Brick was an awful movie

[ragnoir]

I just got done watching the movie Brick last night recommended by Dan. I have to say it was so bad, the whole film noir feel was cool but the highschool setting was just a bad idea.

It seemed like it should have been a parody but nobody realized it. I'll give you an example the characters are talking about the so called Kingpin and then one of the characters says hmm, could be that 26 year old that lives down the street.

Just awful, I wanted to see if anyone else saw this movie and what they felt. But I really wanted Dan to see this thread and hopefully respond.

I enjoyed the recommended movies so far because TRS is like hanging out with my friends are taste tend to run the same way. But this time it just seemed way way off.

So did anyone else see this movie? And what did you think about it?

[cucumberboy]

I was also disapointed, but probably not as much as you. I agree that the underlining concept didn't really work - it tripped over it's own feet with it's plot. It was complicated, and complicated is fine - but this was just messy. It felt very pretentious at times and the dialogue was really stupid in certain scenes.

Obviously, I sound extremely pessimistic about the film here but I didn't hate it - I just think it doesn't achieve greatness in any way...

[k4ng]

Ahh it hurts me inside to hear you guys say that you didn't enjoy Brick. Ever since I saw it, it's remained one of my favorite movies, fighting off other strong contenders for that coveted spot in my heart. haha

I really love the idea of setting a neo-noir in a high school. HS has been juvenilized, trivialized, and romanticized by adults (I really don't like John Hughes movies). For me, high school was rough... cannibalistic. I love taking the dark expressionistic sexual danger of film noir and applying it to kids. I might feel differently once I'm older, but for now it seems more real/appropriate than a sweet 16 year old white girl attaining self-affirmation.

I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Nora Zehetner showcased some great acting. The portrayal of different cliques were definitely overblown and dramatic but at the core of it there was a relatable truth. Elitist drama queens, the sports bro bragging to his devoted audience, smart geeky loner. The Pin being some big spook story and ending up being just a creepy 26 year old guy who lives in his mom's basement was SO great! haha I love it because it reminds me of these drug dealers in my town that deal to mostly kids that are... creepy 26 year olds that live in their moms' basements.

I've never had problems getting into the dialogue/writing but that might be because I haven't seen too many real film noir movies. I think there's some great lines in there like:

"Look, I can't trust you. You ought to be smart enough to know that. I didn't shake up the party to get your attention, and I'm not heeling you too hook you. Your connections could help me, but the bad baggage they bring could make it zero sum gain or even hurt me. Better coming at it clean."

"No, I gave you Jerr to see him eaten, not to see you fed"

[blacksymbiote]

It felt very pretentious at times and the dialogue was really stupid in certain scenes.

You nailed my thoughts with this one. Pretentious. All over the place. I didn't enjoy Brick one bit. In fact I can calmly state with 100% certainty that I hated this movie. Everything seemed obvious and I saw all the twists coming from a mile away. Nothing was complicated or surprising to me. Maybe in terms of the "twists" I lucked out on guessing what would happen, because some friend's of mine were clearly surprised when certain things occurred. Meanwhile, I was more shocked that they were shocked. I don't think the film noir/high school theme worked at all. Just made everyone look like an idiot.

Although I seem to be in a huge minority when it comes to this movie. My spirit has been lifted knowing I'm not totally alone. I'm sure the Brick lovefest will start pouring into this thread any second.

[esophagus]

Brick is excellent film.

[dexter]

I also though it was a pretty mediocre movie not good but not horrible. I just couldn't see why people liked it to much after watching it.

[melvinplug]

yeah, I've got to say I didn't enjoy it either. What others have said pretty much articulates how I feel about it. Sorry k4ng et al.

Although, I might give it another shot at some point. It's gotten a lot of praise, and it is also interesting how your viewing or opinion of something can change with context and time. I think things also deserve attention for trying something new or ambitious, even if they aren't completely successful.

[wakuseibaka]

Brick is one of my absolute favorite movies ever. I can't love it more.

[poltah]

Very good film.

The directing is so smart, it's pretty good writing and acting as well. I love this sort of genrebending stuff.

It's not the best movie ever if you ask me. But it's really good, and the budget it was made under makes it impressive.

[puddlefish]

I frickin' LOVED brick. Think it would make an excellent TV series as well.

[sugarsickness]

Brick is excellent film.

[wakuseibaka]

I frickin' LOVED brick. Think it would make an excellent TV series as well.

That just blew my mind, thinking of what a Brick tv series could be like. You'd have to have some pretty fantastic writers.

[esophagus]

I honestly don't think it would lend itself very well to TV.

[gabe_utsecks]

I didn't like it until I realized -- about a third of the way in -- how funny it is.

It works well on two levels: as a serious film-noir mystery that just happens to be set in a high-school (possibly due to budget constraints), and as a straight-faced, deadpan comedic mystery film. I don't even know if it was intended to be funny, but it is, and not because the film is bad or cheesy or over-the top. I can't even really describe it. It is legitimately funny, in an understated way.

I also love that it treats the audience as if they are intelligent, which is pretty uncommon and very refreshing.

Also, it improves with repeat viewings, which is rare for a mystery or any film (or narrative of any kind) that relies on a twist.

It IS pretentious, but it's many charms make it easy to forgive the flaws.


(I would love to see what a Brick TV show would be like, but it would probably be terrible.)

[stopikingonme]

That this thread even exists makes me sad in a way I have never felt before.

To me Brick, was the best interpretation of what high school FELT like. Yes it was High School Musical shot out of a cannon into the set of Double Indemnity and yes it was pretentious, but I, personally, can find charm in pretentiousness instead of offense. The choice to explore the gritty underbelly of high school thru the looking glass of film noir was such a delightful surprise that it definitely is a film that stands up to the test of time and multiple views.

http://www.doublevixen.com/dv_images/highschool/brick1.jpg

[dannyt]

Hey Ragnoir,

So, I LOVED Brick for many reasons:

Firstly, I'm a sucker for combining genres (very much a reason for my Joss Whedon adoration)-- and Brick is part noir gangster, part spaghetti western set in high school-- I'm in.

While I have a thing for movies that are natural and real, I also love the other end of the spectrum. Brick manages to be both, it's a natural noir- there is no studio lighting, it's all practical locations with natural motivated lighting-- but they happened to naturally motivate the lighting to the noir affectation-- brilliance.

The dialogue is incredible. I had to think about every word, ever sentence, I couldn't just let it breeze by me-- reminds me of one of my other all time faves Millers Crossing in this way and I love it-- each sentence is a profound poem.

The directing was incredible-- incredible ways of showing a scene. The cinematography was amazing as was the acting the sets...it's a great movie.

so that's how I felt about it...

d

[hyphycheese]

That just blew my mind, thinking of what a Brick tv series could be like. You'd have to have some pretty fantastic writers.

Veronica Mars?

[k4ng]

I feel like a Brick TV series would be Veronica Mars + Skins

[heyseuss]

Brick was a fantastic film.

[kyuss]

Brick is a great film.
Great on every level.

[halfwit]

Wow, full spectrum of views here. I didn't know anything about this movie so I looked up the trailer after reading this thread. It does look very indie, but I'm cool with that. I could see the pretentious aspect mentioned here but I suppose that's supposed to be in vain of the Noir. Even though some people said they didn't like it one bit, I think I'll check it out...away to Netflix!

[heyseuss]

Brick is a great film.
Great on every level.

Nice user name.