Brick

R

Released Jan 21, 2005

1h 49m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

List

80%

143 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After receiving a frantic phone call from his ex-girlfriend, teenage loner Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) learns that her dead body has been found. Vowing to solve her murder himself, he must infiltrate high-school cliques that he previously avoided. His search for the truth places him before some of the school's roughest characters, leading to a confrontation with a drug dealer known as "the Pin (Lukas Haas)."

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Critics Consensus

This entertaining homage to noirs past has been slickly and compellingly updated to a contemporary high school setting.

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Alec C

In a seemingly normal high school, something foul is hiding beneath the surface! As a loner investigates the death of his girlfriend, he gets entangled with the many cliques and a powerful drug dealer in his pursuit of the truth. Dreary with a sense of comedy, this film is like Philip Marlowe in school shorts!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/25/23

Full Review

Jack V

Not gonna lie, I only watched the first 25 minutes or so before giving up. It's just so cringe. Who thought combining high school drama and noir was a good idea?? I just can't take these characters seriously.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

matthias s

"Brick" is a wickedly cool movie that blends high school drama with jaw-dropping film noir. Joseph Gordon-Levitt rocks as Brendan, a smart-as-a-whip student tackling a mysterious case involving his ex. The plot is a total mind-bender, keeping you guessing with jaw-dropping twists that'll make your head spin. And the cherry on top? The film's got killer style and dialogue that'll leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

g j

Film noir just doesn't work in a high school, at least it doesn't here. I didn't get the impression that it's inherent silliness was even intentional.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/23

Full Review

Les N

Someone's gotta explain that one to me.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/20/23

Full Review

Tim D

Not film noir. A kind of low end wannabe. As with some film noir, there are very confusing storylines, but the adaptation to a high school is borderline ridiculous. If I had the chance again I would watch an episode of Twin Peaks or Blue Velvet instead. Those are both well handled. This is not.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

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Rian Johnson

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Brendan Frye

Lukas Haas

The Pin

Nora Zehetner

Laura Dannon

Noah Fleiss

Tugger

Matt O'Leary

The Brain

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Brick: Official Clip - Stoner Sucker Punch

2:15

Brick: Official Clip - The Sexy Actress

1:37

Brick: Official Clip - The Truce Turns Violent

3:41

Brick: Official Clip - Meeting the Pin

3:01

Brick: Official Clip - Teenage Mob Boss

3:43

Brick: Official Clip - Nerd vs. Football Player

2:32

Brick: Official Clip - I Want to See the Pin

2:41

Brick: Official Clip - Shooting the Stoner

2:51

Brick: Official Clip - Laura Played Everybody

3:32

Brick: Official Clip - The Knife Chase

1:15

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Victoria Segal

New Statesman

Brick is quotable, clever and cryptic...

Sep 26, 2017

Full Review

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Rated: 5/5

May 13, 2009

Full Review

Sight & Sound

The teens in Rian Johnson's striking debut feature Brick express themselves in jargon that sounds as if lifted straight from the pages of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.

Sep 28, 2006

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

I'm not particularly into this genre and then putting it in a high school setting was a bit weird. But it was entertaining to watch because it's so nutty. It's a grounded, nutty film.

Rated: 2/5

May 28, 2023

Full Review

Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

This movie floored me when I first saw it and it still holds up despite some inconsistent performances and pacing. "Brick" made me a lifelong fan of Rian Johnson.

Rated: 4/5

May 28, 2023

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Brick is a brilliant, bravura and breathtakingly ingenious debut from writer-director Rian Johnson.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 13, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

After receiving a frantic phone call from his ex-girlfriend, teenage loner Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) learns that her dead body has been found. Vowing to solve her murder himself, he must infiltrate high-school cliques that he previously avoided. His search for the truth places him before some of the school's roughest characters, leading to a confrontation with a drug dealer known as "the Pin (Lukas Haas)."

Director: Rian Johnson
Producer: Norman Dreyfuss
Screenwriter: Rian Johnson
Production Co: Bergman Lustig Productions
Rating: R (Violent Content|Drug Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 49m

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