Lucas Babin Movies

A tough-talking teen attempts to uncover his ex-girlfriend's killer in director Rian Johnson's hard-boiled high-school noir, told in the style of a Dashiell Hammett mystery. An outsider by nature, Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is forced to penetrate the elaborate ranks of the high-school social scene and its more insidious underbelly when the body of his former girlfriend Emily is found lying lifeless in a remote creek. Though the pair had been on the outs, Brendan can't seem to shake the hysterical phone call that he received from Emily the day before her body was discovered, a call in which she rattled off a number of cryptic words: "brick," "pin," "tug," "poor Frisco." He's determined to find the guilty party, and to do that he'll need to uncover the meaning behind her enigmatic phone call. From the highest-ranking athlete to the lowest-level burnout, no one is above suspicion of leaving her in that creek or putting her in the position to end up there. Brendan's skill for getting the right attention from the right people leads him to a local drug dealer of urban-legendary status (Lukas Haas), who walks with a cane and lives with his mother. As Brendan infiltrates the social and political web more deeply, his theory solidifies and each player's role becomes clear, from the shifty-eyed pot slinger to an upper-crust innocent who may well be a femme fatale. Brendan may soon be ready to make his case, even if it's too late for him to get out. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The partnership between Gunn (J. August Richards) and Angel Investigations deepens when the streetwise vampire hunter asks for help in dealing with a demon named Deevak (Alan Shaw), who has begun taking over the criminal underworld in his neighborhood. Angel (David Boreanaz) and the gang accompany Gunn to a meet up with an underworld informant, but the guy chickens out. Later, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) -- plagued by visions of Gunn in mortal danger and unable to contact Angel or Wesley (Alexis Denisof) -- attempts to save Gunn from the evil Deevak, but ends up in the center of a fracas at a house party plagued by unwanted demonic guests. Eventually, Deevak is revealed to have been the trailing the gang all along, but in disguise. Angel and Wes arrive just in time to assist Cordy and Gunn in a climactic battle. Meanwhile, former client David Nabbit (David Herman -- see "War Zone") gives Angel some financial advice on his acquisition of the Hyperion Hotel (see "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?") and Angel is plagued by erotic dreams about Darla (Julie Benz), unaware of her recent resurrection or the fact that she is physically present in his room as he slumbers. Originally broadcast October 10, 2000, on the WB network, "First Impressions" marked season two, episode three of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide