Brick
A teen Bogart tracks down the murderer of his former girlfriend.
The mean streets don't get any meaner than the San Clemente, Calif., high school parking lots in Brick, said Duane Byrge in The Hollywood Reporter. That's where the Bogart-esque teen loner Brendan searches for the culprit responsible for his ex-girlfriend's death. Eventually, tips lead Brendan to a cape-wearing drug dealer called the Pin. The story's convolutions, in the style of The Maltese Falcon, are hard to follow, said David Denby in The New Yorker. And the characters lounging outside their school speak a 'œcryptic jive patter.' But if you don't get half of their babble, it hardly matters. The chatter may be a joke, yet 'œthe emotions are real—we're in high school, where friendships and loyalty, and who's tough and who's cool, count for everything.' Joseph Gordon-Levitt 'œjust may be the real thing,' said Leah Rozen in People. He's a quirky looking but talented kid star who has grown into a handsome, accomplished adult actor. His Brendan is impressive. But the most remarkable thing about the movie is that it succeeds in creating its own 'œunique, hermetic world.' It's not necessarily a world you'd want to inhabit, but it's 'œan intriguing one to visit.'
Rating: R
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published