Brick

Director: Ryan Johnson (also writer)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (the kid from 3rd rock from
     the sun)
     Nora Zehetner (girl at party in American Pie 2)
     Lucas Haas (saves the world in Mars Attacks!)
     Emilie de Ravin (the pregnant Aussie girl in Lost)
Production Budget: $0.5M

When his girlfriend (de Ravin) is murdered, Brendan (Gordon-Levitt) goes in search of the truth behind the killing. He does this the only way he knows how, by asking tough questions, and having the crap beaten out of him repeatedly. He slowly insinuates himself in with the local drug dealers, headed by the mysterious Pin (Haas), and the pieces start falling into place. This is set in and around a Southern California high school, but with Femme Fatales, coded messages, and language more reminiscent of The Maltese Falcon than the O.C., this is no lame-arse American Pie rip-off high school film.

The central mystery is intriguingly played out. Brendan doesn't give much away, only really speaking when he is asking questions of others. We don't even find out what the 'Brick' is until a good way into the film (and if you are wondering, it's not the shit-a kind). And unlike The Da Vinci Code, it does not pound you over the head with its 'revelations'. Instead, you have to actually pay attention in order to fully appreciate the plot machinations. And best of all, it makes you want to see it again (take that Ron Howard).

It all sounds a bit like kids acting out adult roles, but Johnson plays to this with the few adult interactions in the film. The Pin's mother is particularly hilarious - reminiscent of Marge Simpson and "Are you boys through playing war? Then here are some cupcakes".

Writer/director Ryan Johnson has done a brilliant job with this film. You never get the feeling that it was filmed on money raised from families and friends. It looks great, it's funny, occasionally shocking and so very cool. A death scene is particularly evocative. The cast is fantastic. The script is written in old-school noir stylings ( e.g. "Throw one at me if you want, hash head. I've got all five senses and I slept last night, that puts me six up on the lot of you."), and the actors speak the lines like they own them. Gordon-Levitt is particularly charismatic as the main man.

It's not for everyone, and that is why you should go and see it. Now!

$$$$1/2 (out of 5)