BRICK

At the time BRICK first came out back in 2005, no capsule summary could really do it justice. I mean, something along the lines of: A hard-boiled film noir, set… in high school, starring… that kid from Third Rock from the Sun. It just sounds like a groan-worthy slice of teensploitation. Only it's not. Far from it, in fact. Turns out BRICK was one the freshest, cleverest movies to hit the arthouse circuit that summer, one of the buzz-worthiest debuts from a young director that was spurned on to cult success by enthusiastic word-of-mouth (I remember it practically playing until Christmas at one theater in Boston). Still, it seems that it hasn't quite reached the widespread audience and acclaim that it deserves. That makes me sad, but also excited by all the folks who will be seeing it for the first time. Here's the thing though: BRICK is a hard-boiled film noir set in high school and starring that kid from Third Rock from the Sun.

Only it's a nearly note-perfect execution of that concept, from its brilliantly conceived teenage underworld, to its unique set of slang, to its ragged, rumpled, and hurting Philip Marlowe-esque protagonist played expertly by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (that kid from Third Rock who, it turns out, excels in pretty much every role and at everything he does). Director Rian Johnson's sophomore effort THE BROTHERS BLOOM was also an entertaining outing, but BRICK remains a modern marvel of cleverly concepted and sharply executed indie filmmaking. It's totally worth a watch (or re-watch) on the big screen before getting your mind-melted by the efforts of a freshly reunited Johnson and JGL: The hotly anticipated time-travel thriller LOOPER.  (George Bragdon)