Occasionally, it’s immediately clear that a director is going to make an impact, and Rian Johnson’s debut quickly signaled him as a new major voice in the world of cinema. From his work on modern classics like Knives Out to directing some of the best episodes of Breaking Bad, Johnson has knocked it out of the park time and again.

Johnson’s career kick-started with the neo-noir mystery Brick, a modern take on a hardboiled detective story centered around high school students. As the recipient of the Sundance Special Jury Prize for originality of vision, Johnson’s debut paid tribute to classic Hollywood while forging an original style that laid the groundwork for the hallmarks that would define his career.

Brick Was A Brilliant Debut For Rian Johnson

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Excelled In The Lead Role

Rian Johnson raised the $450,000 budget for Brick himself (via Telegraph) and edited it himself over the course of several months while still working his day job producing promos for the Disney Channel. As a neo-noir that was bursting with style, Brick told the story of Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) uncovering an underworld of crime at his high school.

With sharp dialogue and a slowly unfolding narrative, Johnson managed to make the mystery style made famous by writers like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett engaging to modern viewers. Brick managed to walk the fine line between paying homage to the noirs of the past without ever feeling like a spoof or a parody.

Brick had all the makings of a cult classic and kickstarted Johnson’s career on a high note. It’s not surprising that this early success opened doors for him in Hollywood and allowed him to forge his path in mainstream cinema. With more opportunities and access to a far larger budget, Johnson thankfully didn’t squander the goodwill Brick afforded him.

The Rest Of Rian Johnson’s Filmography Is Impressive

Johnson Is One Of The Most Exciting Directors Working Today

Brick was just the beginning for Johnson. The 2008 comedy caper The Brothers Bloom continued to develop his offbeat style, but it was Looper in 2012 that truly showcased his ability to condense complex ideas into compelling storytelling. With a sharp take on time travel, Looper stands as one of the most original and acclaimed sci-fi films of the 21st century.

While many will point to Star Wars: The Last Jedi as an example of Johnson missing the mark, even though that film was panned by fans, it was still an impressive piece of filmmaking packed with outstanding technique and awe-inspiring sH๏τs. Whether The Last Jedi pleased fans or not, it doesn’t take away the fact that Johnson is a master of his craft.

The crown jewel in Johnson’s recent career is, of course, Knives Out, a modern murder mystery that’s shaping up to be one of the most refreshing and intelligent franchises in contemporary cinema. While it all started with Brick 20 years ago, over the past two decades, Rian Johnson has delivered on that film’s promise and grown into a truly great director.

Source: Telegraph