BRICK — *** — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Lukas Haas; rated R (violence, drugs, vulgarity, profanity, brief gore).
It's refreshing to see that "Brick" isn't nearly as precious and cutesy as the film's premise would suggest. After all, it is a noirish mystery-thriller set in a California high school.
But it's much smarter and more clever and creative than that makes it sound. And the movie does have an oddly appealing nastiness and snarkiness that almost makes UPN's conceptually similar television series, "Veronica Mars," seem cute and cuddly by comparison.
The film features another terrific lead performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who stars as Brendan, a teenage loner and would-be sleuth looking into the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, Emily (Emilie de Ravin).
Brendan's investigations have brought him unwelcome attention from the school's "upper crust," including a mystery woman named Laura (Nora Zehetner), who either wants to help or hinder him.
Eventually the trail leads Brendan to The Pin (Lukas Haas), a local drug lord operating out of his mother's home, and his lunk-headed henchman, Tugger (Noah Fleiss), who has serious anger-management issues.
In the wrong hands this material could have gone awry. But screenwriter/director Rian Johnson's first feature never takes the easy way out. And it's one of the few films that gives its audience credit for being smart.
Some of the film's hipster-speak may make it a little impenetrable, and it could probably use some tightening to make it even better.
But the performances are terrific. Along with this film and last year's "Mysterious Skin," Gordon-Levitt is turning into one of the more dependable young performers. And Zehetner (TV's "Everwood") is clearly having fun as the story's femme fatale.
The supporting cast is very good as well. Even de Ravin, one of the bigger irritants on TV's "Lost," is appealing here.
"Brick" is rated R for strong scenes of violence (fisticuffs, shootings and various beatings), strong drug content (heroin use and references), crude and sexually suggestive language (including profanity) and brief gore. Running time: 110 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com