So I can see how many people out there might not care for any kind of toilet humor at all. Really I do, I’ve seen some bad stuff like that lousy Ren & Stimpy adult relaunch, Drawn Together, Freddy Got Fingered, etc. But the lead heroine of Rian Johnson’s throwback-style murder mystery Knives Out, an unassuming Latina nurse named Marta (Ana de Armas) has an interesting gross-out aspect to her that helps elevate this story, believe it or not- when she lies, it makes her nauseous and she instantly vomits. And Daniel Craig’s private eye Benoit Blanc is going to use that to his advantage in his hunt for the truth, no matter how disgusting things get.
Fortunately, this movie is disgustingly witty and compelling. It has a great balance of intelligent humor that never feels too pretentious, a fascinating and bloody puzzle for the viewers to solve alongside its heroes, and some unexpectedly strong performances from a well-stacked cast. If you’d had the pleasure of seeing the 1976 mystery-comedy Murder By Death, this very much feels like a modern version in a similar spirit- taking its subject matter just serious enough with a hint of playfulness.
The southern-accented Blanc doesn’t know who hired him to find out who murdered renown mystery novelist Harlan Thrombey (a standout Christopher Plummer) following his 85th birthday celebration, but he and Detective Lt. Elliot (LaKeith Stanfield) are still determined to root out the culprit. As Thrombey’s personal caretaker, Marta is, unfortunately, a prime suspect.
But she’s among many other suspects within the affluent family- the smug playboy nicknamed Ransom (Chris Evans, playing a sleazy character his boy-scout Captain America would instantly hate), his temperamental real estate mother Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her brother Walt (Michael Shannon) who had a rift with Harlan over his publishing rights. Or what about Harlan’s hippie guru daughter Joni (Toni Collette)? Maybe Walt’s right-wing internet troll son Jacob (Jaeden Martell) knows more than he’s letting on?
This is a whodunit that encourages the audience to pay attention to little things over the course of the story. The revelations aren’t the most jaw-dropping, but it’s not so much about the destination in this movie as it’s more about the journey, and Johnson works in enough twists in the story that will keep the crowd guessing, but still with a framework that makes sense.
Steve Yeldin is clearly having a ton of fun with the cinematography, allowing Rian’s smart plotting and interesting characters to fuel the excitement. From the costume designing by Jenny Eagan to the elaborate and quirky layout of Harlan Thrombey’s mansion (including a striking dagger-themed chair) to some well crafted and artful shots, this “mid-budgeter” might not be a huge CGI fest but it’s still got plenty of eye candy regardless. In some ways, the Knives Out characters would be perfect for a graphic novel.
If the Last Jedi fallout (sue me, I still enjoyed it) taught us anything, Johnson is a director who loves to defy audience expectations, and that’s clear in how he allows Daniel Craig considerable flexibility as Blanc. He’s serious about his work, but is slightly eccentric and still retains a unique brand of approachability and sympathy towards Marta’s plight, encouraging a Holmes and Watson style dynamic between them. Watching Craig here shamelessly sing badly with the car radio, and then as his dead-serious, stoic James Bond in the No Time To Die trailer (which looks cool, don’t get me twisted), it’s hard to believe that’s the same guy.
Marta’s status as an immigrant isn’t lost on Rian Johnson, and he doesn’t have any issue weaving in some social commentary around that aspect. Luckily none of it feels overly preachy or to where it derails the mystery, but if one listens closely, there are some brief exchanges between characters hinting at the current zeitgeist. As the lead, de Armas is extremely easy to root for in her performance, proving a grounded center to Craig’s flamboyance (he’s looking for the donut hole within a donut hole, you see).
What ultimately makes Knives Out work is its mix of intelligence and conscience. It’s a movie that uniquely feels sophisticated without sacrificing any sense of fun it hopes to provide, and that’s a unique achievement- as is somehow, quite literally making a movie about barf, and forcing me to declare it sophisticated regardless. If you’re looking for a slick crime story that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people (I’d say older teens and up), this is an easy recommendation from me. But what did you think about it, did you love or hate it, what? Swing by @offical_FAN on Twitter as always and share your feelings on it!