Rian Johnson, the director of Looper, and most recently STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, made his directorial debut with Brick, a neo-noir mystery starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Brick is a great film. Rian Johnson raised the close-to $500,000 budget himself from family members and close supporters, and shot in his hometown at his own old high school. THAT is independent.
It was pretty amazing. Went to the high school he shot the movie at. He used a lot of us as extras/PA's for the movie to save on budget, we did it all for free. It's pretty amazing to see Rian become the director he is today. When you say independent, this movie truly is. Can't stress how impressed I am.
Thats dope...5 million dollars were spent in After Last season...6 millions dollars were spent in The room...200 million for transformers movies....ugh
Ceroki I just finished watching it and really enjoyed it. It felt like cowboy bebop in some parts and it’s a cool take on a noir film. Also yeah it’s Rian’s first film so of course he’s not going to write a perfect movie but for what it’s worth, it’s a good movie.
LJK401 and while nerdwriter is good when it comes to film analysis his attempts at political analysis are so off that they make me loose faith in humanity
Brick is pretty damn dope. I watched it yesterday and I absolutely loved it! It was cool to hear that the director was inspired by Cowboy Bebop when he wrote this movie.
Independent channels like this bring me back to the old days of youtube. I feel like I'm getting in on the ground floor of someone that could be as large as the mentioned 'Nerdwriter'. Keep on keeping on, dude. Your content is sharp and well varied.
It's a double edge sword, I want his channel to get huge because he makes great content but the hipster side of me wants his channel to stay small so I can feel like I'm a cool person watching cool stuff that uncool people don't know about.
This movie was filmed at my high school and every time I walk around it feels like I’m in the movie, some things look different like the parking lot and some buildings have since been constructed but pretty much still the same setting. So weird to see it like this
Haven't heard of Nerdwriter1? Here are some other awesome similar channels you might not have heard of! Every Frame a Painting, Channel Criswell, Now You See It, Lessons from the Screenplay, Darren - MUST SEE FILMS, CinemaTyler, Dan Goulding - Video Essays, maybe even YourMovieSucksDOTorg and I Hate Everything. Enjoy binging!
This is true, and yes it bugs me too, but I still enjoy his stuff. There are other channels that cover movie topics in a less-overtly "mind-controlling" way, ranging all the way down to people just speaking informally off the cuff. My favorites are probably those modeled like Nerdwriter's, but presented in more of a matter of fact way. Nerdwriter is formulaic enough to put a bad taste in my mouth, but still interesting enough to watch and enjoy overall.
I love movies like Brick. It's that kind of audacity to take a bunch of seemingly incompatible creative ideas, throw them in a blender, turn style up to 11 and get this wonderful gem that just pumps you with energy and excitement for the art of filmmaking. Sure it might be rough around the edges, but that's almost part of its charm.
This was one of my favorite films from the couple film classes I took in college. This and "Kids" by Larry Clark were probably the 2 most unknown films we watched. Other ones such as "The Graduate" and "Some like it hot" are already pretty well known
Funny personal story about Brick: I used to watch the film adaptation of DooM with The Rock and Karl Urban religiously as a kid (The unrated version. Don't ask how I convinced my folks to buy it for me.), and there'd always be a confusing advert for a strange film before it. The words Brick, Tug, Pin, the slide whistle scene, all of that gets jammed in my impressionable head with all the cheese and B-Movie narm of DooM itself. Jump forward almost a full decade. I'm in a Film Appreciation class in college. Films have been meh-to-eh on a scale of interest. Then, guess just what film the professor puts on one day halfway through the semester? Now guess who got hit in the face with a 12-ton anvil of nostalgia, which only sweetened their thoughts on what is a pretty cool film in and of itself? Funny how that works.
I'm surprised to hear about Brick. I picked this movie up out of a dollar bin on a whim and absolutely loved it. Not a single person i've talked to has heard of this movie. Although, I did lend it out to someone and never got it back, so that kind of sucks. I had no idea it was anime-inspired, though. That's pretty neat. I might go back and watch the movie with that in mind.
Grew up on Dashiell Hammett and Chandler, lines like this had my attention from the jump. “What’s first? Tip the bulls?” “No, bulls would gum it. They'd flash their dusty standards at the wide-eyes and probably find some yegg to pin, probably even the right one. But they'd trample the real tracks and scare the real players back into their holes, and if we're doing this I want the whole story. No cops, not for a bit”
Nerd writer is a mediocre film lover with very average knowledge and click bait titles. Go watch Every Frame A Painting. The guy who knows things and everyone keeps copying him including Ned.
1 year later... It all makes sense! I feel like after seeing this, I can understand why Disney/Lucasfilm chose him for TLJ. Although I personally think their plan backfired TREMENDOUSLY, I can see where this film (and even Looper) served as calling cards for what he's capable of doing *Making a lot with a little (he doesn't need a big budget to tell a story) *He can do something DIFFERENT (Headfake narrative as illustrated in this video. Even Looper had its share of "subversive" elements). *He has the potential to create interesting characters amd scenarios for them. With that said, I still believe that TLJ was too much for him. His style plays great in his own sandbox, but that didn't translate well at all in terms of Star Wars--where the sandbox has 1) A MUCH bigger budget than he's used to 2) A far more established universe overall (he doesn't know how Space combat, or space travel works in SW) 3) Pre-established characters--particularly dealing with them at the most pivotal movement of a trilogy, at that (his work on Breaking Bad may be the exception...) And all of that to say... I'm a little less angry at him for damaging Star Wars. I won't see anything in that universe with his name on it again, but... I reserve the right to check out his own original stuff, especially if it's as good as Brick.
As far as I can tell, most people who think the Last Jedi was a generally bad movie usually try to give themselves as alibi by saying something about structural issues, irrelevant scenes and corny jokes .... but what they really hated about the movie is the political implications because they're too scared of getting into an actual debate -about the dark side of fandom culture - to admit that they simply didn't like the message of the film.
Finally got around to watching this after years of telling myself I was going to and it was great. I basically agree with everything said here. It wasn’t what I expected and that’s a wonderful thing. It knew what it was and played into it wonderfully.
Umm Joseph Gordon Levitt hit it big nearly all his career, never really super big, he hasn't really had his own franchise or been the lead character since Angels in the Outfield and 10 Things I Hate About You, but he's done some pretty notable stuff, he was on a network show for several years in between those movies and has directed, started his own production company, and more he's been doing pretty well since he was a kid
Brick is SO GOOD. I missed it in whatever theaters may have played it in the mid-naughts, but I bought it on DVD as soon as it was available and spent the rest of that year loaning it out to friends saying, “This is what brilliant writing is! This screenwriter is gonna do great things!”
I've been telling people that they should watch Brick ever since it first came out. The problem comes when they ask me what it's about, and I say "It's a neo-noir gangster/mystery film that's set in a high school". Then they give me a silent, blank stare. Then I say "Just trust me on this one". Then they change the subject.
Somehow I've never seen this video (even though I never miss an update from you). I love "Brick". Mostly, for how it portrays consequences. Notice how every wound (or even that awful cough) stays with the guy till the very end. It makes everything count. and creates the most vulnerable movie character I've ever seen.
You mention that it "looks like a student film" but I think maybe you should look again. Shot on 35mm film; proper control of highlights and shadows; effective use of camera placement & lensing to emphasize character perspective or the emotional content of the scene; lighting that is *always* flattering to the actors; very deliberate use of costumes, props and set dressing (nothing in the frame ever feels like it's there by accident). And rich, detailed sound design & foley work. If you compare this to the vast majority of low-budget or student films, it is really quite striking how *good* the production value actually is in this movie, and that's a big part of why it works. It's definitely a low-budget film, but they put their money in exactly the right places. I think Brick is the perfect example not of a scrappy, indie movie succeeding in spite of its rough edges, but just the opposite: how vitally important it is to achieve "smooth edges," even when the money is tight. Interestingly, though, because the film has high-school settings and characters, many people seem to talk about the movie as if it looks a lot cheaper than it actually does.
One of my favorite small films. It's hard to recommend, because it's one of those things that people will either ride with or say, "Why are they all talking like that?"
Heard a lot about this one but never actually seen it. I should check it out. And if you're into low budget hidden gems check out Primer. It looks like it was filmed on a Nokia flip phone but it's actually one of the most scientifically accurate time travel movies ever made. It's tight.
Wait, did you just say a young, up and coming Joseph gordon-levitt? Lol This is the funny thing about age. I'm only a few years older than you, but I grew up knowing who Joseph Gordon-Levitt was nearly my entire life. Dude has been famous for a very very long time. But he had a little gap in the early 2000s when he was transitioning from child star to adult star. That couple of years of difference in our age had you growing up too young to see his childhood stuff and then aging into only his adult stuff. He was big in the 90s.
I think (personally) that Rian Johnson is a decent writer, and the only reason why the last jedi was bad is that The Force Awakens was so predictable and generic that Rian literally had to subvert every single expectation just so it wouldn't feel like it that way.(Also, the fact that J.J. Abrams threw a bunch of fucking stupid "mystery boxes" that Rian literally had no idea how to solve)
Love Brick, and my own short/feature(?) film effort was definitely very much inspired by it. After I finished making my own film, I re-watched The Maltese Falcon, and I realised just how much Brick owes to that film. Doesn't hurt Brick, since the style is so different, but it was a good moment of realisation that I should watch more of the films that influenced the films I love.
Small budget, gross, and audience? Well, I thought Pi was really good. I'm biased though, since that film is basically the closest I'll ever get to a flick about number theory.
I've been saying it for years. This movie is a masterpiece. It truly resonated with me growing up, watching people I know in highschool start using drugs as an escape from boring suburbia.
Yeah, now that you mention it. I hate that this bluray doesn't have English subs. The dialogue is a little hard to follow at times. It's pretty loaded, and I think reading it would make it easier. Still love it.
I find it extremely silly that the best list of "hidden gems" that this video shows are films from Spielberg, Wes Anderson, Alfonso Cuaron, and more very very popular directors. It makes me think, what if wes anderson had given up filmmaking after "Bottle Rocket" didn't make it into Sundance? Truly no one would know about a movie that has an 85% on rotten tomatoes, a movie that is beloved by so many cult fans.There are so many movies underneath that small list shown at 1:33 that actually haven't been seen.
Oh fuck yeah, thank you for mentioning one of my favorite movies of all time. I show Brick, to literally everyone I can. Anyone who likes film noir anyway, or JGL, or just good movies in general
My video production teacher had us make a chase scene and used the one from this movie as an example of one done right. Not an important comment, but thought it might be mildly intetesting
I've watched Brick countless times. One of my favorite films. Helps that I had seen maybe 1 Noir film before this (and it'd been probably a good decade at that), so it didn't feel predictable, nor did the characters feel familiar. Great film. Still love it. And that's not just the nostalgia talking. Great little review. Thanks.
Hey man, i would appreciate it if you could summarise what really happened in the movie, who was involved in the killing of his girl friend. Im confused, would appreciate it if you could tell me. Thanks!
Another movie starring Jason Gordon Levitt that was hugely underrated was Manic (also starred Don Cheadle). It was a great film and a huge inspiration to me as an indie filmmaker
Holy shit, holy shit. This is my second favorite movie of all time. It's higher than a lot of arguably more deserving films because it's such an accomplished original reimagining. It was the discovery that made the dreary work of watching independent and limited releases worth it. The podcast Filmspotting would later be inspired to create an annual "Golden Brick" award for best film from a first time director. It's named after it's first awardee.
I have actually seen Brick before watching this. It came up on the TV one day and I didn't see the beginning, but it was pretty great, highly recommend.
This movie looks so good. Rian Johnson is such a talented director. I loved the last Jedi, and seeing you review this movie makes me really want to see it. So yeah, sign me up. EDIT 2021: Dude, BRICK is so good. I loved it a ton. It's clearly, as Austin put it, "rough around the edges," but there's so much to love about this film.
Assassination Of A High School President was a pretty good indie film, even with Bruce Willis being barely in it, as he just shows up, says mean and scary things and leaves.
I actually watched this in my Film Noir class last quarter. I thought it was a lot of fun, but it wasn't necessarily my favorite of the modern films we watched. It's one that is very memorable though because of the incongruity of the highschool setting and total noir tone.
Main charactet isnt perfect. There is a whole snitched subplot in the background. Alot of the scene are cut but the subplot is so ingrained, they mention it a few times, very briefly.
My cousin introduced me to brick when it came out and since then I have showed it to everyone I can. I loved it to the least. Another great relatively unknown movie is the secret lives of altar boys
Yo @austinmcconnell, I gotta ask... you see his other film that no one talks about? The Brothers Bloom? Personally, I think it's great, albeit REALLY spotty at times (thunderstorm orgasm), but the music is so beautiful, and is Nathan Johnson's best score.
Okay, where to start? I fell in love with Brick the day I stumbled upon it on Netflix. I just LAST NIGHT decided to revisit it, because I couldn't sleep and I thought it might help. More on that later. I've been watching a lot of your videos lately, and this popping into my recommended the day after I rewatch this movie is a great stroke of luck, or Google's usual shady tracking bullshit doing a good deed for once. Either way, I'm elated to find out you seem to like this film as much as I do, because I think it is vastly underappreciated. The dialogue has a flow to it that I find incredibly smooth, (hence the attempt to fall asleep to it) and it builds this world out of this average high school setting. The interactions between the characters imply much more depth than is ever explicitly stated, and makes the characters feel... well, like people. Sure, the whole thing is tinted by the noir lens it's shot through, but that's a big part of the charm. The stereotypes are all there, but they still feel like ordinary people while they're playing their parts. Anyway, this comment is getting way too long, I'm not here to write a novel. Austin, if you're reading this, it would really make my day if you actually made that follow up video about Brick. I like your videos, and I like this film, and it would really just be a treat for me to hear more of your thoughts on it, since this isn't something many people really know, and I don't have opportunities to talk about it. To anyone else reading this, if you haven't seen it yet, do so. As of this writing it's available on Netflix in the USA, and can be streamed online elsewhere for free. Watch it, and share it around, because it's honestly been slept on, and that's a shame.
Brick is a great film. Rian Johnson raised the close-to $500,000 budget himself from family members and close supporters, and shot in his hometown at his own old high school.
THAT is independent.
It was pretty amazing. Went to the high school he shot the movie at. He used a lot of us as extras/PA's for the movie to save on budget, we did it all for free. It's pretty amazing to see Rian become the director he is today. When you say independent, this movie truly is. Can't stress how impressed I am.
Thats dope...5 million dollars were spent in After Last season...6 millions dollars were spent in The room...200 million for transformers movies....ugh
Brett Lowers I’m gonna go to the high school it’s shot at. The way he’s able to capture the noire atmosphere in a small town by the sea is amazing
The movie is sheit. Rian even commented on how bad his writing is. I'm sure you enjoy the smell of your own farts just as much as he enjoys his.
Ceroki I just finished watching it and really enjoyed it. It felt like cowboy bebop in some parts and it’s a cool take on a noir film. Also yeah it’s Rian’s first film so of course he’s not going to write a perfect movie but for what it’s worth, it’s a good movie.
Good to see someone on youtube talking about movies who doesn't pretend to be a pretentious college teacher.
Tad Load yeah.
Tad Load is that a shot at a far left prick named nerdwriter?
The Typical Liberal More like a YMS shot, he comes across as that at times.
LJK401 YMS only loves a movie if it's a non mainstream ultra symbolic "3 deep 4 me" quote on quote "masterpeice"
LJK401 and while nerdwriter is good when it comes to film analysis his attempts at political analysis are so off that they make me loose faith in humanity
Brick is pretty damn dope. I watched it yesterday and I absolutely loved it! It was cool to hear that the director was inspired by Cowboy Bebop when he wrote this movie.
Venonous Villain well he's got me in, weebs help weebs
Independent channels like this bring me back to the old days of youtube. I feel like I'm getting in on the ground floor of someone that could be as large as the mentioned 'Nerdwriter'. Keep on keeping on, dude. Your content is sharp and well varied.
It's a double edge sword, I want his channel to get huge because he makes great content but the hipster side of me wants his channel to stay small so I can feel like I'm a cool person watching cool stuff that uncool people don't know about.
The Rian Johnson of TH-camrs, perhaps?
This movie was filmed at my high school and every time I walk around it feels like I’m in the movie, some things look different like the parking lot and some buildings have since been constructed but pretty much still the same setting. So weird to see it like this
OMG U GO TO SCHS TOO (ik this is 2 years ago so idk if u still go haha)
@@speepooo yeah i graduated
Hadn't heard of the Nerdwriter, thank you for including that plug!
Nerd City Really??
Haven't heard of Nerdwriter1? Here are some other awesome similar channels you might not have heard of!
Every Frame a Painting, Channel Criswell, Now You See It, Lessons from the Screenplay, Darren - MUST SEE FILMS, CinemaTyler, Dan Goulding - Video Essays, maybe even YourMovieSucksDOTorg and I Hate Everything. Enjoy binging!
Dont Forget about kaptainkristian dude's work is so good
True.
This is true, and yes it bugs me too, but I still enjoy his stuff. There are other channels that cover movie topics in a less-overtly "mind-controlling" way, ranging all the way down to people just speaking informally off the cuff. My favorites are probably those modeled like Nerdwriter's, but presented in more of a matter of fact way. Nerdwriter is formulaic enough to put a bad taste in my mouth, but still interesting enough to watch and enjoy overall.
Every time I see a new video by you my heart grows 3 sizes bigger, unclogging my arteries and making my heart pump easier. I am filled with energy.
COTD.
COTD, what does that stand for?
Clotting
Of
The
Dude's heart?
Maybe, but who knows. Knowledge is infinite, yet investment, is not.
-me
**comment of the day**
thelegend27 Days are nothing but an arbitrary unit of measurement, though, they are based off a non-arbitrary thing. Measurement truly is fascinating.
Meddling Kids comment of the week
I did NOT need to see Bernie Sander's nose that close up
you needed it closer
You are a hidden gem!
Literally the tightest writing and editing on youtube.
Nurpus Ahoy
I love movies like Brick. It's that kind of audacity to take a bunch of seemingly incompatible creative ideas, throw them in a blender, turn style up to 11 and get this wonderful gem that just pumps you with energy and excitement for the art of filmmaking. Sure it might be rough around the edges, but that's almost part of its charm.
This was one of my favorite films from the couple film classes I took in college. This and "Kids" by Larry Clark were probably the 2 most unknown films we watched. Other ones such as "The Graduate" and "Some like it hot" are already pretty well known
Hey guys he used my comment in his video. I am famous and rolling in money right now. See ya later geeks!
😔
...
Dude, Brick is one of my favorite movies
Never hear anyone talk about it even though it seems like it would be a big deal
Funny personal story about Brick: I used to watch the film adaptation of DooM with The Rock and Karl Urban religiously as a kid (The unrated version. Don't ask how I convinced my folks to buy it for me.), and there'd always be a confusing advert for a strange film before it. The words Brick, Tug, Pin, the slide whistle scene, all of that gets jammed in my impressionable head with all the cheese and B-Movie narm of DooM itself.
Jump forward almost a full decade. I'm in a Film Appreciation class in college. Films have been meh-to-eh on a scale of interest.
Then, guess just what film the professor puts on one day halfway through the semester? Now guess who got hit in the face with a 12-ton anvil of nostalgia, which only sweetened their thoughts on what is a pretty cool film in and of itself?
Funny how that works.
Great movie. The dialogue alone is compelling.
I'm surprised to hear about Brick. I picked this movie up out of a dollar bin on a whim and absolutely loved it. Not a single person i've talked to has heard of this movie. Although, I did lend it out to someone and never got it back, so that kind of sucks. I had no idea it was anime-inspired, though. That's pretty neat. I might go back and watch the movie with that in mind.
TableWrens I watched it with my dad almost a decade ago. It made an imprint on my young mind. Love the classic noir writing
@@wolfgangbuck841 Wow you're so cool you threatened to assault a guy because you didn't like a movie
@@h4724-q6j I always toss in a throat chop when someone disagrees with me on a movie... I was under the impression that's the norm.
Hi, im from Argentina... love your editing
Furfun juego del año 2017
Pensé que era el único argentino viendo estos vídeos 😊
I watched it when I was like 7 or 8 while it was on tv. I liked it but haven’t watched it in awhile I definitely will soon
Brick is a hidden gem most definitely
Grew up on Dashiell Hammett and Chandler, lines like this had my attention from the jump.
“What’s first? Tip the bulls?”
“No, bulls would gum it. They'd flash their dusty standards at the wide-eyes and probably find some yegg to pin, probably even the right one. But they'd trample the real tracks and scare the real players back into their holes, and if we're doing this I want the whole story. No cops, not for a bit”
I LOVED this movie when I saw it, and then was never able to find it again and wasn't sure of the name. Gotta rewatch this
Nerd writer is a mediocre film lover with very average knowledge and click bait titles. Go watch Every Frame A Painting. The guy who knows things and everyone keeps copying him including Ned.
I feel like Brick's insistence on uncomfortably literal noir trappings informed a *lot* Rian Johnson's direction in The Last Jedi.
1 year later...
It all makes sense! I feel like after seeing this, I can understand why Disney/Lucasfilm chose him for TLJ.
Although I personally think their plan backfired TREMENDOUSLY, I can see where this film (and even Looper) served as calling cards for what he's capable of doing
*Making a lot with a little (he doesn't need a big budget to tell a story)
*He can do something DIFFERENT
(Headfake narrative as illustrated in this video. Even Looper had its share of "subversive" elements).
*He has the potential to create interesting characters amd scenarios for them.
With that said, I still believe that TLJ was too much for him. His style plays great in his own sandbox, but that didn't translate well at all in terms of Star Wars--where the sandbox has
1) A MUCH bigger budget than he's used to
2) A far more established universe overall (he doesn't know how Space combat, or space travel works in SW)
3) Pre-established characters--particularly dealing with them at the most pivotal movement of a trilogy, at that (his work on Breaking Bad may be the exception...)
And all of that to say...
I'm a little less angry at him for damaging Star Wars. I won't see anything in that universe with his name on it again, but...
I reserve the right to check out his own original stuff, especially if it's as good as Brick.
So true, but Kathleen Kennedy also shares the blame for the last jedi.
As far as I can tell, most people who think the Last Jedi was a generally bad movie usually try to give themselves as alibi by saying something about structural issues, irrelevant scenes and corny jokes .... but what they really hated about the movie is the political implications because they're too scared of getting into an actual debate -about the dark side of fandom culture - to admit that they simply didn't like the message of the film.
@@johnjungkook2721 I personally found it boring. Wasn't the message just about failure?
@@johnjungkook2721 what message though?
Sam Serrao what was the message?
Brick is my fave film of all time. I was so excited when I heard Johnson was writing The Last Jedi because of this film and Looper.
Oscar Guerrero
I was too!
And then I saw most of Last pos Jedi.
Looper was terrible, and so was this.
Troodon
Looper killed Last pos Jedi.
In a way. Lol
Yeah I like his other works. Last Jedi was a dumpster fire on my childhood. Mandolorian saved it and gave us hope.
It’s my 2nd favorite next to Princess Mononoke
Finally got around to watching this after years of telling myself I was going to and it was great. I basically agree with everything said here. It wasn’t what I expected and that’s a wonderful thing. It knew what it was and played into it wonderfully.
Spit out my coke at the nerdwriter1 jab. Love the humour and presentation style. Hope you keep at it with the vid every 2 weeks output!
Legend has it that if you are early, Austin will respond.
I heard something similar.
austinmcconnell lol
Holy moly
Umm Joseph Gordon Levitt hit it big nearly all his career, never really super big, he hasn't really had his own franchise or been the lead character since Angels in the Outfield and 10 Things I Hate About You, but he's done some pretty notable stuff, he was on a network show for several years in between those movies and has directed, started his own production company, and more he's been doing pretty well since he was a kid
Brick is my favorite movie... I’m glad to see this get some love
God this was filmed at my old high school. I was really surprised to see it
One of my favourite films. Who else loves the Pin?
This was filmed at San Clemente High School
The chase scene is fucking art.
I've actually seen this movie. My brother loved it around the time it came out. huh.
Brick is SO GOOD. I missed it in whatever theaters may have played it in the mid-naughts, but I bought it on DVD as soon as it was available and spent the rest of that year loaning it out to friends saying, “This is what brilliant writing is! This screenwriter is gonna do great things!”
Brick is easily one of the best films ever made. Notice how I said FILM
nice review, might have to check it out
speaking of obscure underrated films have you seen benhur
Doctor Robotnik Morgan freeman was great in that movie 7/7
It's so hard to find Original Content like this anymore on youtube where you would wait in anticipation for weeks. Thanks Man :D
I freaking loved this movie.....
I've been telling people that they should watch Brick ever since it first came out. The problem comes when they ask me what it's about, and I say "It's a neo-noir gangster/mystery film that's set in a high school". Then they give me a silent, blank stare. Then I say "Just trust me on this one". Then they change the subject.
I just love nearly every Rian Johnson movie including SW: TLJ
Same! He's my favorite director right now.
Nice Try
Why ?
Because he shares a different opinion?
Somehow I've never seen this video (even though I never miss an update from you). I love "Brick".
Mostly, for how it portrays consequences. Notice how every wound (or even that awful cough) stays with the guy till the very end. It makes everything count. and creates the most vulnerable movie character I've ever seen.
Brick. Owns.
Discovered it by accident on Netflix one morning. Loved it!
You mention that it "looks like a student film" but I think maybe you should look again. Shot on 35mm film; proper control of highlights and shadows; effective use of camera placement & lensing to emphasize character perspective or the emotional content of the scene; lighting that is *always* flattering to the actors; very deliberate use of costumes, props and set dressing (nothing in the frame ever feels like it's there by accident). And rich, detailed sound design & foley work.
If you compare this to the vast majority of low-budget or student films, it is really quite striking how *good* the production value actually is in this movie, and that's a big part of why it works. It's definitely a low-budget film, but they put their money in exactly the right places.
I think Brick is the perfect example not of a scrappy, indie movie succeeding in spite of its rough edges, but just the opposite: how vitally important it is to achieve "smooth edges," even when the money is tight. Interestingly, though, because the film has high-school settings and characters, many people seem to talk about the movie as if it looks a lot cheaper than it actually does.
One of my favorite small films. It's hard to recommend, because it's one of those things that people will either ride with or say, "Why are they all talking like that?"
This is not available in my country well time to get the vpn out
Heard a lot about this one but never actually seen it. I should check it out. And if you're into low budget hidden gems check out Primer. It looks like it was filmed on a Nokia flip phone but it's actually one of the most scientifically accurate time travel movies ever made. It's tight.
The amount of production value and talent in your content makes me feel insecure about myself..
Wait, did you just say a young, up and coming Joseph gordon-levitt? Lol
This is the funny thing about age. I'm only a few years older than you, but I grew up knowing who Joseph Gordon-Levitt was nearly my entire life. Dude has been famous for a very very long time. But he had a little gap in the early 2000s when he was transitioning from child star to adult star.
That couple of years of difference in our age had you growing up too young to see his childhood stuff and then aging into only his adult stuff. He was big in the 90s.
I think (personally) that Rian Johnson is a decent writer, and the only reason why the last jedi was bad is that The Force Awakens was so predictable and generic that Rian literally had to subvert every single expectation just so it wouldn't feel like it that way.(Also, the fact that J.J. Abrams threw a bunch of fucking stupid "mystery boxes" that Rian literally had no idea how to solve)
Actually the problem is that Rian didn’t answer these questions
2:18
This guy is also the patient in "Welcome to the Black Parade". Seriously.
Thank you for talking about Brick- loved it.
"He's really old...like 24" (on The Pin)
Love Brick, and my own short/feature(?) film effort was definitely very much inspired by it. After I finished making my own film, I re-watched The Maltese Falcon, and I realised just how much Brick owes to that film. Doesn't hurt Brick, since the style is so different, but it was a good moment of realisation that I should watch more of the films that influenced the films I love.
Small budget, gross, and audience? Well, I thought Pi was really good. I'm biased though, since that film is basically the closest I'll ever get to a flick about number theory.
i get more excited when i see a new video in my subscription feed from this channel than i do on any others.
Thanks, man! Means a lot.
I remember seeing this whole movie on TH-cam back in 2011. What a fucking time that was. Definitely like mentioned diamond in the rough
You can purchase this movie used on DVD at my local 2nd and Charles for $2. Idk if those are a thing in Arkansas but #notsponsored
Donnie Darko went from colossal failure to being loved by many and making Madworld a popular song. Maybe this film follow suite.
One of my favourite movies
I've been saying it for years. This movie is a masterpiece. It truly resonated with me growing up, watching people I know in highschool start using drugs as an escape from boring suburbia.
Yeah, now that you mention it. I hate that this bluray doesn't have English subs. The dialogue is a little hard to follow at times. It's pretty loaded, and I think reading it would make it easier. Still love it.
Proof of concept my ass. I'm no filmmaker. This movie rocked! Could not stop watching
I find it extremely silly that the best list of "hidden gems" that this video shows are films from Spielberg, Wes Anderson, Alfonso Cuaron, and more very very popular directors. It makes me think, what if wes anderson had given up filmmaking after "Bottle Rocket" didn't make it into Sundance? Truly no one would know about a movie that has an 85% on rotten tomatoes, a movie that is beloved by so many cult fans.There are so many movies underneath that small list shown at 1:33 that actually haven't been seen.
Brick is my jam. Good pick man
Oh fuck yeah, thank you for mentioning one of my favorite movies of all time.
I show Brick, to literally everyone I can. Anyone who likes film noir anyway, or JGL, or just good movies in general
My video production teacher had us make a chase scene and used the one from this movie as an example of one done right. Not an important comment, but thought it might be mildly intetesting
I've watched Brick countless times. One of my favorite films. Helps that I had seen maybe 1 Noir film before this (and it'd been probably a good decade at that), so it didn't feel predictable, nor did the characters feel familiar. Great film. Still love it. And that's not just the nostalgia talking.
Great little review. Thanks.
When Bricks drop they splash. I don't need a phd in physics to tell you that. my mediocre high school course will have to do
Man I loved this movie!! I had this on a dvd that I bought by a corner store and I played it until I couldn't anymore!!
Hey man, i would appreciate it if you could summarise what really happened in the movie, who was involved in the killing of his girl friend. Im confused, would appreciate it if you could tell me. Thanks!
I hate Garden State.
"If cancer were pretentious, it'd be 'Garden State'" -Mr. Plinkett
Silvermania everyone does
I hated Brick. I'm surprised everyone in the comments seems to love it. The dialogue was so cringey.
It's a noir. That's what the dialogue generally looks like in noir
+Brendan The fact that it's supposed to be that way doesn't make it any better. Bad on purpose is still bad.
Ive had the dvd of Brick for years now, seen it several times... definitely an underrated movie
Better than my first Shortfilm can somebody check it out and give me some feedback thanks
Another movie starring Jason Gordon Levitt that was hugely underrated was Manic (also starred Don Cheadle). It was a great film and a huge inspiration to me as an indie filmmaker
I love him in Mysterious Skin where he plays a gay prostitute. super great preformance
*joseph not Jason
Holy shit, holy shit.
This is my second favorite movie of all time. It's higher than a lot of arguably more deserving films because it's such an accomplished original reimagining. It was the discovery that made the dreary work of watching independent and limited releases worth it.
The podcast Filmspotting would later be inspired to create an annual "Golden Brick" award for best film from a first time director. It's named after it's first awardee.
I have actually seen Brick before watching this. It came up on the TV one day and I didn't see the beginning, but it was pretty great, highly recommend.
Yeah, it's a good movie. It was played a lot on late night tv when I growing up here in the UK. I'be seen it like 3 times.
This movie looks so good. Rian Johnson is such a talented director. I loved the last Jedi, and seeing you review this movie makes me really want to see it. So yeah, sign me up.
EDIT 2021: Dude, BRICK is so good. I loved it a ton. It's clearly, as Austin put it, "rough around the edges," but there's so much to love about this film.
Glad to hear someone else besides me loved the last jedi! Rian Johnson is misunderstood and underrated by some star wars crybabies.
i saw this movie way back in the day but i can't remember where.. maybe in school.
Great movie. Am glad to see that I'm not the only one who thought so.
Brick is one of my favorite films.
THAT SHIT WAS FILMED AT MY FUCKING SCHOOL I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDNT NOTICE TIL NOW
Brick was good. But come on... primer?
One of my favorite movies it’s weird with the love fest happening it’s not more talked about.
Assassination Of A High School President was a pretty good indie film, even with Bruce Willis being barely in it, as he just shows up, says mean and scary things and leaves.
This film was shot in my high school lmao
I actually watched this in my Film Noir class last quarter. I thought it was a lot of fun, but it wasn't necessarily my favorite of the modern films we watched. It's one that is very memorable though because of the incongruity of the highschool setting and total noir tone.
I fucking loved this movie
Main charactet isnt perfect. There is a whole snitched subplot in the background. Alot of the scene are cut but the subplot is so ingrained, they mention it a few times, very briefly.
we watched this in high school media studies class, absolutely loved it! had the dvd once upon a time too.
SO underrated
My cousin introduced me to brick when it came out and since then I have showed it to everyone I can. I loved it to the least. Another great relatively unknown movie is the secret lives of altar boys
Important to remember that brick pre-existed the show community, which did this on a weekly basis.
Still probably my favorite Rian Johnson film, ever since I saw it in theaters.
Yo @austinmcconnell, I gotta ask... you see his other film that no one talks about? The Brothers Bloom? Personally, I think it's great, albeit REALLY spotty at times (thunderstorm orgasm), but the music is so beautiful, and is Nathan Johnson's best score.
Okay, where to start? I fell in love with Brick the day I stumbled upon it on Netflix. I just LAST NIGHT decided to revisit it, because I couldn't sleep and I thought it might help. More on that later. I've been watching a lot of your videos lately, and this popping into my recommended the day after I rewatch this movie is a great stroke of luck, or Google's usual shady tracking bullshit doing a good deed for once. Either way, I'm elated to find out you seem to like this film as much as I do, because I think it is vastly underappreciated. The dialogue has a flow to it that I find incredibly smooth, (hence the attempt to fall asleep to it) and it builds this world out of this average high school setting. The interactions between the characters imply much more depth than is ever explicitly stated, and makes the characters feel... well, like people. Sure, the whole thing is tinted by the noir lens it's shot through, but that's a big part of the charm. The stereotypes are all there, but they still feel like ordinary people while they're playing their parts.
Anyway, this comment is getting way too long, I'm not here to write a novel. Austin, if you're reading this, it would really make my day if you actually made that follow up video about Brick. I like your videos, and I like this film, and it would really just be a treat for me to hear more of your thoughts on it, since this isn't something many people really know, and I don't have opportunities to talk about it.
To anyone else reading this, if you haven't seen it yet, do so. As of this writing it's available on Netflix in the USA, and can be streamed online elsewhere for free. Watch it, and share it around, because it's honestly been slept on, and that's a shame.
This movie introduced me to him a few years ago, and I love it, along with Looper
Underrated films are 10-5k views at most on Letterboxd I would say
I watched this movie back in my high schools film class and its still to this day one of my favourites. Its one of only a handful of movies rewatch.
Sounds like a decent movie. I'll check it out.