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| Courtesy of Lionsgate |
by Daniel Andrade
One of my favorite games when I was a kid was Clue. It was fun trying to piece together all the evidence and figure out exactly what happened. That fascination remained with me when I got older, and I discovered the wonderful world of Murder Mystery dinners, which was like a real-life version of Clue. You had to really be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to everything people said and did, lest you miss out on a valuable hint. And when you finally figured out who did what, how they did it and why, it was such a sense of relief, and an even greater sense of accomplishment if you were able to figure it out completely!
What I discovered in those Murder Mystery Dinners is that it is incredibly difficult to craft a compelling, engaging mystery. You have to know your characters and setting thoroughly, and have to be able to make it seem like there are multiple suspects to keep everyone on their toes. There are a lot of moving parts that need to flow smoothly, or else it could either come out to predictable or too convoluted. Thankfully, Rian Johnson (Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) succeeds in creating a smart, funny, and entertaining whodunnit with Knives Out.
First of all, the casting is incredible, and everyone plays their part convincingly and enthusiastically. Daniel Craig (James Bond) shines as Private Investigator Benoit Blanc, delivering lines hilariously in a Cajun accent, and striking a great balance of Southern charm and intimidation with his questioning. Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Hereditary), often more known for her serious roles, is absolutely delightful as Joni Thrombey, a “woke” woman focused on self-help and self-improvement that just wants everyone to get along. The legendary Christopher Plummer (Beginners, All the Money in the World) is wonderful as the patriarch of the family, Harlan Thrombey, a successful mystery author struggling to deal with his family and finding comfort in the company of his caretaker Marta. We see both a compassionate and caring side of him when he tries to look out for his kids, but also a stern and serious side when he has had enough of their greed and selfishness. Speaking of the caretaker, she is also played marvelously by Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049), displaying her kind-heartedness with Harlan as well her anxious and nervous side in dealing with other members of the family. Chris Evans (Captain America, Snowpiercer) plays his role so well you can’t help but hate him as the arrogant, rude, dirtbag grandson Ransom Drysdale. I could go on and on praising everyone else in their roles, it is certainly an all-star cast, but these are just a few highlights.
As I said earlier, a good mystery storyteller not only knows their characters well, but their environment as well. I love seeing all the nooks and crannies and secrets contained within the sprawling mansion, and the centerpiece of the Game of Thrones-esque Knives Chair is simply stunning. The eccentric and macabre decorations add to the sense of mystery and set the mood for the movie, one that is both dark but also weirdly charming and often times funny. The huge collection of books scattered throughout the house add an air of sophistication and class to the home. Even the gorgeous autumnal scenery outside adds life to the movie. Everything is meticulously placed and framed, and the attention to detail is just another impressive element to the film.
As for the story itself, it is absolutely well-crafted. The pacing is perfect, giving you little clues throughout the story to keep you guessing and engaged right up until the very end. The dialogue does a perfect job of displaying just what kind of people the Thrombeys are, and how Marta does her best to deal with them. There are plenty of hilarious moments that will make you laugh out loud, as well as enlightening moments that will make you gasp. There’s even some social/political commentary about immigration and the divisiveness of America, without getting too preachy or in-your-face about it (really it just adds to the character development and makes you understand them better). The plot unfolds naturally and never seems out of place or odd. It's hard to say much more without delving into spoilers, but suffice to say it has a satisfying ending.
CONCLUSION: Rian Johnson succeeds in crafting an impressively executed whodunnit, with a colorful cast of characters who keep you guessing throughout the film. Beautifully shot, perfectly paced, smartly written, and brilliantly acted, it is definitely a fun ride that is worth watching in theaters, so that you can all join in on the guessing and the collective sighs of relief at the end together. It’s one of my favorite movies of the year so far without a doubt.
FINAL SCORE: 5/5
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