Review of Brick (2006) by Joe M — 16 May 2010
Brilliant homage/send up of classic noir films set in a modern day high school. The students are all gangsters and druggies and whores, but have to be home in time for curfew. It could've been stupid, it could've been tonally off too much to take seriously, like Bugsy Malone. It wasn't. It hit the exact right notes throughout, every character playing their part with unflinching deadpan commitment. The half dozen times or so that the narrative "breaks character" and reminds us that we're dealing with high school kids are literally laugh-out-loud hilarious. The writing is super sharp, Shakespearian, filled with gangster jargon and slang that is only about 80% comprehensible, just like the Bard's writing. You know how when you watch a Shakespeare play or movie and you don't understand what a character just said until a beat after? And then you feel kinda proud of yourself for successfully translating? It's like that. And of course that makes you even more invested in the story.
Go see it, before I hire a hash head to blade you.
This review of Brick (2006) was written by Joe M on 16 May 2010.
Brick has generally received positive reviews.
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