Of all the genres Hollywood has to offer, one of my favorites has got to be mysteries, but more to the point, the 'whodunit' film. Film wise, I have always enjoyed films based on an Agatha Christie novel. It was just a great way to escape all the while trying to figure out whodunit. Well this is what we've been offered with "Knives Out".
Acclaimed writer and director Rian Johnson, pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie in "Knives Out", a fun, modern-day murder mystery whodunit where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.
From Harlan's dysfunctional family including Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis), Walt Thrombey (Michael Shannon), Richard Drysdale (Don Johnson), Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans) and Joni Thrombey (Toni Collette), to his devoted staff including Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) and Fran (Edi Patterson), Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover this truth behind Harlan's untimely death.
Others to round out the cast are LaKeith Stanfield as Lieutenant Elliott, Katherine Langford as Meg Thrombey, Jaeden Martell as Jacob Thrombey, Frank Oz as Alan Stevens, K Callan as Greatnana Wanetta, Noah Segan as Trooper Wagner, E. Emmet Walsh as Mr. Proofroc and Marlene Forte as Marta's mom.
This was brilliantly written and directed by Rian Johnson ("Brick" '05, "The Brothers Bloom" '08, "Looper" '12, "Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi" '17) plus TV, shorts and a video short. Johnson is a filmmaker to contend with seeing as how he has not only the ability to write and direct a commercial film, but an independent one as well. Usually most filmmakers gravitate to one or the other, but this guy can do it all. Ever since I saw his first feature film, "Brick" in 2005, I was convinced that this filmmaker was going places, assuming Hollywood gave him a chance. As Hollywood has let'me down many times, they actually acknowledged this guy's true potential. The characters in this simply came to life through his innate ability work along side of his actors to get as real a response from them depending on the scene. His writing is as delineated with creating a plot and storyline that seems complex, however as it is conveyed to the audience, it is a honed, tight, and cohesive script that includes twists and turns aplenty. As soon as you think you've figured it out, you'll soon realize you're wrong. This was definitely a homage to mystery writer Agatha Christie and it also has a "Clue" feel to it probably because it's written as a dry comedy. This ensemble cast is amazing and comes across like they truly love this production and gives the appearance that they wouldn't want to be doing anything else but this film. If you like Johnson's work, an untitled 'Star Wars Trilogy: Episode I' has been announced.
If you like the work of Rian Johnson or of Agatha Christie, you will in sleuth heaven. Like other whodunits, this has it all: intrigue, mystery, doubt, fear and even humor all rolled up in a fun, interesting and rollicking film that will keep the audience on their toes wondering, whodunit!
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG-13 130mins.
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