Brick

Before KNIVES OUT… before LOOPER… before STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI… writer/director Rian Johnson made his debut with this deliciously clever nouveau noir - the best probably since 1974's CHINATOWN. Really.

After receiving a frantic phone call from his ex-girlfriend (LOST's Emilie de Ravin ), teenage loner Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) learns that her dead body has been found. This sets Brendan on a dogged journey through the dark underbelly of his high school to uncover the truth about her murder. Yes, BRICK takes the classic hardboiled film noir story and sets it down in most high-stake universe of all: High School

The result is pretty near perfect, from its brilliantly conceived teenage underworld to its unique slang lexicon, to its ragged, rumpled, and hurting Philip Marlowe-esque protagonist played expertly by JGL - who at the time was just on the cusp of his post "Third Rock from the Sun" career explosion.

BRICK is a modern marvel of cleverly conceived and sharply executed indie filmmaking. Do yourself a favor and get lost in its world awhile on the big screen.