consumed or smoked in the entire film (not counting cigarettes and alcohol). and the cigarettes and alcohol are consumed in such a classy way you think you're watching an updated humphrey bogart film.

there are many unexpected aspects of this film, other than the absence substance abuse. the cliche characters - the seductive ex girlfriend, the boastful football player, and the nerd are all here. but they aren't fulfilling the roles you're used to...the seductive ex doesn't convince the main character to...get back with her, the football player doesn't win the fist fight, and the nerd does have glasses, but he doesn't talk through his nose. the teenage characters' dialog is very quick and at first listen esoteric, but repeated viewings uncover a stylized speech that is derived from the 1930's mixed with culturally relevant drug terms. seems strange, doesn't it? it is.

but what brick has going for it is that it is so stylized, and there are no aspects of the film, from acting to the score, that try and create a truly believable world. so what you're left with is time and location that are easy to grasp in your mind, yet you couldn't place them specifically. think napoleon dynamite - a place trapped in an earlier time, that seems completely current. it also has one of the most unique, yet strangely beautiful soundtracks i've heard in a film for a while. it is a perfect accompaniment.

lastly, it's got "claire" from LOST in it, playing a character named emily (her real name is emily de ravin). she basically does a lot of what she does in LOST....cries, sulks, that kinda stuff. but she does it WELL. i definitely recommend this film, and i honestly am still trying to figure out what i think everything means. i love those kinds of movies. 4 enthusiastic thumbs up!

watch trailer HERE
listen to soundtrack