Set during the 2020 pandemic, a tech billionaire invites his closest friends to his island for a getaway weekend to solve his own murder mystery with the renowned detective Benoit Blanc being a surprise guest where he realizes something is wrong. It is a film that explore the world of the rich in which five people who are either famous or are influential go to this Greek island to meet their friend to celebrate the launch of a new formula yet things don’t go well where everyone has a motive. Rian Johnson’s screenplay has an offbeat structure though much of its narrative is straightforward as it involves these five people who are all close friends with this tech billionaire in Miles Bron (Edward Norton) as they’ve all become successful because of him. Among those he invites are his head scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), the governor of Connecticut in Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), controversial fashion designer Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), and men’s right influencer Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) while Jay brings her longtime assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick) and Cody brings his girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline).
Another invitation was sent to Bron’s former business partner in Alpha co-founder Cassandra “Andi” Brand (Janelle Monae) who reluctantly goes while an additional invitation was sent to Blanc where Bron has no clue who sent that invitation. The weekend getaway isn’t just a reunion between old friends who all met at a bar they used to hang out but also to announce the launch of a new alternative fuel that Bron wants to present to the world much to the concerns of both Toussaint and Debella believing that this fuel is dangerous. Johnson’s script doesn’t just play into this event where Bron is expected to be murdered only for the night to not go as planned. It’s also in the characters as Debella’s governor campaign was funded by Bron as she reluctantly allows him to create a factory for his new fuel while Toussaint is also someone who raises concerns about the fuel yet is forced to cover up for him to save his reputation. Jay is a politically-incorrect former model-turned-designer who is in trouble as she is being blackmailed to make a statement to save Bron while Cody is dealing with declining interest as he wants to be part of Bron’s new media outlet.
Then there’s Andi as she was the one introduced Bron to everyone and was the smartest person around until Bron became powerful and she was forced out of the company they created with Cody, Debella, Jay, and Toussaint testifying on his behalf to get Andi out. The script also play into this island that these people are in, that also has another guest in a slacker named Derol (Noah Segan) who just lazes around and doesn’t do anything, as it’s run by this alternative fuel that Bron believes will create good yet when a key character dies. Everything becomes questionable but also raises a lot of questions about why Bron wanted to be the victim in a play-murder mystery where nearly everyone on this island has a motive in wanting to kill him. Yet, it is Blanc that is trying to figure things out but there is questions into how he got an invitation that is revealed in the second half as it plays into more intrigue while raising the stakes into the suspense and drama itself.
Johnson’s direction is definitely stylish not just for its playful sense of intrigue but also setting it almost entirely in this Greek island as it is shot on location in the island of Septses in Greece with some interior scenes set in New York City shot on location in Belgrade. Yet, the film opens with Cody, Debella, Jay, and Toussaint each receiving a big box as they call each other that is revealed to be a mysterious series of mini-games that ultimately unveils this invitation. It then cuts to a scene of Andi in a garage with the box herself as she just smashes it with a hammer while Blanc’s first scene is him in a bathtub playing a game with some celebrities on his laptop is the moment he gets the mysterious invite. While a lot of Johnson’s compositions are straightforward with its approach to wide and medium shots to establish the locations but also in scenes that are showed from one perspective and then be shown in another perspective from another character that wasn’t shown onscreen.
Johnson also maintains attention to detail when it comes to close-ups or shots that was shown previously in a scene be shown again where it is all about the small details. Notably in some of the dialogue with Blanc being someone who is a lot smarter than people realize yet has his limits in serving justice since he’s out of his jurisdiction to do something because he’s in another country. Bron’s house itself is a character in the film where the centerpiece of it is the model of a large glass onion on top of the house while the dining room features the actual painting of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Mona Lisa that Bron had purchased from the Lourve. The house does play into this metaphor of the glass onion where there are many layers but the center of it is where the truth is held as it leads to this climax. Even as the many characters in the film are all guilty of something with some coming clean yet others are unwilling to come clean in order to save themselves as it play into people of wealth as they’re more concerned with maintaining their reputations and power instead of doing the right thing. Overall, Johnson crafts a rapturous and evocative film about a detective who is invited to an island for a murder mystery game only for things to go wrong with everyone being a suspect.
Cinematographer Steve Yedlin does amazing work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of colorful and natural lighting for many of the daytime exterior scenes along with some stylish lighting for the interior/exterior scenes at night. Editor Bob Ducsay does brilliant work with the editing with its emphasis on rhythmic cutting to play into the suspense as well as a few montages for some of the film’s humorous moments. Production designer Rick Heinrichs, with set decorator Elli Griff and supervising art director Andrew Bennett, does excellent work with the look of Bron’s lavish home including his glass onion office room with all of its gadgets and other aspects of the home itself. Costume designer Jenny Eagan does fantastic work with the costumes from the stylish look of Byrd and Andi as well as the more casual look of the other characters.
Hair/makeup designer Jeremy Woodhead does terrific work with the look of the characters in a flashback scene of how they met in the late 90s/early 2000s and they would look in the present. Special effects supervisor Paul Stephenson, along with visual effects supervisors Fabricio de Vasconcellos Baessa Antonio, Geoffrey Basquin, Sameer Malik, David Sadler-Coppard, Boyd Shermis, and Erik Winquist, does nice work with some of the visual effects relating to this hydrogen-based fuel substance as well as some elements of set dressing for some of the scenes in Greece. Sound designer Josh Gold and co-supervising sound editor Matthew Wood do superb work with the sound in the way a strange hourly dong sound appears as well as other elements of sound of how things sound from afar in a particular scene and how it would sound up close.
The film’s music by Nathan Johnson is incredible for its luscious music score that is filled with Eastern European-inspired orchestral arrangements with its strings, harpsichords, and bombastic percussions as it adds to the suspense and drama as it is a highlight of the film while music supervisor Julie Glaze Houlihan creates a soundtrack that features a couple of songs by David Bowie plus the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nat King Cole, Toots and the Maytals, and in the film’s closing credits is the where the film’s title comes from in a song by the Beatles.
The casting by Bret Howe and Mary Vernieu is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles from Dallas Roberts as Debella’s husband, Jackie Hoffman as Cody’s mother, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the voice of Miles’ clock in the hourly dong, and Noah Segan as a slacker living in Miles’ home who doesn’t really do anything other than be a comic relief. Madelyn Cline is fantastic as Cody’s girlfriend Whiskey who seduces Miles for her own reasons while dealing with the chaos that is happening as she ponders about her time with Cody. Jessica Henwick is terrific as Jay’s assistant Peg who often has to clean her boss’s messes while also wondering the decisions that Jay often makes as she is sort of a conscious in the film. Dave Bautista is excellent as Duke Cody as a video-game Twitch streamer/men’s rights activist who is dealing with declining interest as he hopes to be part of Bron’s new media outlet but also carries some guilt as it relates to Andi. Kate Hudson is brilliant as Birdie Jay as a former-model-turned fashion designer who often says stupid and politically-incorrect things unaware of their meanings as she is dealing with her own scandals where she is being blackmailed by Bron knowing it will ruin her.
Kathryn Hahn is amazing as Governor Claire Debella of Connecticut who worries about Bron’s new idea knowing it will cause trouble but is forced to give in so that she can save her political career. Leslie Odom Jr. is superb as Lionel Toussaint as Bron’s head scientist who is aware of the dangers of this new creation that Bron is trying to push yet has to sit back and be quiet due to the fact that he also has a reputation to protect. Edward Norton is incredible as Miles Bron as a billionaire/tech mogul who has invited his friends to his island as he hopes to offer them a glimpse into the future into a new hydrogen-based alternative fuel believing it will help the world unaware of its dangers while is also arrogant in his beliefs and ideals that makes him a major target towards his old friends.
Janelle Monae is phenomenal as Cassandra “Andi” Brand as Bron’s former business partner who gets a reputation as she is often seen from afar and is quiet until when she decides to speak while Monae brings a lot of layers into her performance that is full of humor but also some depth into a woman who felt cheated as well as wanting some idea of justice. Finally, there’s Daniel Craig in a sensational performance as Benoit Blanc as the renowned detective who gets a mysterious invitation to Bron’s island while trying to uncover everything that is going on as he also has a lot of questions about everyone around him where Craig brings some humor as well as a lot of wit into his character that makes Craig a joy to watch while the scenes he has with Monae are also a joy in the way they help each other.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a spectacular film from Rian Johnson that is headed by great performances from Daniel Craig and Janelle Monae. Along with its ensemble cast, gorgeous locations, its approach to suspense and drama, and an exhilaratingly rich music score by Nathan Johnson. It is a film that isn’t just full of excitement and thrills but also a film that explores a group of people on an island dealing with a murder mystery and much more with a detective trying to solve it and uncover some dark truths. In the end, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a tremendous film from Rian Johnson.
Rian Johnson Films: Brick - The Brothers Bloom - Looper - Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi - Knives Out - (Knives Out 3)
© thevoid99 2023
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Knives Out is a whodunit that revolves around the death of a patriarch during a tumultuous family gathering as a detective tries to solve the case of this murder. The film is a suspense-drama that explores the murder of a man on his birthday with a detective questioning the motives of the man’s family as well as people close to him at this party leading all sorts of secrets and such in the family. Starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, Jaeden Martell, Katherine Langford, Lakeith Stanfield, Edi Patterson, Noah Segan, K Callan, and Christopher Plummer. Knives Out is an exhilarating and whimsical film from Rian Johnson.
A birthday party for a celebrated crime novelist happens as he is found dead the next morning where investigators and a revered detective try to solve the case with the man’s caretaker being a prime suspect. It’s a film that is essentially a simple whodunit where a family deals with the death of the patriarch but also become concerned about their future as family members become suspects due to their issues with the patriarch. Rian Johnson's screenplay mainly takes place days after the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) as his family including his caretaker Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) is met with investigators about what happened on his birthday. Thrombey’s two adult kids in the real estate mogul Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Walter who runs his father’s publishing company as well as Linda’s husband Richard Drysdale (Don Johnson) and daughter-in-law Joni (Toni Collette) each talked about what they discussed with Harlan with the investigators lead by the private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) who is wondering who hired him believing that Harlan’s death was no accident.
Marta is a suspect as she was the last person to supposedly with Harlan that night as she also has a condition where if she lies, she will vomit as she assists Blanc though some believe that she did it. Adding to this toxic case of suspicion includes the presence of Linda and Richard’s son Ransom (Chris Evans) who is considered the black sheep of the family as he likes to stir up trouble. Even as it is clear that the family that also include Joni’s daughter Megan (Katherine Langford) and Walter’s son Jacob (Jaeden Martell) who is always seen on his phone and spouting alt-right views are full of trouble and might have motives as it pertains to Harlan’s will. Blanc believes there is a lot more that is going on while he also wonders who hired him anonymously with Marta gaining the ire of some of the people in Harlan’s family with a few exceptions including Ransom.
Johnson’s direction is largely straightforward in terms of its compositions but also has a flair for style in the way it presents certain scenes from different perspectives. Shot on various locations in and around areas in Boston, Massachusetts, the film uses the locations as characters with Harlan’s home being its main setting as it’s a home filled with antiques, animal heads, and all sorts of things that play into his many accomplishments. Johnson would use wide shots for some of the locations as well as capture the atmosphere of the birthday party to showcase how many people are there or in a high-angle camera shot. Yet, much of his direction is emphasized on close-ups and medium shots as it play into conversations between characters or tiny details that can relate to a clue in the investigation. Notably on floors, walkways, and other things in and out of the house that might lead to some kind of clue including vials in Marta’s medical bag as she knows the kind of medication Harlan needed as it is routine for her.
Johnson’s direction also play into some offbeat humor as it relates to the investigative tactics of Blanc as he is an intriguing figure who is good at what he does but is also good at reading people. He knows that not everything with Marta holds up but doesn’t see her as someone who has the motivations nor the heart to kill Harlan. Johnson’s direction does play into the idea of drama and suspense in its third act that include Blanc dealing with some of the intricacies of the mystery while Ransom becomes an integral part in the third act. Notably as into why he’s been the black sheep of the family as someone who never interacted nor did anything with the family preferring to live a playboy lifestyle. The mystery of Harlan’s death would come to ahead but also more revelations into who hired Blanc and why as it adds a lot more with some questions about what Harlan ultimately wanted for his family. Overall, Johnson crafts a witty yet riveting film about a whodunit on the death of a crime novelist.
Cinematographer Steve Yedlin does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as it does have elements of low-key lighting some scenes at night while emphasizing more on a straightforward look for many of its exterior scenes. Editor Bob Ducsay does brilliant work with the editing as it has bits of slow-motion cut along with rhythmic cuts to play into the suspense and comedy. Production designer David Crank, with set decorator David Schlesinger and art director Jeremy Woodward, is amazing for the look as it play into the look of the house including a circular decoration of knives in Harlan’s study as well as the office and his room as the house is a major highlight of the film. Costume designer Jenny Eagan does fantastic work with the costumes from some of the stylish clothes that Joni and Linda wear as well as the clothes of the other characters with the more humbled look of Marta.
Visual effects supervisor Tim Keene does terrific work with the visual effects as it is mainly set dressing for a few scenes including one involving arson. Sound designer Al Nelson does superb work with the sound as it help play into the atmosphere as well as sounds that add intrigue into the night of Harlan’s death as well as sounds that add to the family chaos. The film’s music by Nathan Johnson is incredible for its orchestral score that help play into the suspense and drama as it is a highlight of the film while its soundtrack feature music from the Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, and other forms of music from pop to standards.
The casting by Mary Vernieu is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Frank Oz as Harlan’s lawyer, M. Emmet Walsh as a security officer at Harlan’s home, Marlene Forte as Marta’s mother, Shyrela Rodriguez as Marta’s sister Alicia, K Callan as Harlan’s elderly mother Wanetta who might’ve seen what really happened, Riki Lindholme as Walter’s wife Donna, Noah Segan as Trooper Wagner who aids in the investigation as he is also a fan of Harlan’s work, Edi Patterson as the family maid Fran who intensely dislikes Ransom as she was the one who discovered Harlan’s body, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a voice cameo as a detective in a TV show Alicia watches. Jaeden Martell is terrific as Walter and Donna’s son Jacob who spends much of his time on his phone while often says offensive that leans more towards extreme-conservative ideals. Katherine Langford is fantastic as Megan Thrombey as a college student who is always kind to Marta as she becomes concerned with the aftermath of the will while reluctantly takes part in the family schemes.
Lakeith Stansfield is superb as Detective Lieutenant Elliot as a local detective who takes part in the investigation as he is also someone who has some insight into what is really going on. Toni Collette is excellent as Joni Thrombey as Harlan’s daughter-in-law who is an influencer and guru who is a suspect due to failing business ventures as she is also someone who believes in a more healthy lifestyle. Don Johnson is brilliant as Harlan’s son-in-law Richard Drysdale as Linda’s husband who helps run his wife’s company as he becomes upset with Harlan over a discovery relating to Richard. Michael Shannon is amazing as Walter Thrombey as Harlan’s youngest son who runs his father’s publishing company as he walks with a cane due to an injured foot while having issues with his father over his plans that conflict with Walter’s ideas for his dad’s novels. Jamie Lee Curtis is incredible as Harlan’s eldest daughter in Linda who is suspicious about what happened to her father while becomes troubled by some of the revelations relating to her father’s will.
Christopher Plummer is marvelous as Harlan Thrombey as a crime novelist who is at the center of the story as a man who cares deeply for Marta but also has concerns about his family where he makes some decisions that would upset them while his own death remains a mystery. Chris Evans is remarkable as Ransom Thrombey as Linda and Richard’s son who is the black sheep of the family that likes to cause trouble as he was first seen walking out of his grandfather’s office angrily where he reveals to have issues with his family about their possible inheritance as it’s a darkly comical performance from Evans who gets to steal the show at times. Daniel Craig is phenomenal as Benoit Blanc as a Southern private investigator who is hired by someone he has no clue about as he is trying to figure out what is going on as well as lead the investigation where he is aware that something is off where Craig is funny but also someone who is smart and is aware of his own flaws. Finally, there’s Ana de Armas in a tremendous performance as Marta Cabrera as Harlan’s caretaker who is a kind-hearted woman that helps Harlan in a lot of ways while is becoming a suspect over what happened to him as she also gets into greater trouble as it relates to Harlan’s wishes where de Armas is a revelation in displaying a woman’s innocence as well as her inability to lie without puking.
Knives Out is a spectacular film from Rian Johnson that features great performances from Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Christopher Plummer, and Daniel Craig. Along with its ensemble cast, suspenseful screenplay, evocative setting, and Nathan Johnson’s sumptuous score. It’s a whodunit that manages to have a lot of twists and turns while being filled with interesting characters and situations that are engaging and full of delight. In the end, Knives Out is a sensational film from Rian Johnson.
Rian Johnson Films: Brick - The Brothers Bloom - Looper - Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)
© thevoid99 2019
Written for the screen and directed by Rian Johnson that is based on characters created by George Lucas, The Last Jedi (Star Wars: Episode VIII) is the story of a continuing conflict between the First Order and the Resistance as a young woman finds Luke Skywalker in the hopes he can help out the Resistance while being trained in the art of the Force. The second part of a trilogy that explore the chaos of war, the film is also an exploration into the evolution of the Force in which Skywalker discovers a power that drove him away many years ago as he is played by Mark Hamill. Also starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Daniels, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, Joonas Suotamo, Jimmy Vee, and Carrie Fisher in her final performance as General Leia Organa. The Last Jedi is a visceral yet rapturous film from Rian Johnson.
Picking up where the previous film left off, the film revolves around a resistance who find themselves trying to evacuate their base to find a new one as they’re forced to confront the First Order who have been tracking them. With Resistance forces dwindling and little options left, the Resistance led by General Leia Organa is on a cruiser that is damaged and running low on fuel. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is trying to get Luke Skywalker back on board as he is reluctant to help the Resistance as he’s still coping with his own faults believing he failed his apprentice Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Rian Johnson’s screenplay, with contributions from Carrie Fisher, is filled with a lot of complexities as well as a lot of narrative arcs that relate to the Resistance struggling to survive as their fleet is in tatters. Rey's character arc with Luke that include Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and R2-D2 (Jimmy Vee) has her trying to find her place as well as get Luke to train her where he realizes the power that she has. Yet, Rey would find herself communicating with Ren through the Force which lead to some trouble and revelations about why he betrayed Luke.
Another narrative arc involves a leadership struggle in the Resistance following an attack on a large First Order ship where Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) has to deal with the Resistance’s deputy leader Vice Admiral Amilyn Hodo (Laura Dern) who is trying to decide what to do next knowing that the First Order can still track the Resistance through light-speed. Poe would strategize a plan to disable a tracking device from a Star Destroyer with Finn (John Boyega) and the droid BB-8 (voice of Ben Burtt and Bill Hader) teaming with a mechanic in Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) to find a hacker to disable that tracking device. It’s an arc that showcases not just Poe’s own development as someone who is very impulsive and reckless in his actions as he needs to know how to be a leader as well as Finn trying to find his place in the Resistance where he befriends Rose who is dealing with loss. Another arc play into Ren’s rivalry with First Order leader General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) in trying to win the approval of the First Order’s leader Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) who wants to destroy the Resistance while that narrative also showcases Ren’s own struggle with himself.
Johnson’s direction is definitely astronomical into not just the different worlds that the characters go to but also have half the film’s narrative set in space where the Resistance is being pursued by the First Order. With much of the film shot on Pinewood Studios in London as well as scenes shot on location in Ireland, Iceland, Mexico, and Bolivia, the film showcases a world that is starting to come apart as well as see some of the darkest aspects of war. The film begins with the Resistance in evacuation mode where it is immediate as it showcases what the Resistance tries to do but also how the First Order would retaliate. It’s a massive sequence which also has elements of character development that showcases what Poe would do to confront the First Order but it comes at a great cost as there is a lot of drama that goes on where General Leia rightfully scolds Poe for his recklessness.
Johnson’s usage of the wide shots capture not just some of the damage that goes on in war but also into the vast world of the galaxy that the characters are in that include Rose and Finn’s journey to this planet that houses a casino for the galaxy’s wealthiest people. It’s a sequence that is strange as it play into a reality about war where it’s a world of decadence and riches that Rose knows and despises where she and Finn try to find this mysterious hacker where they meet this mysterious man named DJ (Benicio del Toro). There are some close-ups and medium shots that Johnson would use as it include these unique Force conversations between Rey and Kylo who are both dealing their place in the Force. It’s told with some unique reverse shots and scenes that are surreal while Johnson would also include a flashback sequence of what really happened when Kylo betrayed Skywalker.
It’s among these chilling moments as well as the scene where Rey meets Snoke for the first time as it would lead an intense sequence that is about the ideas of the Jedi and the Sith. Johnson would also infuse some humor into the film as it include moments of humility for Poe as well as Snoke’s confrontation towards General Hux. Yet, it is all about this battle between good and evil where the latter has put the former into a corner where the film’s climax is about survival with all that is left for the Resistance. It’s a majestic sequence that has a lot happening as well as characters coming together for a moment that could be the end of everything or just the beginning. Overall, Johnson crafts a riveting and gripping film about a group of resistance fighters trying to survive against an evil empire intent on ruling the galaxy.
Cinematographer Steve Yedlin does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography from the naturalistic look of the scenes set in the planet of Ahch-To where Luke has been hiding out to the low-key and stylish lighting for the scenes in the spaceships, the casinos, and at the caves in an old Rebellion fortress. Editor Bob Ducsay does excellent work with the editing with its usage of stylish dissolves and match-cuts as well as some rhythmic cutting into the action and suspense as it add some intrigue and establishing what is at stake. Production designer Rick Heinrichs, with set decorator Richard Roberts and senior art director Phil Sims, does amazing work with the look of the cruiser and transport for the Resistance in its interiors to the look of the lavish casino that Finn and Rose go to as well as Snoke’s main room inside the large Star Destroyer.
Costume designer Michael Kaplan does fantastic work with the costumes from the dresses that General Leia and Vice Admiral Hodo wears to the clothes of the people at the casino. Hair/makeup designer Peter King does superb work with the look of Vice Admiral Hodo with her purple hair as well as the people at the casino who look very posh and decadent. Creature designer Neal Scanlan does incredible work with the look of the tiny creatures at the planet of Ahch-To known as the Porgs as well as some of the inhabitants of the planet and at the casino and the caves. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould and visual effects supervisor Ben Morris do marvelous work with the design of some of the visual effects for the scenes in space as well as in the design of some of the creatures with its mixture of old-school practical effects and computer-created visual effects.
Sound designers Ben Burtt and Ren Klyce, with sound editor Matthew Wood, do remarkable work with the sound with the sound effects in how the droids make their sounds including an Imperial BB-unit and the sounds of some of the creatures in the film. The film’s music by John Williams is phenomenal for its bombastic orchestral score that is filled with lush string arrangements and themes that range from heavy to somber as it is one of the film’s major highlights.
The casting by Nina Gold, Milivoj Mestrovic, and Mary Vernieu is great as it feature some notable small roles from Timothy D. Rose as Admiral Ackbar, Mike Quinn as Nien Nubb, Veronica Ngo as Rose’s bomber sister Paige, Billie Lourd as Resistance lieutenant Connix, Jimmy Vee as Luke’s old droid R2-D2 who is dealing with Porgs and wanting Luke to come home, the voice of Ben Burtt and Bill Hader as the droid BB-8 who provide some funny and cool moments in the film, Justin Theroux as a big-time gambler at the casino, Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca with special consultation by Peter Mayhew who deals with trying to get Luke home and the Porgs, Anthony Daniels as the protocol droid C-3PO who frets over the situation of the Resistance, Lupita Nyong’o as the famed pirate Maz Kanata who provides Poe some information while dealing with a war involving other pirates, and Gwendoline Christie as the Stormtroopers commander Captain Phasma who has a huge grudge towards Finn as she is willing to go after him anyway she can. Benicio del Toro is superb as a codebreaker/hacker named DJ as a man who is willing to help anyone all for money to display his own cynical views on war.
Domhnall Gleeson is fantastic as General Hux as a First Order military leader that is hell-bent on destroying the Resistance and wanting to win over Snoke where he’s not afraid to be a punching bag in some of the most hilarious moments. Laura Dern is amazing as Vice Admiral Amilyn Hodo as a Resistance leader that briefly takes over for an injured Leia as she spars with Poe over what to do as she is someone that knows what is at stake and what needs to be done as it’s a very graceful performance from Dern. Kelly Marie Tran is wonderful as Rose Tico as a Resistance mechanic who aids Finn and BB-8 in a mission to find a codebreaker to help the Resistance evade the First Order as she is someone who is aware of the corruption of the galaxy as well as being someone that is willing to fight for what is right. Andy Serkis is brilliant as Supreme Leader Snoke as the mysterious Sith lord and leader of the First Order who is eager to know who Rey is and what he can do for her as well as ordering Kylo to bring her in an attempt to get back in his favor.
Oscar Isaac is excellent as Poe Dameron as the Resistance pilot who copes with the leadership struggle in the Resistance as he tries to create a secret mission as he’s forced to deal with some of the reckless decisions he’s made in his need to learn how to be a leader. John Boyega is marvelous as Finn as a former Stormtroooper who decides to take part in a secret mission created by Poe as he would see exactly what is happening and what the First Order is trying to do. Adam Driver is remarkable as Kylo Ren as Luke’s former apprentice who has turned to the dark side of the Force as he copes with failures in the past as well as his own internal conflict into the role he wants to take. Daisy Ridley is incredible as Rey as a scavenger who is trying to find out who she is and her place in the galaxy while trying to get Luke back into the Resistance while dealing with all sorts of things as it’s a powerful performance from Ridley.
Mark Hamill is phenomenal as Luke Skywalker as the famed Jedi master who has distanced himself from the art of the Jedi as there’s an air of nihilism about Luke’s view on the Jedi due to the fact that he’s consumed with guilt over Kylo and his reluctance to train Rey which lead to some revelations over his failures as a Jedi master. Finally, there’s Carrie Fisher in a radiant performance as General Leia Organa as the Resistance leader who is trying to carry a sense of hope for the Resistance as she knows how grim things are as it’s a performance of grace and elegance where Fisher delivers a performance that is one for the ages as it’s a fitting finale for the late Carrie Fisher.
The Last Jedi is a tremendous film from Rian Johnson. Featuring a great cast, dazzling visual effects, a riveting script with many revelations and character arcs, John Williams’ sumptuous score, and high-octane action. It’s a film that manages to be a lot of things expected in a sci-fi epic while also taking some risks to showcase some of the dark aspects of war and the idea of failure and redemption. In the end, The Last Jedi is a spectacular film from Rian Johnson.
Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Rise of Skywalker
Anthology Series: Rogue One - Solo: A Star Wars Story – (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)
Related: The Star Wars Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage - The Battle for Endor - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas
George Lucas Films: THX 1138 – (American Graffiti)
Rian Johnson Films: Brick - The Brothers Bloom - Looper - Knives Out - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)
© thevoid99 2017
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Looper is the story of a time-traveling assassin who kills people in the past as he learns that his next target is an older version of himself. The film is a sci-fi thriller that explores the world of time travel and identity as it revolves around a young man dealing with his job and its implications where he makes a drastic discovery about who he is and who is he working for. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Piper Perabo, Noah Segan, Pierce Gagnon, Garret Dillahunt, Tracie Thoms, and Jeff Daniels. Looper is an incredible yet complex film from Rian Johnson.
Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a paid assassin called a looper whose job is to kill men who have been sent from the future under the orders of the mob. It’s a job that has kept Joe rich as he works for Abe (Jeff Daniels) who makes sure things are good as Joe is paid in silver and later gold once he kills a future version of himself. When one of his friends in Seth (Paul Dano) has left his future self (Frank Brennan) go, he becomes scared until Joe reluctantly hides him as Kid Blue (Noah Segan) arrives searching for Seth as Abe makes Joe an offer he couldn’t refuse. High on drugs and reeling from his work as a looper, Joe forges ahead to his next assignment where he suddenly faces his old self (Bruce Willis) who escapes and goes on the run. With Joe searching for his old self, he later meets his old self who has arrived from the future to kill their mysterious boss known as the Rainmaker.
With old Joe continuing on the run and goes on the search for the person that would become the Rainmaker, young Joe finds a location on a map that the old Joe had which leads him to a farm where a woman named Sara (Emily Blunt) lives with her son Cid (Pierce Gagnon). Young Joe decides to protect Sara and Cid from the other loopers and Old Joe who is searching for someone who could become the Rainmaker. While at the farm, a hired gunner from Abe in Jesse (Garret Dillahunt) arrives to find young Joe as young Joe and Cid hide out until Jesse later comes back where young Joe makes a chilling discovery about what Cid is. Realizing the implications of what would happen, young Joe decides to do whatever it takes to save Cid and Sara from old Joe and the other loopers.
What happens when a young man faces an older version of himself who comes from the future to stop something from happening? That’s sort of the idea of the film that writer-director Rian Johnson makes as it is about an assassin who is paid to kill future targets for the mob that he would never see and know about. When he faces himself who arrives from the future to stop someone would become this major mob force, the young man has to realize the implications of what might happen as it would lead to all sorts of trouble.
Johnson’s screenplay is quite intricate in terms of its narrative as it starts out in a straightforward manner to establish young Joe’s life in the first act where he is definitely a very troubled yet skilled assassin who is also a junkie. When he faces his old self, things become complicated as Johnson creates an alternate narrative that unveils what would’ve happened if the young Joe had killed his old self where it would chronicle Joe’s life as a killer and then finding salvation in a woman (Xu Qing) who would become his wife. Yet, it would drive the old Joe to go back in time to save his wife but also to stop the person that would become the Rainmaker as the second act is about the two Joes and the young Joe’s meeting with Sara. The third act is more interesting where it reveals more complexities about what the old Joe wants to do as well as the danger that is going to happen.
Johnson’s script doesn’t just feature a lot of complexities in terms of the characters that are created as well as its development. Notably in the characterization of Joe who deals with the fact that he’s just trying to do his job and try to kill his old self only to realize that ther is a life outside of the world of being a looper. Johnson’s approach to stylish dialogue definitely adds a sense of nuance to the script where it’s set in the future and there’s a lot of things that are happening that sets the rich and poor apart.
Johnson’s direction is definitely ambitious in terms of the presentation he aims for in creating a film that is set in the future. Shot on location in New Orleans and parts of Louisiana as Kansas along with scenes in Shanghai, Johnson goes for a lot of wide shots but also some interesting medium shots to establish a future that isn’t too far off but also slower in its development. Since it adds to the sci-fi elements of the film, it also gives Johnson the chance to create a future that doesn’t play to typical aspects of other sci-fi films by grounding it with a bit of realism.
The film’s element of suspense and action definitely plays to the story where it includes a key scene where the old Joe goes after one of his targets where Johnson knows what not to shoot in order to tell the story and then unveil the impact that follows. Even in the film’s third act where things become unveiled into what the two Joes are facing as it raises a lot of questions into what has to be done. Through these amazing wide shots along with some intimate close-ups of the characters, Johnson’s direction is very fluid in its movements along with the way he presents action scenes to get the audience aware of what is going on. Overall, Johnson creates a truly dazzling and mesmerizing sci-fi thriller that manages to be engaging in its high-brow concept.
Cinematographer Steve Yedlin does brilliant work with the film‘s colorful photography from the stylish nighttime interiors at the club Joe and his friends hang out to the more naturalistic look of the field scenes outside of the city. Editor Bob Duscay does excellent work with the editing by creating a montage early in the film to showcase young Joe‘s troubled life as well as some rhythmic cuts to play out the film‘s action and suspense. Production designer Ed Verreaux and art director James A. Gelarden do great work with the set pieces from the nightclub that Joe hangs out at to the farm that Sara lives along with props that adds to the sci-fi element of the film like the hover-motorcycle.
Costume designer Sharen Davis does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual for both Sarah and old Joe while the younger Joe wears more expensive suits to establish his character. Makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji does some very good makeup work to have the two Joes look like each other with some prosthetic hair and such for the characters. Visual effects supervisor Karen E. Goulekas does some superb work with the visual effects from the exteriors of the futuristic Kansas City to the jaw-dropping sequences in the film‘s third act. Sound designer Jeremy Peirson does some fantastic work with the film‘s sound in the way some of the machines sound like along with the intimacy that is created in scenes at the farm.
The film’s music by Nathan Johnson is wonderful for its suspenseful driven score that is a mixture of electronic music and orchestral pieces as it features lots of bombastic themes as well as other dramatic moments. Music supervisor John Houlihan creates a terrific soundtrack that features all sorts of music ranging from acts like the Mashnotes, Kid Koala, Richard and Linda Thompson, Son Lux, and Warren Zevon.
The casting by Lindsay Graham and Mary Vernieu is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small performances from Tracie Thoms as a waitress young Joe sees every day at a diner, Nick Gomez as a fellow looper, Frank Brennan as the old Seth, Xu Qing as the old Joe’s wife, Garret Dillahunt as the hired gunner Jesse, and Piper Perabo as the showgirl Suzie who young Joe spends time with early in the film. Paul Dano is pretty good as the looper Seth who suddenly faces himself as he becomes scared of the consequences. Noah Segan is wonderful as the Gat Man Kid Blue who is trying to get things done in order to please Abe. Jeff Daniels is great as the crime boss Abe who tries to ensure that things are taken care of while making young Joe a tempting offer that would later cause a lot of trouble.
Pierce Gagnon is amazing as the young kid Cid who befriends the young Joe while revealing some things that would have the young Joe be very suspicious about. Emily Blunt is amazing as Cid’s mother Sara who tries to protect her son while helping the young Joe in realizing about what is happening in relation to her young son. Bruce Willis is outstanding as the old Joe who returns to his past from the future to find the Rainmaker and deal with his younger self as Willis brings a great sense of grit and weariness to the character. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt in an incredible performance as the young Joe where he tries to deal with his own issues as a person while realizing about the troubles of time travel when he faces his older self as it’s a really captivating performance from Gordon-Levitt.
Looper is a spectacular and thrilling film from Rian Johnson that features marvelous performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Emily Blunt. The film is definitely a sci-fi thriller that bears a lot of interesting concepts about time travel as well as the dangers of it. Even as it involves themes that raises a lot of questions about its dangers where it becomes a compelling suspense film. In the end, Looper is a superb film from Rian Johnson.
Rian Johnson Films: Brick - The Brothers Bloom - The Last Jedi - Knives Out - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)
© thevoid99 2012
Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 6/20/09 w/ Additional Edits.
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, The Brothers Bloom tells the story of two brothers reuniting for one last con game on a heiress to steal some money. Instead, one of the brothers fall for the heiress who takes part in the con with help from a Japanese explosion artist. A traditional con film of sorts, The Brothers Bloom is more about characters than the actual con as Johnson also chooses to play tricks on everyone including the audience. Starring Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane, Maximilian Schell, and narration by Ricky Jay. The Brothers Bloom is a witty, character-driven con film from Rian Johnson and company.
Ever since they were orphans going from house to house, the Bloom brothers in 13-year old Stephen (Max Records) and 10-year old Bloom (Zachary Gordon) were just kids who didn't fit in until Stephen found a way to make a scheme out of the wonderment and innocence of other kids. Therefore, a con was executed as it would be the first of many for the Bloom brothers. 20 years later in Berlin, another successful con was executed as Stephen (Mark Ruffalo), Bloom (Adrien Brody), and their Japanese explosion technician Bang-Bang (Rinko Kikuchi). A party was thrown in the honor of the brothers where a young woman named Rose (Nora Zehetner) tried to flirt with Bloom but Bloom believes it's another con as he could no longer distinguish with what's real and what's a con.
Leaving the con business for good, Bloom disappears to Montenegro where three-months later, he's found by Stephen. Stephen asks him for one last con in New Jersey which involves a rich, eccentric heiress named Penelope (Rachel Weisz). Bloom takes a liking to her as he reluctantly joins the con with Stephen and Bang-Bang. Yet, after a plan to be hit by her car on his bike that went well. It also doesn't go well after Penelope crashes her car near a cliff where she survived. Bloom masquerades as an antique dealer where he befriends Penelope who likes to collect hobbies and do weird things. Bloom reveals that his brother are going to Prague to retrieve an old book as he asks if she would want to go. Bloom isn't sure if she would go but she does in style as she befriends the quiet Bang-Bang while she also meets a mysterious antiques curator (Robbie Coltrane).
While the curator claims that the Bloom brothers are smugglers, Penelope gets excited as they land in Greece on their way to Prague. With an elaborate plan to steal the book, the presence of their old mentor Diamond Dog (Maximilian Schell) troubles the Bloom brothers because of an incident where Stephen wounded Dog's left eye. After a con where the curator ends up getting a huge sum of money from Penelope, the Bloom brothers seemed to have succeed but Penelope wants to go for the book. The brothers and Bang-Bang don't believe she could do it but through some improvisation and sweet talk, Penelope succeeds. Bloom and Penelope start to fall for each other as they go to Mexico for their final destination of the con as Bloom becomes unsure if he wants to con Penelope as Stephen realizes that his brother is about to ruin the entire plan. Instead, another con in St. Petersburg occurs that Bloom reluctantly joins in but with some unexpected help.
Con films are often about a plan for a big con and such. Yet, it's always approached with a level of cleverness and wit as it's about the big scheme and such. What makes this film a bit different is the fact that it is more about characters and how they're invested into playing a con with one of them becoming less enthused as he falls for his mark. The first seven-minutes of the film is narrated by Ricky Jay that explores the history of the brothers and how they managed to score their first con scheme. Now that first seven minutes along with aspects of the films in its look might have audiences thinking that writer-director Rian Johnson is channeling the work of Wes Anderson. Well, there's a major difference between Anderson and Johnson in their approach to visuals and storytelling.
Anderson is an artist who shoots films in certain angles and has his own quirks and shooting styles with a look that is very colorful. At the same time, Anderson is known for creating characters that are very eccentric though they're relatable. Yet, part of the flaw with Anderson's films is that sometimes, the characters are eccentric for their own good while Anderson also has a tendency to employ gimmicks whether it's some kind of pop music or the slow-motion edits to end the films. Though it's an interesting style that has worked for Anderson. It often works too well.
Johnson is very different where he doesn't go for that kind of cinematic style. Instead, he's more invested in characters and their flaws. In Bloom, he's the reluctant player who will fake his death for the con and be the guy who will dig deep into a con where he has trouble distinguishing between fiction and reality. The Bloom character is a character filled with conflict as he falls for his mark while has a hard time doing the job with his brother. Stephen, is the organizer and brains of the con as he's all about the big payday and not really into the emotional aspects of hurting people. Still, Stephen is just as interesting as Bloom in reveling the idea of the con while being impressed by his mark Penelope for just going along with it.
Penelope is really the heart of the film as she is just a woman looking for some kind of adventure. Living in a house by herself, the arrival of Bloom, Stephen, and Bang-Bang gets her to interact with people she wouldn't have interacted in her dull, lonely life. Money doesn't mean anything to her as her relationship with Bloom becomes more romantic while finding a close friend in Bang-Bang. Though the Bang-Bang character only has a couple of lines, she is truly the film's most quirky and enjoyable character of the film. She is the balance of the three main characters where she is Stephen's close ally while grounding Bloom and being the friend to Penelope.
Johnson's exploration of characters is what makes the film different in its screenplay while he also goes into the organization of the con. While audiences might be baffled by its approach in the deconstruction of the con film. It allows Johnson to be invested in the relationship of the characters and the organization of the con. For the direction of the film itself. Johnson does go for a style that includes hand-drawn drawings of locations and bubbles of the cons to structure the story. Yet, he does it in a subtle way while does give the audience insight into various locations including Prague, Montenegro, and St. Petersburg as it's all shot in Europe.
There's a richness to the location though its not all filled with flashy colors like some of Wes Anderson's films which are very colorful in its set designs and cinematography. Johnson is more engaging into the characters where there's a great shot of Penelope playing cards as her mouth is being reflected through some form of silverware. Johnson's long shots of the locations are very beautiful as it relates to Bloom's state of mind where the compositions and shots are more about what is going on in the con and such. While it's not a perfect film, what Rian Johnson does with his sophomore feature is phenomenal as he is truly becoming a director to keep an eye.
Johnson's regular cinematographer Steve Yedlin does excellent work with the film's camera work with beautiful shots of the locations including sunset shots of the scenes on the sea. Yedlin's best work in the film are scenes in the wood with lights striking towards the woods which is reminiscent of the legendary work that Vittorio Storaro did in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1970 film Il Conformista. Editor Gabriel Wyre does some fantastic work with the film's editing which is a balance between straightforward transitions, jump-cuts, rhythmic timing, and other stylized transitions including wipes and such to give the film a nice pacing that truly works.
Production designer Jim Clay plus set decorator Sophie Newman and art director Paul Kirby do some very good work in the look of Penelope's home and other objects plus the boat and the party that the Bloom brothers celebrate at Berlin. Costume designer Beatrix Aruna Pasztor brings a lot of amazing costumes to the set, notably the clothes that Rinko Kikuchi wear from her fur coat, airplane goggles, and hat while Rachel Weisz manages to look great with a green coat, some shoes, and most of all, the bowler hat that complements the suits the men wear in the film. Sound editor Jonathan Miller does some fantastic work with the film's sound in its location settings, explosions, gun shots, and other things that add to the film's exciting, quirky humor, notably Bang-Bang's love for explosions.
The film's soundtrack supervised by Brian Reitzell features a collection of music including cuts by Cat Stevens and from Nashville Skyline, the song Tell Me That It Isn't True by Bob Dylan that is in a great scene with Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz talking. Yet, it's the score by Rian's cousin Nathan Johnson that is really one of the film's technical highlights. Filled with wonderful arrangements from orchestral, folk, and blues. It plays up to the film's quirky sense of humor as well as its drama with acoustic pieces that are truly memorable and with lots of hook. Whereas Nathan Johnson's score in Brick had a unique feel to the film, his score for this film is just as potent which marks the arrival of fantastic music composer in film.
The casting by Shannon Makhanian is excellent with Esme Tyler as a young girl the young Bloom falls for, Andy Nyman as a man conned in Berlin, and as the young Bloom brothers, Zachary Gordon as the young Bloom and Max Records as the young Stephen, both of whom deliver fantastic performances. Making cameos from the film Brick are Noah Segan as a Duke, Nora Zehetner as a girl trying to flirt with Bloom named Rose, and a one-second cameo from its star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Maximilian Schell is excellent as Diamond Dog, a former mentor wanting to seek some kind of vengeance against the brothers for destroying his left eye while wanting to make deals with them. Robbie Coltrane is great as the curator, a man who knows what the brothers are while trying to be charming towards Penelope as Coltrane does some solid work in his brief appearances.
Stealing the film from practically all of her co-stars is young Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi of Babel fame as the explosive technician Bang-Bang. Though she only has a couple of lines and the performance is mostly silent, Kikuchi steals the show with her quirky sense of humor in making faces, hand gestures, and her ability to do explosives. There's something that is quite adorable about Kikuchi where in every scene she's in, there's something that brings a smile to the face of the viewer as it's truly a role that is extremely memorable. This performance really tops her Oscar-nominated performance in Babel. Mark Ruffalo is brilliant as Stephen, the organizer of the con who tries to get his brother into it while maintaining its integrity and hopes for the pay-day. Ruffalo is a bit understated but also witty as he is also engaging and complex in his emotions in his scenes with Adrien Brody as the two have great banter together.
Rachel Weisz is phenomenal in what is truly the best role of her career. Playing the eccentric heiress Penelope, there's something exciting about her performance as she is someone that does many things. Weisz actually does the skateboarding, rapping, juggling, and all sorts of things while showing depth of a woman who is lonely and in need of some kind of connection. For the famed British actress, this is easily the most accessible and entertaining performance of her career. Adrien Brody is truly in top form as Bloom, the melancholic protagonist in need of change after being in one too many cons. Brody hits all of the right notes while not delving into melodrama while showing that he can also bring humor as it's definitely the most fulfilling performance he gave since his 2002 Oscar-winning performance in Roman Polanski's The Pianist. Brody's chemistry with Weisz is truly engaging as it's based on two people who feel out of place only to realize how they enjoy each other.
While it may not have the atmospheric, dark tone of Brick, The Brothers Bloom is truly a smart, funny, and thrilling film from Rian Johnson. Fans of Brick will rejoice that Johnson can deliver another hit as he is clearly a director that will be one to watch. Fans of con films might be put off by its unconventional approach though will be invested in its emphasis on character study instead of clever plot devices. With top-notch performances from Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Mark Ruffalo, and Rinko Kikuchi. The Brothers Bloom is definitely a fun, witty con-comedy film from Rian Johnson.
Rian Johnson Films: Brick - Looper - The Last Jedi - Knives Out - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)
© thevoid99 2012
Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 9/24/06 w/ Additional Edits.
Written, edited, and directed by Rian Johnson, Brick is the story of a high school kid trying to discover the mystery of his ex-girlfriend's disappearance. In his feature-film debut, Johnson brings the high school movies to darker levels that is reminiscent of film noir. Giving the high school outsider the chance to be a protagonist, the film reveals many dark levels of high school and everything that troubles young teens. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Emilie de Ravin, Meagan Good, Noah Fleiss, Matt O'Leary, Nora Zehetner, and Richard Roundtree. Brick is truly one of the year's most harrowing and intriguing takes on the film-noir genre from the brilliant Rian Johnson.
On another day in high school, Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) receives a mysterious, troubling phone call from his ex-girlfriend Emily (Emilie de Ravin). With his best friend Brain (Matt O'Leary), they wonder what happened to her two months ago that led to his break-up where he would try to gather notes. After finding a mysterious red card, he talks to the school's top actress in Kara (Meagan Good) about the card which is an invitation to a party by rich girl Laura (Nora Zehetner). Brendan attends the party in secrecy which is a bothersome to Laura's jock-boyfriend Brad (Brian J. White) where Laura notices him as they briefly talk before she goes outside to talk to a mysterious guy with a black car. The next day, Brendan confronts a Goth-like stoner named Dode (Noah Segan) on Emily's whereabouts. Later, he finds a haggard Emily who just wants a final conversation as she's become addicted to drugs and isn't telling Brendan about anything.
Brendan however, has stolen her notepad that features a mysterious note which features a time and a place to meet. That's when Brendan finds Emily, dead in a sewer tunnel. He hides her after finding someone looking on as he decides to investigate everything. He already suspects the involvement of Dode and Kara while finding a link to a local drug kingpin known as the Pin (Lukas Haas). Learning that Brad is a customer of the Pin, he ends up being quickly assaulted by a muscle-man named Tugger (Noah Fleiss). The assault has put him in the office of the school's vice principal Trueman (Richard Roundtree) who wants a full investigation on Emily's disappearance but Brendan, refuses to cooperate after a recent cooperation got one of his friends in trouble. With Brain as the only person he can trust, Brain decides to watch out for Dode and Kara while he had been contacted by Laura. Laura wants to help out as she knows the Pin while Brendan continues to get assaulted by Tugger only to keep going after him that leads him to the home of the Pin.
Brendan meets the Pin who is aware that Brendan knows something as he makes a deal on the sale of the last brick full of drugs. The Pin still wants to know about the last one that put a fellow customer in a coma where Brendan feels there's a connection. Plagued by internal injuries and a growing sense of paranoia, Brendan has another confrontation with Dode, who reveals a troubling information about her. With Dode planning to reveal more to the Pin, it all becomes trouble as Brendan learns of Tugger's emotional dysfunction that troubles his association with the Pin. With Laura comforting him, Brendan learns more of what goes on. What Kara had tried to plan and the troubling relationship between the Pin and Tugger as he gets closer to Emily's death and the involvement of a brick-shaped drug.
The idea of a high school noir film might seem like a gimmick where people would get the idea of young high school kids trying to talk like Humphrey Bogart and have some meandering voice-over narration. Well, Rian Johnson uses his knowledge of noir novels and films along with the stark experience of high school to create an entirely original approach to noir. Using high school as the centerpiece of the mystery, Johnson chooses the high school loner/outsider as his protagonist instead of the nerd, jock, preppie, or any kind of typical cliques of high school. The film is really about a loner who tries to investigate his ex-girlfriend's death and how he immersed himself into a world full of cliques involving drugs. The result is a mystery that builds its momentum with great energy and excitement of young independent cinema with the psychological style and wit of old-school noir films.
Johnson's writing is filled with great, intense dialogue that mixes modern-day conversation with traditional, noir-like wordplay that becomes more of today's language. The talking is a bit fast yet works in the rhythm of traditional noir while a lot of the conversations and rapport between characters. Johnson's approach to mystery is far-more complex and layered than traditional mystery films where Brendan tries to find out everything and the more he searches, he begins to piece things right to the end. Yet, since Johnson sets the film in high school, he avoids the usual world of high school that's been known in John Hughes films.
That's where Johnson's directing is really at its most ominous since he uses high school as a sense of discomfort to Brendan's role in being a loner. Brendan is a smart kid yet couldn't put himself in the world of cliques since he doesn't really like anyone except for the Brain. Johnson even goes as far as to explore the world of stoners and rich cliques as more than just the one-dimensional stereotype while the only stereotype that is displayed in great form is the character of Brian. Johnson's directing captures the atmosphere of not just high school but the dark, bland world of suburbia where it has the sense of energy and eeriness of some of the films of Gregg Araki as well as Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko. With Johnson also serving as editor, his cutting brings a perspective and rhythm that is energetic to display the paranoia that Brendan suffers as well as wonderful jump-cuts that brings a disjointed tone to the film. Overall, Johnson's writing, directing, and editing is top-notch.
Helping Johnson in his visual presentation is cinematographer Steve Yedlin whose color schemes and lighting creates an ominous, intimate tone in some of the interiors including a wonderful lighting sequence in a scene involving the brick. The exteriors are a bit gray to convey the atmosphere that is high school along with some wonderful coloring to view the sunlight as some of the shots are a mix of blue-gray for some scenes. Production designer Jodie Tillen along with set decorator Shara Kasprack do great work in the interior designs for some of the homes, notably Laura's home that is decorated with candles. The best design in the film is the room of the Pin that is very spacious with colorful carpets and wall that only features a few chairs and a desk. Costume designer Michele Posch also does great work in the costumes whether is the Goth-like clothing of Dode and the Pin to the array of fashionable clothing worn by Laura and the stage costumes of Kara. Sound designer Jonathan Miller also does great work with the sound to convey the atmosphere, notably a scene on the beach where the clashing of waves and trains are wonderfully mixed.
Composer Nathan Johnson along with Larry Seymour creates a great, timbre-like score filled with disjointed ukelele melodies and a strange, saloon-like piano score that is nearly reminiscent of some of the music Ennio Morricone made in Sergio Leone's classic gangster film Once Upon a Time in America. Johnson's score is rich in not playing to traditional score work of noir-films in rather setting the fierce atmosphere that Brendan is in. The film's soundtrack features music from the play The Mikado where the song The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze is performed wonderfully by Nora Zehetner along with traditional cuts like Frankie And Johnny, a metal track from The Hospital Bombers Experience, and the classic Sister Ray from the Velvet Underground.
Finally, there’s the film's wonderful ensemble cast that includes an energetic yet intentionally annoying performance from Brian J. White as the jock Brian who thinks he rules the school only to underestimate Brendan. The legendary Richard Roundtree is only in the film briefly as the school's vice principal who wants to know what goes on as Roundtree serves as the only adult in the film as he does some fine work. Lost's Emilie de Ravin is excellent in her role as Emily with her eerie presence and disintegrated look as she plays a would-be victim who doesn't know what she got herself into while carrying a dark secret. Noah Segan is excellent as the Goth stoner Dode with his thin, troubling look as a guy who hopes to blackmail Brendan with some information while being completely unaware what he's gotten himself into. Meagan Good is also good as the seductive Kara who uses her sex appeal in hoping to win over Brendan into getting some information as Good brings a lot of sexiness and charm to play the character.
Noah Fleiss gives a great performance as the muscle-man Tugger with his fierce attitude and physique where he is a big threat while is trying to find some questions about the brick. Fleiss also shows his sensitivity where he proves that Tugger is more than a muscle-man but someone who knows a thing or two about power. Matt O'Leary is amazing as fellow loner the Brain with his witty speech and knowledge on what he knows. O'Leary is really the great sidekick that Gordon-Levitt needed as he also serves as a moral conscience for the film and the one who grounds Brendan.
In a role that is many miles away from the innocent boy in Witness, Lukas Haas delivers what could be his best performance as the Goth-like kingpin known as the Pin. Haas brings a disconcerting presence that is very attentive as he is a smart man that is very powerful while trying to make a business in the basement of his mother's home. Nora Zehetner of Everwood gives a real breakthrough as the film's femme fatale Laura. With a seductive yet haunting presence, Zehetner really shines with her ode to noir while adding edge to a character who knows a lot yet could be trouble for Brendan. Zehetner has great chemistry with Gordon-Levitt as she proves herself to be sexy yet dangerous.
Following such challenging roles in Manic and Gregg Arak's classic 2004 film Mysterious Skin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has continued to become a more powerful, complex actor since his days as a child star. Gordon-Levitt gives Brendan a sense of old-school noir-like caricature that is natural and stylistic while bringing a darker sensibility in being a loner. Gordon-Levitt also proves that he can carry a film while not acting like the typical movie star. He displays his angst and concern with such brutal honesty that it's probably his most realistic portrayal of any character that he brings. With this film, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has now taken a step into being one of the most provocative actors of his generation.
The Region 1 DVD from Focus Features presents the film in the anamorphic widescreen format ratio of 1:85:1 along English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound including subtitles in Spanish, French, and English for the hearing impaired. The DVD includes three DVD trailers for Michel Gondry's Dave Chappelle's Block Party, the horror film Slither, and Spike Lee's The Inside Man. Three special features are included into the film. The first is a three-minute featurette entitled The Inside Track: Casting the Roles which includes auditions from Nora Zehetner and Noah Segan playing their roles in a 2003 audition with a casting director that showed why they got their roles.
The second featurette is a 22-minute gallery of extended and deleted scenes with an introduction to each scene from Rian Johnson. Eight scenes including an extended performance of Zehetner singing The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze, three scenes with her and Gordon-Levitt, an extended phone conversation between Brendan and the Brain, an extended meeting with Brendan and Kara, and a strange yet cheesy dream sequence reveals Johnson's reasons for cutting these scenes. Several of them were due to timing which made the film ran over two hours and a few including the scenes with Brendan and Laura were plagued with sound problems. It's a great feature that includes photos with some nice insight from Johnson.
The final special feature is an audio commentary track from Rian Johnson who talks about his influences, notably writer Dashiell Hammett and the Coen Brothers film Miller's Crossing about the language of the film in its ode to noir. During the entire commentary, he talks in brief conversations in individual moments with actors Nora Zehetner and Noah Segan along with production designer Jodie Tillen, costume designer Michele Posch, and producer Ram Bergman. Each guest talk about their own experience as Zehetner recalls that she and Rian worked before since he worked as an editor in May by Lucky McKee which she was in. Segan talks about his clothing while towards the final credits, there's a funny surprise concerning producer Ram Bergman. Though the commentary style is a bit unconventional, it's insightful and entertaining.
Brick is an extraordinary film from Rian Johnson that features an incredible lead performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The film is definitely one of the most unique films that transcends genres thanks to its noir-inspired dialogue, unique camera work, brooding music, stylized editing, and an amazing supporting cast that includes Nora Zehetner and Lukas Haas. In the end, Brick is an entrancing yet exhilarating film from Rian Johnson.
Rian Johnson Films: The Brothers Bloom - Looper - The Last Jedi - Knives Out - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)
© thevoid99 2012
