Brick (10/10) Revisited

"Brick" may just be the smartest movie of all time. Not that it's all about science, math or whatever. However it's the meaningful and witty dialogue that makes it so wise. The way each character speaks and the hidden meaning in each phrase make it endlessly entertaining. "Brick" also is the perfect modern day adaption of a dying story. The genre known as film noir has not been heard from in decades. It's the classic idea of a unknown gritty underworld mystery. Imagine a detective trying to find a girl, but the truth is far more startling then what's on the surface. The detective is not a traditional hero either. Often a heavy drinker/smoker, sexist or just violate, our hero is not a glorious one. After "Kiss Me Deadly" blow up the genre (an interesting story if you want to look it up), film noir has rarely been seen since. "Sin City" and "Brick" brought it back to the modern world. "Sin City" would use a comic-book style to retell stories that are a tribute to the genre and bring it to new levels. "Brick" would take a modern setting and tell a classic story.

Brendan (a great Joseph Gorden-Levitt) is a high school outsider. He choose to live his life in the background, but his connections to the various social groups are near endless. His ex-girlfriend Emily (Emile de Ravin) leaves him a frantic message one day saying she's in trouble. Brendan looks into it and one day Emily disappears and nothing will stop Brendan from finding out the truth. He meets with drama club members, the high class and mysterious woman looking to help the hero (but what trouble will she bring), drug mules and a principal filling in for the chief of police. The film noir style is carried over masterfully to this high school by genius Rian Johnson, the director. This movie will suck you into the dark underworld as much as Brendan is. This is a movie to engage the mind as well as the emotion. The movie while violate at times, has no swears. Don't let that stop you from thinking there will be no verbal fights. There's some verbal hits here that will leave you breathless. "Brick" was the best mystery for 2005 and I'll argue for the entire decade. This is one not to miss.

10/10
Recommendation: A mesmerizing story that will entertain all. It's heavy on the strange yet brilliant dialogue, but it's all the more reason to love it.
Note: This is my 100th review!!!! What a great movie to do it for.