Rented this from Netflix last week and really enjoyed it. It has a lot of critical praise and a few negative reviews - the young film makers today know more about film than about life, a film school academic exercise blah blah blah. I was totally engrossed in this movie, I wasn't thinking about composition or noir dialogue or the writer / director and what kind of career he's going to have. I was totally absorbed in the story.
I thought Brendan was an amazing character, I felt like I identified with him and really wanted him to win. I did not see The Brain as a plot device, but as Brendan's only friend and help. Maybe repeat viewings will change my opinion but I loved this movie.