Brick is a film noir set in our time with a young, talented cast of actors including Joseph Gordon Leavitt, fresh off the Gregg Araki's terrific Mysterious Skin.  This is a rare treat that deserved a wider release and larger audience. I sense a major cult appeal, its a twisted, fresh take on the film noir and teen film genre.

The dialogue is sometimes overdone in a hard-boiled stylized hipster speak and the plot can be difficult to follow, but its all for a rewarding cause. The acting is awesome, I especially liked Joseph Gordon Leavitt and Lucas Haas as the sinister "Pin".  Another standout was Nora Zehetener as Laura, a hot femme fatale (in the best sense of the word) who is helping Leavitt's character Brendan find out what happened to his girlfriend Emily.  She might be working different sides but you're never sure what her true motives are and if she can be trusted or not. 

A quirky side character named "The Brain" was another favorite of mine, he's basically Brendan's eyes and ears, a big glasses wearing genius with a knack for rubick's cubes and finding out what's really going on inside the shady world of the "upper crust". 

One of the best films of the year and highly recommended.

Grade: A-