KNIVES OUT REVIEW
Starring: Daniel Criag, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, & Ana De Armas
Directed By: Rian Johnson (Star Wars – The Last Jedi)
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
Movies like Knives Out are such a rare breed nowadays for several reasons.An ensemble cast stars in an original idea that doesn’t come from an existing intellectual property, a whodunit, where the cast is tasked with solving the murder.
An ensemble cast is used.Most movies rely on a single star, maybe two to boost their movie’s profile.That can be because they can only afford a single star.It can be because the one star who signed on first refuses to allow anyone else to steal their spotlight.
Knives Out is not based on a book, a toy, or a breakfast cereal.It is an original idea.Penned by the director Rian Johnson, who delivered Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Looper, and more.For me, Johnson is entering that territory of Christopher Nolan where I’m excited to see the movie based solely on his involvement in the project.You can tell me a new movie is written and directed by Christopher Nolan and I literally don’t need to know a single thing about the project other than that and I’m excited.Rian Johnson is hitting for such a high average right now that I get pretty excited when he creates something on-screen.
A whodunit is certainly the most rare element of Knives Out.Sure, we had Murder on the Orient Express rebooted two years ago with a sequel on the way next year.But that’s pretty much it on the whodunit front.A lot of movies will present a murder and hide the killer’s identity until the end, but they’re not truly a whodunit.A group of people trapped in a house where one of them is the killer type of film.That’s what Knives Out delivers.
And boy does it deliver!Knives Out is one of the year’s best films. Period.It is funny, intelligent, surprising.The plot makes sense.It’s well paced.Every single member of the cast is phenomenal.The instant the credits started rolling I NEEDED sequels.I need about three or four more of these PRONTO!I would not have a problem with Hollywood churning out Knives Out movies at the rate they churn out Marvel movies.
Knives Out tells the story of a prolific murder-mystery author and family patriarch who is found dead the night of his 85th birthday party.The entire family gathers at his estate for the festivities.Of course his children, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, and Toni Collette respectively are fighting over the family fortune.Which raises the eyebrow of lead detective Daniel Craig, who is using a southern fired accent here to great comedic effect.He’s almost like a spoof of Poirot from the Agatha Christie novels.Spouses, grandchildren, and domestic staff all play a part in solving the murder.
Rian Johnson has created a great puzzle that always stays a step ahead of the viewer.It is entertaining, a number of actors get to ham it up.It stays in its lane and doesn’t try to do too much.At the end of the movie when all the pieces are revealed, they fit together perfectly to deliver an absolutely satisfying ending.
There had been a buzz about this movie for a little while amongst movie nerd circles.I was told this movie was the real deal.I try to taper my expectations, but I was pretty eager to see this movie, and Knives Out surpassed my expectations.You will hear about this movie again when I do the Top 10 of 2019 list.I guarantee it.
On a scale of “See It/Stream It/Skip It” – See It – These movies don’t get made much anymore and they need support in the theaters.A truly original movie featuring a terrific ensemble cast.What more can you ask for when going to the movies?
If you liked Clue, Murder on the Orient Express, or The Last of Sheila you might enjoy Knives Out.
4 out of 5 stars for Knives Out – One of the ten best films of the year.Fun and satisfying, I hope this is the beginning of a long lasting Knives Out franchise.