The lead, played wonderfully as a Spade-Bogartesque high-school-aged character of "Brendan" is portrayed by the most promising actor to make the transition from child-actor (1990's TV - 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN) to one who has the promise of becoming a true star as he grows from young adult to adult. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is absolutely great in this movie (and in Mysterious Skin) and will be a male lead and box-office draw on par with an earlier generation's Leo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp. Joseph Gordon-Levitt can do it all, i.e., play a variety of characters, whether they be heroic, pathetic, clownish, romantic, etc. Lukas Haas(ET fame) is really wierd as the crippled gang leader "The Pin" ... but he is more limited as far as the variety of roles which he can pull off. The movie itself is something for laughs on its first viewing, but not at the expense of the 1930's detective stories ... the details of the "contemporary" high school setting are ludicrous ... the farcical representaion of adults, i.e., the school's disciplinarian and the Pin's mother ... the incongruity of the mid-20th century phone booths, and when convenient, the use of the modern cellphone ... the consistent beatings that Brendan takes, the slaps he gives, the instant healing of what should be life-threatening injuries ... the white Thunderbird, the black Mustang ... no reality home life of the characters ... the Pin's house ... the twists and turns, and the surprise ending, but always the dead-pan delivery of the mumbled gumshoe lingo. The entire movie is a delight and you can watch it over and over to spot more and more ironies, incongruities, and satiric stabs at both nostalgia and . That's why I bought this copy on ebay as a gift for the collection of my college-freshman nephew who is studying film.Read full review
This is an excellent Film Noir homage set in a High School in San Clemente CA. You have to pay attention because the kids talk fast and most of the dialogue is heavy in 1940's slang. It is very entertaining and suspenseful. It also has some humorous moments. Adults who enjoy film noir and kids who enjoy High School dramas will find it very entertaining and original.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The life of Brendan Frye is about to change when his hot ex-girlfriend Emily disappears overnight. When Brendan finds out that Emily's disappearence may be connected to a local urban legend called "The Pin," he tactfully infiltrates the hierarchy of high-school caste. With the help of a good friend named Brain, Brendan proceeds into the pit and begins to stir up controversy with the school's most popular stock in order to figure out just what the hell is going on. En route, he begins to realize that this is no ordinary group of people that Emily had familiarized herself with. They are dangerous and willing to do anything to protect their political strength and reputations at any cost. And when drugs finally become a catalyst of brutal peer violence, Brendan is now caught not only looking out for the safety of his lover, but for his own life as well. There's more, but you'll have to watch.Read full review
I absolutly enjoy movies starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt! To make things even better he plays a rather intelligent, manipulative role in this murder mystery - love story. I was not disappointed with his performance nor any of the other cast members: Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetner, Meagan Good, Emilie de Ravin, Noah Fleiss, Lucas Babin, Jonathan Cauff, and Noah Segan. This movie depicts life for these teens involved in gangs, dealing with drugs, discorvering where they want to fit in and at what cost.
This movie breaks a lot of the conventional rules, such as the underdog rising up against all odds and saves the day. The underdog sometimes stays under and I appreciate the honesty that some films will tell you that. But this film is not a downer either. You'll get some laughs, especially at the characters. Joseph Gordon-Levitt especially is cast perfectly for the role. He's really made a lot of good films in his young career and stays away from the boring, normal schlock. So I liked the characters, the acting, the script and the story. It did stretch the boundaries of belief, such as high schoolers a little too smart beyond reason. And while the story moved along at a brisk pace, the ending was not too memorable. Still worth a look.
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