00s Movie Review - Brick

Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Crime
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2000
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Emile de Ravin, Meagan Good, Nora Zehetner, Noah Fleiss, Mat O’Leary, Noah Segan

Description: A teenage loner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) pushes his way into the underwold of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 30: A CRIME OR DETECTIVE FILM
 
Review: We meet Brendan, a loner, who just broke up with his girlfriend. He has a feeling she is in trouble. When she goes missing, Brendan decides to investigate himself. Getting himself into a dangerous crime ring and a web of lies.

It’s Rian Johnson’s directorial debut, who we now know for films like “Looper” and “Knives Out”. “Brick” is a low-budget film and it’s cool to see what Johnson managed to do with it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so good in his role as Brendan and the film has some clever twists.

A really strong crime film, I don’t think known to many.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - Witness

Director: Peter Weir
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Thriller
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 1985
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Earl W. Wallace, Lukas Haas, Josef Sommer, Danny Glover, Brent Jennings, Alexander Godunov, Jan Rubes, Viggo Mortenson, Patti LuPone

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 4: A FILM FROM THE 1980S
 
Description: While protecting an Amish Boy (Lukas Haas) - who is the sole witness to a brutal murder - and his mother (Kelly McGillis), a detective is forced to seek refuge within their community when his own life is threatened.

Review: We meet Rachel, who has just lost her husband. Together with her son Samuel, she lives in an Amish community. She is going to visit her sister and while waiting for their train in Philadelphia, young Samuel witnesses a murder. Detective John Book comes in and has to find out what Samuel saw. When he realizes, a cop was involved and even the man at the top can’t be trusted, John has to go in hiding. While protecting Rachel and Samuel, he takes refuge in their community.

I believe “Witness” is an underappreciated and overlooked movie. It’s a highly suspenseful thriller where the contrast between the city and the quiet and sober life of the Amish runs like a thread. The drama gets a bit woeful at times, but Harrison Ford’s brilliant, non-verbal, acting fills the gaps flawlessly.

I really enjoyed this movie, I never hear anyone talk about it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5