Knives Out

Knives Out

Starring Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis

Directed by Rian Johnson

"Clue" has always been one of my favorite board games, because I've always been fascinated with whodunits, which is why I've also thoroughly enjoyed the works of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle and films like "Clue" and "Murder on the Orient Express."  So when I heard about Rian Johnson coming out with his own unique whodunit called "Knives Out," I was already all in with eager anticipation, even though I had my reservations when the trailers labeled it as a "whodunit like no one's done it before."  There can't be a totally different way to tell a whodunit that's existed for decades, right?  Johnson actually surprised me even more by delivering on what he promised: a whodunit that no one's done it before, a tense mystery wrapped in dark humor that plays to the tropes of the classics but only in a way to subvert your attention from what's really happening until the big reveal, which was exceptional in its shocking nature.

On the surface this is a classic through and through, a film that looks like it'd take place in the classic era but then you're given hints of the modern world with cell phones, topical debates and the outside world, even though most of the film takes place in the historic palatial mansion of famed mystery novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), who's found dead after his big birthday celebration.

Although all signs point to suicide, the death has sparked interest in private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who gathers the entire family to investigate the death and see if foul play is involved.

The family members are a rogue's gallery of suspects: real estate mogul and eldest daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), her philandering husband Richard (Don Johnson), youngest son Walt (Michael Shannon) who is the CEO of his dad's company, lifestyle guru Joni (Toni Collette) who's the widow of Harlan's other son, and Ransom (Chris Evans), who's Linda and Richard's spoiled son.  Throw in the mix Joni's liberal arts study major daughter Meg (Katherine Langford) and Walt's alt-right son Jacob (Jaeden Martell) and you've got a suspect list a mile wide.  The only person close to Harlan that isn't a complete jerk is his caretaker Marta (Ana de Armas), who sincerely cared for the old man and wouldn't want to see him come to harm.  As Blanc begins to piece this puzzle together, he learns not everyone is who they seem, and the truth lies behind the lies.

The film is filled to the brim with top-notch talent from acclaimed actors who all show their deep desire for the film they're in, even if most of them aren't given the screen time they're due.  The likes of the illustrious Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Johnson are extremely limited, while others like Michael Shannon and Toni Collette are given more meatier roles in their eccentric personalities that deliver the laughs continually, while the younger stars Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell are pretty much invisible.  Christopher Plummer obviously doesn't get much screen time either, but his brief moments on screen are truly memorable.
The true heart of the film lies in the three leading roles of Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas and Chris Evans, who all give tremendous performances.  Craig's detective Blanc oozes confidence and Southern charm as he holds himself as the smartest person in the room despite his hillbilly accent (the second time he's used this type of accent, the first being in his other fantastic performance in "Logan Lucky").  Chris Evans plays the spoiled rich brat with perfection as he also has an endearing nature when he's around his stuck-up relatives (especially during the reading of the will, which is one of the most memorable parts of the film).  Ana de Armas, however, is the real heart of the film as the nice nurse and caretaker Marta, and the film mostly follows her story, which is a very important one.  She holds the screen with sensitivity and also intelligence and a slightly snarky attitude that makes her all the more memorable and proves her strong acting chops by being the most memorable character in a literal sea of acclaimed actors.

On the outside looking in, "Knives Out" seems like your typical whodunit film: a remote setting consisting of a large historic mansion with several hidden rooms (that even one of the detectives quip in saying it's like the "Clue" house come to life), a wealthy eccentric who's dead, a slew of close family members who have their own secrets that the old man knew about, and an offbeat detective that's basically the American version of Poirot or Sherlock.  All these window dressings serve as the ultimate fake-out to the audience as we're lulled into the false sense of security in that we're seeing something we've seen time and time again, and that's where Rian Johnson (who also wrote the script) really shines - he twists his proverbial knife to deliver a spellbinding tale that we're not expecting, filled with hidden mysteries and motives that require several viewings to fully contemplate what we've seen.  It's also a fun thrill ride that's a joy from start to finish, offering biting social commentary on today's hot button issues without being too preachy, providing eccentric performances, and giving the audience a story that's not spoon-fed to them, but requires deep thought and introspection.

Offering his own unique spin on the whodunit genre, Rian Johnson's "Knives Out" is a modern day mystery that hearkens back to the classics while giving the audience something they haven't seen in this type of genre before, filled with refreshing performances and a razor-sharp script that'd make Agatha Christie proud.

The Score: A+