It's been years since I've seen a good thriller. Not 'decent'. Good. Excellent, even. I don't think I've EVER seen a good modern noir. Well, now I have.
The acting is excellent. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a compelling, sympathetic, extraordinarily well-drawn protagonist in his neo-Sam Spade, hardboiled teenage detective role. The supporting cast is just as good, and I look forward to seeing their names come up again. The dialogue is spectacular. Very quick, very intelligent, it creates a patois all its own. Some may find it hard to pick up; I found it contextual and self-explanatory. Or, not infrequently, explained as part of the unfolding story. Gordon-Levitt's character, in fact all of the characters, talk and act like professional intelligence operatives, albeit with a mixed dose of 30's detective/postmodern millenial. Gordon Levitt's 'Brendan' asks his friend, 'The Brain' to 'run operations' for him. Kids don't talk like that, don't think that way. Although I like the effect, and it works for the movie.
Everything in this movie works, even as you say, "Kids just don't have the capability". Maybe they don't, today. And in ten years? The information is there, even if the education system that should sustain it slips away. I could see kids becoming this professional in the right environment, the right elements working on them. But, whatever.
Echoes of Maltese Falcon, shades of Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest (which inspired Yojimbo which inspired Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, ad infinitum). Wit and pacing reminiscent of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (too funny to be true noir, or I would have mentioned it above). All set in an L.A high school. Oh yeah. It's Freaking Awesome.
The acting is excellent. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a compelling, sympathetic, extraordinarily well-drawn protagonist in his neo-Sam Spade, hardboiled teenage detective role. The supporting cast is just as good, and I look forward to seeing their names come up again. The dialogue is spectacular. Very quick, very intelligent, it creates a patois all its own. Some may find it hard to pick up; I found it contextual and self-explanatory. Or, not infrequently, explained as part of the unfolding story. Gordon-Levitt's character, in fact all of the characters, talk and act like professional intelligence operatives, albeit with a mixed dose of 30's detective/postmodern millenial. Gordon Levitt's 'Brendan' asks his friend, 'The Brain' to 'run operations' for him. Kids don't talk like that, don't think that way. Although I like the effect, and it works for the movie.
Everything in this movie works, even as you say, "Kids just don't have the capability". Maybe they don't, today. And in ten years? The information is there, even if the education system that should sustain it slips away. I could see kids becoming this professional in the right environment, the right elements working on them. But, whatever.
Echoes of Maltese Falcon, shades of Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest (which inspired Yojimbo which inspired Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, ad infinitum). Wit and pacing reminiscent of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (too funny to be true noir, or I would have mentioned it above). All set in an L.A high school. Oh yeah. It's Freaking Awesome.