Film Review | Knives Out

Knives & Out is directed by Rian Johnson and stars everyone.

AKA Daniel Craig, Ana De Armas, Toni Colette, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Katharine Langford, and many others.

Mystery/Thriller/Comedy. Released 2019.

Knives Out is a modern, comedic spin on the classic Agatha Christie-style Whodunnit. After the death of a family patriarch, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called to question the eccentric and argumentative Thrombeys along with caretaker Marta (Ana De Armas).

I was not entirely sure what to expect from Knives Out. I hadn't watched much of the marketing, so I was watching with a rather clean slate. The cast is great and I was intrigued by the tone; I appreciated the wacky and comedic twist that had been hinted at. Knives Out does not disappoint. It manages to perform the juggling act of being very accessible to a wide demographic as well as feeling like a niche auteur piece.

Rian Johnson constructs a very compelling mystery. I appreciate Knives Out because it isn't a film where you can sit back and let it wash over you. It requires your own brain. It's almost unimaginable to think about the amount of time and brainpower Johnson must've taken in order to weave this mystery together, but the result is so worth it. I have not seen Looper, but whenever I hear that title mentioned, the script is praised, which, having now seen Knives Out, is no surprise. Johnson seems to have a knack for putting together very well-thought-out, gripping and self-contained films. The Last Jedi is good, but it didn't feel as though he was in his element when writing or directing it, many considering it to be a step down from The Force Awakens. However, I appreciate his integrity there.

The ensemble of Knives Out has been criminally over-looked when it comes to the Ensemble SAG Nomination. I would've considered it an absolute guarantee, and for good reason. They all deliver stellar performances that bring the film to life. They elevate the wacky and eccentric tone due to their distinct characterisation. Kudos to Ana De Armas for playing the 'normal' one, making it easy to adapt to the eccentricity of the Thrombeys because of her relatable and vulnerable performance. She is a real find. I am really looking forward to seeing where she goes next; that Golden Globe nomination will help her out. Daniel Craig is nothing but great. He nails the parodic accent and embodies everything the perfectly named Benoit Blanc should. However, Chris Evans steals the show for me... and not because I am a Marvel fan. The nature of his character commands attention, and Evans demands attention from audiences. I love how liberated he seems; this is certainly a departure from Captain America. Jamie Lee Curtis nails her deadpan humour and Toni Collette is another scene-stealer; her character is outrageously entertaining, and she does a tremendous job translating her from page to screen. Collette will never fail to be so impressive.

I was hoping that Katharine Langford could demonstrate some versatility beyond her role in 13 Reasons Why, and she had the opportunity to do so, but she fails to use the script to her advantage. She is in no way bad, but opposite any of the aforementioned, she is pretty bland.

I can't help but get excited about a non-existent sequel to Knives Out. I feel like, because of all the characters, there is plenty of opportunity to continue this story. Maybe it could even parody the tropes of a typical sequel, just like Knives Out parodies the tropes of a typical whodunnit. Since it is doing very respectable box office for a film of this genre, it seems as though it is a natural next step, and I would very much like to see it.

Knives Out is an intelligently woven Whodunnit with all sorts of twists and turns, encouraging the audience to stay switched on as opposed to them shutting off. With a brilliant, charismatic ensemble performance, the film is always engaging and once it's finished, it scratches that itch for a sequel, and I really hope it goes in that direction. This is an inarguable win for writer/director Rian Johnson. 

B+