What Exactly is Noir?
"Noir" is a genre of film characterized by intricate storytelling and crime fiction themes. It is extremely stylized and reliant on stock characters of a certain type. The "Noir" translates to "film black"; when the genre originated in the 40's all films were in black and white, even after movies transitioned to color film noir retained the darkened palette of its early years. The plot of a classic noir usually revolves around a murder mystery of some sort in which a fatally-flawed character is motivated by his desire for answers to resolve the conflict. At some point, the character falls under the influence of a femme fatale who often sets off the motion of the plot by introducing the 'case'. Classic examples of noir include "The Big Sleep" and "The Maltese Falcon" both starring Humphrey Bogart. Although the genre has evolved dramatically over time, its core elements remain intact, as seen in "Sin City" "Dark City" and of course "Brick".
Camera Techniques
Camerawork in film noir is eclectic, often with extreme low or high angled shots. The lighting is often dark or washed out in shades of gray, which contributes to the genre's melancholic tone. The background can be in equal focus, giving a sense of ambiguity. Frame compositions are out-of-balance, with mirrors and reflections in various scenes to convey themes of duality and highlight secrets.
Modernist Noir Elements of "Brick"
In this regard, "Brick" is characteristic of noir; shot mainly in a suburban setting at a highschool, mirroring the typical urban city setting. The color palette is dour, full of gray and other muted tones. Although the characters are high school studies, they speak in rapid-fire, witty and cynical exchanged that associate them with classic noir archetypes. The protagonist, Brendan, fits the mold of the hard-boiled detective on a case, and is surrounded by a cast of equally traditional figures; the femme fatale with a secret (Laura), the unintelligent muscle (Tug), the sinister crime figure (The Pin)... More than any specific quality, the noirishness of "Brick" derived from a deep sense of pessimism about human nature; the characters seem to be resigned to their fates, and even Brendan is attempting to solve a mystery for his personal redemption rather and out of a sense of good.
Modernist Noir Elements of "Brick"
In this regard, "Brick" is characteristic of noir; shot mainly in a suburban setting at a highschool, mirroring the typical urban city setting. The color palette is dour, full of gray and other muted tones. Although the characters are high school studies, they speak in rapid-fire, witty and cynical exchanged that associate them with classic noir archetypes. The protagonist, Brendan, fits the mold of the hard-boiled detective on a case, and is surrounded by a cast of equally traditional figures; the femme fatale with a secret (Laura), the unintelligent muscle (Tug), the sinister crime figure (The Pin)... More than any specific quality, the noirishness of "Brick" derived from a deep sense of pessimism about human nature; the characters seem to be resigned to their fates, and even Brendan is attempting to solve a mystery for his personal redemption rather and out of a sense of good.
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