Parents' Guide to

Brick

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Smart, stylized teen whodunit with violence and drugs.

Movie R 2006 110 minutes
Brick Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Dworkin
Dworkin Parent of 16-year-old
October 27, 2018
age 13+

Exceptionally well-made modern noir

I watched this with my 14 year old son. Honestly, if this film were made in the 1940's, we would probably be studying it in film classes. The performances are top-notch, the story is thoroughly engaging, and the violence, although realistic, is never gratuitous. The story centers around a murdered teen with Joseph Gordon Levitt determined to find out what led to her death. The protagonist is an obsessive loner. He's not a traditional hero because he's patterned on figures like Sam Spade and Mike Hammer. This is a first film from director Rian Johnson who's best known as the director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. For my money, Brick is a much better film.
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What's the Story?

High schooler Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) receives a mysterious call for help from his ex-girlfriend Emily (Emilie de Ravin), who turns up dead not long after. With the help of his classmate "The Brain" (Matt O'Leary), Brendan begins an investigation. He goes undercover to meet "The Pin" (Lukas Haas), a notorious drug dealer who may have had something to do with Emily's death. But suspicious characters keep turning up: The Pin's hired muscle, Tugger (Noah Fleiss), a haughty drama student (Meagan Good), a tough talking slacker (Noah Segan), and a femme fatale, Laura (Nora Zehetner). On top of it all, the vice principal (Richard Roundtree) is breathing down Brendan's neck. Can Brendan solve the mystery and make it out alive?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (3):

Rian Johnson made his writing and directing debut with this remarkably unique item -- an old-fashioned, stylized detective film transplanted intact to a modern high school setting. The dialogue in BRICK is the high point, mixing antique terminology and made-up slang with extreme conviction and coolness. The characters seem to have evolved to play certain kinds of roles in this enclosed universe; no two are alike, though each knows exactly what he or she wants.

Some viewers will no doubt be put off by the oddness of it all, and the stoic way the characters behave toward one another. But for the patient, a few very satisfying moments of tenderness provide entry points. Above all, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is onscreen almost all the time, gives an extraordinarily confident performance, channeling classic movie tough guys, but with his own personal touch: his floppy hair, glasses, and hands permanently clenched inside his jacket pockets tell volumes about him.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Does this high school seem more or less dangerous than a real high school?

  • What reasons would a high schooler have for trying drugs? What can adults say to teens to influence them away from drugs? Does this movie glamorize drugs or drug dealing at all?

  • What does the movie have to say about teen pregnancy?

Movie Details

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