Alex recommends two movies directed by Rian Johnson.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes you might want to watch two movies in one night. And on some of those times you might want those two movies to have a related theme, such as \u2018movies about a road trip through Latin America,\u2019 \u2018Seth Rogen movies when he isn\u2019t pudgy,\u2019 or \u2018movies starring Gary Oldman as a dwarf.\u2019 Well, next time you\u2019re looking for a theme night, feel free to choose one of those, or you could engage in a much more conventional sort of auteur night. And if you choose that option, the films of Rian Johnson are a pretty smart choice.<\/p>\n

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When it was released, Brick was one of the coolest movies made in years, and it still is six years later. And when I say cool, I mean it is fucking cooooool. It is a film noir that takes place in a modern high school, the writer\/director spells his name \u2018Rian,\u2019 and the movie even stars skinny tie enthusiast Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The dialogue is appropriately noiry, the music appropriately spacey, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is appropriately Joseph Gordon-Levitty. The mystery aspect of the film is well done, and while this movie could have been shot as a traditional noir with very few changes to the script, that it takes place in a high school adds an interesting stylistic element. Honestly, I can\u2019t say anything more that that the trailer doesn\u2019t say about 10 times better. I highly recommend Brick if you\u2019re looking for a stylish, engaging mystery, and if you need a film to follow that up with, I suggest Rian Johnson\u2019s own follow-up, The Brothers Bloom.<\/p>\n