Knives Out Review: The Whodunnit Movie of the Year
It’s Always Interesting When The Family Get’s Together
You might feel all the nights staying up reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys prepared you for Rian Johnson’s new film, Knives Out, but you would be wrong. Haha! It was really those extended family dinners. Just kidding, but for real we all know family relationships can be complicated. (Some of you might be thinking that’s an understatement. Haha!) Relationships can get even more complicated when family members work with, or for, each other. Throw in lots of money and you just got yourself a perfect storm right there. This is exactly what writer and director Rian Johnson did with his new film, Knives Out. Read below for my review of the whodunnit movie of the year. Knives Out is in theaters now.
Non-Spoiler Review for Geek for E
While I try my best not to include spoilers in my reviews sometimes light ones do happen. If you are looking for an absolutely non-spoiler review of Knives Out you can check out my short spoiler-free review for Geek for E HERE. Also, I do not have a “Safe for Kids” section for this movie. While Knives Out is rated PG-13, due to the amount of language and violence I highly recommend leaving the kids at home.
Knives Out Synopsis
“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 to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death. With an all-star ensemble cast that also includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, and Jaeden Martell.” – Lionsgate
My Review
To be honest I was unsure going into this movie. I like whodunnit movies, but most of the time I either figure out who the killer is pretty early, or the film drags on and on. I had neither of these issues with Knives Out. In fact, I feel Knives Out is a spectacular movie. Chris Evans and Daniel Craig are ridiculously funny in both of their roles and are given some of the best lines in the movie. While I love Marvel movies it was refreshing to see Chris Evans in a different kind of film, and I have a feeling Aran cable-knit sweaters are going to be popular this holiday season.
For Daniel Craig, I have to give him credit for his accent. I was first taken aback by his southern accent but soon realized there was no way his character would have been as funny if he didn’t have it. His accent in a way tied the movie together and made it better. (I did consult with my sister who spent many years in Alabama to see how Daniel Craig did on his accent and she said he did a pretty good job. Haha!)
But what about the story? The story has multiple layers, and once you feel you figured out something another layer is there to keep you guessing. Some will probably be able to figure out whodunnit before the movie ends, but the movie is such an entertaining piece of cinema it won’t matter.
My Rating
So, what rating do I give Knives Out? I give it a solid A. It is highly entertaining, but I feel they could have put in one more twist to keep you guessing making it harder for people to guess who did it. Also, some of the characters could have been developed more. (Such as the grandchildren.) I don’t normally watch movies multiple times in the theaters, but I will be going back to the theater to see Knives Out again soon, and then go grab a donut afterward.
