Brick, a high school film noir mystery, stars a very grown-up Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun) as Brendan, a loner who uses verbal and physical means to break through a local high school drug ring in a relentless search for his missing ex. Brendan uses his only companion, The Brain (Matt O’Leary) to aid him in his quest for the truth. Only after he gains the support of the drug loop’s leader, The Pin (Lukas Haas), can Brendan reveal certain truths about others and himself.

Brendan’s intelligence and knowledge of his enemies keeps him steps ahead of those in the way of getting the information he needs. From the high school jock to the substance-abusing meathead, Brendan knows just the right way to manipulate every character into telling his or her story.

The film gets off to a slow start thanks to frequent periods of silence as Brendan contemplates his next move. This technique, however, only enhances the intensity of the story itself, showing the calm before the storm. The artistic close-ups develop the grimy details of the emotion on the actors’ faces, particularly Brendan, who tries to show as little emotion — or weakness — as possible.

The movie’s eerie soundtrack amplifies the dramatic tone and keeps the viewer on the edge of his seat for the entire ride. As the story unfolds, characters reveal pieces of themselves a little at a time, which is both confusing and intriguing. The story’s sides are always changing and the motives continue to pile up throughout the film. In this complex mystery, you can’t trust anyone. Grade: A