The Other Movie You Should Stand in Line to See This Weekend

Every once in a while, a movie comes out that's so innovative, you are reminded that you don't need ranch-full of CGI artists creating armies of giant robots, to be interesting (no offense intended to my CGI-artist friends). All you need is a good story.

How about this for high-concept? A guy tries to stop a terrorist attack in Washington, while he's held hostage. Seen it before? Then how about this?  ....while he's held hostage, inside the trunk of a car....for nearly the entire length of the movie.

Brake, opens Friday at the Laemmle NoHo7 Theater in North Hollywood. Stephen Dorff stars as a Secret Service agent in a story that's part espionage drama, part action thriller, a little bit of horror, and all, very claustrophobic. I know: I didn't think it would work either, but it does. (Full disclosure: you know that part when I usually say "I don't have a stake in this-or-that."?  --Well, this time I do: but not a financial one, as you 'll see.)

I loved Brake: the audience goes along for a very bumpy ride, and a digital countdown clock is a strong-enough presence that if should have its own agent. Each time we see it reminded me of seeing people walk down the hall to Linda Blair's bedroom in The Exorcist: you're not sure what'll happen this time, but you know it'll be worse than the last time.

Look, other multiplexes will be sold out this week anyway, because of Hunger Games. See Brake. If you're hungry for something cooler, go to the Laemmle NoHo7 Theatre. BTW--On Friday (3/23), there's a Q&A with director/producer Gabe Torres, other crew members, and actress Chyler Leigh (Grey's Anatomy), after the 7:45 screening. Brake is one of those rare films that proves 'small' can be 'big.'  (Oh yea; and when you see it, you might recognize the voice of an announcer on the car's radio. Shhhhhh: it's a good movie in spite of casting that guy.)