I'm a sucker for a high concept mystery thriller. Brick has all the elements: a confounding premise, layers of meaning within its plot, and a cast of diverse characters. I like figuring out these puzzles and enjoying the ride to get there. Brick ends up getting to an ending I appreciated, but a lot in the middle feels filler. Often these sorts of films work really well through most but end up not sticking the landing. For me Brick was the opposite, strong set up and finish but middling middle.
A lot of what does work is the chemistry between stars Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee (a real life couple). The levels I am referring to are the ways the story conflates a couple being stuck together with the premise of being physically stuck in their apartment. These two pull this off. Unfortunately most of the rest of the cast do not and leave much of the journey-to-freedom feeling like going through the motions.
Also these sorts of thrillers need to pull off the gimmick. Generally I liked where it went but there was some (again in the middle... although closer to the end) where the "technology" bits felt a little too fantastic. I would have appreciated a but more of a grounded tech that they hacked on their way to freedom. Still, the thing that saved it from being entirely a write off was how Brick actually presents an interesting explanation in the end and answers just enough without over explaining, leaving some mystery in our minds as the credits roll.
So Brick may not be a great fun film but it is also not so bad. As a fan of Schweighöfer, who has a tremendous screen presence, I was enjoying myself through most of it even when its plot got a little off the rails.
Brick
Starring: Matthias Schweighöfer. Ruby O. Fee, Frederick Lau, Salber Lee Williams, Sira-Anna Faal
Writer/Director: Philip Koch
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