Brick (2006)

Location: Squirrel Hill Theater
Seen Before: No
Rating: 4.5

The performances in this film are really impressive, most notably the way the difficult, hard-boiled dialogue is expertly handled. Taking film noir and putting in a modern California high school would be no piece of cake, and first-timer Rian Johnson has done a fine job. The cinematography is perfect, but the pace of the story felt off to me. It felt very, very rushed--scenes often fly by and feel like they never had a chance to arc and develop. Even in the most convoluted of films noir--The Big Sleep, we're lookin' at you--the story and character gradually become warped and twisted. Here, the rocket is prematurely lit and off from the start. It's a fun ride, though, and recommended; I plan on taking it a second time.