MovieChat Forums > Brick (2006) Discussion > Who or What is Brain?

Who or What is Brain?

posted 13 years ago by adamyshoe
5 replies | jump to latest

I'll start by saying I really liked this movie. Hopefully anyone with any respect for film saw what it was going to be right off: the unholy union of Dashiell Hammett and John Hughes -- or Sweet Valley High #13: Dangerous Boys, by Orson Welles

But I do want to ask what was up with Brain...

Okay, clearly he was a real person, as evidenced by the fact that he interacted with other characters (several times with Laura, for example) and knew things that Brendan did not. "Man Friday," "Dr. Watson," whatever. Fine.

1)That being said, did anyone get the sense that Brain was an element of Brendan's subconscious, or a stand-in for the characteristic film noir monologue?

2)I was kind of surprised the monologue wasn't present...must have been a conscious decision by the director. I think it could have worked for JGL.

3) I loved the last shot, where Brain essentially exits into Brendan's head (and never comes out the other side). And some of the lines where Brendan says to Brain "Good work Brain...now go to sleep."

Interested to hear what others think of the last 3 points. Please don't reply to this thread saying "Clearly Brain was a real person because XYZ..." because I get it.

[–] Barbed_Wire_Strawberry 13 years ago

you wrecked a really interesting post with those last two bits.

Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride

[–] adamyshoe 13 years ago

All right, I rescind my snarkiness because
1) it was hypocritical to do what I asked others not to, and
2) I am genuinely interested in what people think of Brain in this film.

But if I get a ton of idiotic responses, I'm going to refer them to you, BWS!

[–] saint665 13 years ago

Amusing theory, but I think you're reading way too much into the character name (especially with points 1 & 3.) Would you feel the same if he were called "Book" or "Owl" or "Mensa"... or some other synonym for intelligence?

As you point out, his purpose is to feed Brendan information he was not aware of on any level... subconscious or otherwise. Which again rules out your thesis.

And personally, I'm glad the film didn't have a voice-over narration. I'm always a bit skeptical of it; it may work well in things like Apocalypse Now or Fear & Loathing, but it tends to be better suited to stay in literature where it's built in as first person storytelling. Personal preference, of course...

Al: "What do people do for fun in this town?"
Max: "They eat the dinner."

[–] TheBeardedWonder 13 years ago

True, except your brain would include both the conscious and the subconscious, which would explain how it 'knew' things Brendan didn't. Maybe something he heard once and remembered somewhere. The note passing is done through the locker too.

At first I thought it was a silly idea as well. But they're never seen together by anyone, despite Brendan saying 'they shouldn't meet in public anymore' several times. Why does Brain go to that HS if the bus brings him there like 4 hours before school? Why wouldn't the director show us a shot of Laura giving him a note to give to Brendan? Or the VP asking about Brendan? Or a SINGLE character seeing them together throughout the entire film?

Seemed curious. If he wanted to dispel that theory and make it super obvious they're not connected all it takes is a 3 second shot, the fact that he didn't is very interesting. Especially considering the points the OP makes...

"dude i dont care i just love this movie you guys have a realy taste in movies what wrong with you"

[–] celsojuninho 13 years ago

This a great point.

I often thought to myself during the movie, why exactly is Brain doing this? What's in it for him? All other characters have objectives or ulterior motives. Brain is the only one in it with no reason, doing a lot of mostly harmless work, but still. Why do it?

I hadn't thought of it the way you put it. I think it works as part of his subconscious (most characters in the movie seem blissfully unaware of his existence at any rate), yet the only big glaring mention of his reality comes to me during the call Emily makes to Brendan right at the beginning.

So maybe it's just supposed to be symbolic, as a stand-in for the monologues. Either way, good theory!