Logan Sork Film Reviews
Knives Out
Writer/ director Rian Johnson is quite infamous for subverting audience expectations. This can be quite difficult to do, as if you try to hard to subvert the expectations of the audience too much then they’ll get used to being surprised, this no longer getting surprised. Johnson has both succeeded and failed in this department with his past films, which is why I was nervous with Knives Out. A good old murder mystery is always going to be intriguing, however trying too hard to be clever with the genre tropes can sometimes result in unpleasant viewing experiences. Thankfully though, Johnson’s take on the genre is anything but unpleasant, providing a fun time at the movies with lots of twists and turns in a completely different fashion.
Knives Out is written and directed by Rian Johnson and stars Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, and Christopher Plummer. The mystery centers around the death of renowned mystery writer Harlan Thromby (Plummer), who has died shortly after his 85th birthday party, which he celebrated with his eccentric family. The police bring in a renowned detective (Craig) who believes that someone has murdered the patriarch in pursuit of their own goals. As the investigation into his death progresses however, it seems that not everything is as clear cut as we’re led to believe.
Like many of Johnson’s other films, the screenplay I filled with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. While this may not work for other film genres he’s dabbled in, this technique is perfect for the mystery genre, especially when there is a murder involved. Johnson cleverly takes murder mystery tropes and turns them on their heads in a way that is new, yet also doesn’t completely break away from generic expectations. Sure, you have your classic setup, an old man has been murdered and the closest suspects are his eccentric family members. After a while, however, it becomes clear that this is a very different take on the murder mystery. While some people may find this a bit strange, it is nice to see a genre full of generic twists and turns get a few new ones to dish put during the course of the runtime.
Another element of the screenplay that excels is the dialogue, which, like the title implies, is razor-sharp and packs a punch. While the commentary layered into the dialogue may be laid on a bit thick at times, it’s fun enough that you’re willing to overlook it. Of course, having great actors deliver such lines always makes it more entertaining, and what a cast Johnson has assembled here. Every one of them turns in an A-plus performance, delivering both over the top and nuanced mannerisms that give the film a lot of colors when it comes to characters. Though each cast member is great, there are a few notable standouts. Daniel Craig is fantastic as the smooth-talking southern detective, a far cry from his usual British roles he is so recognized for. Ana De Armas was surprisingly good in this film, who takes a much larger role than expected and carries it beautifully. Other standouts include Toni Collette, Jaimie Lee Curtis, and Michael Shannon, who all manage to bring different dimensions to their otherwise flat characters.
The atmosphere and overall feel of the film is also classic mystery, with the Thromby Mansion seemingly being a character itself. Every corner of the nook and cranny is covered in some sort of exotic décor, bringing a mysterious feeling to the film. The production designers really outdid themselves on this one, managing to make just about every frame of the film feel old-fashioned, yet also bright, modern and eye-catching at the same time. In fact, just about every technical element of the film feels the same way. The costumes especially add to the feeling of the film, with each character clad in their own unique assortment of materials and patterns, allowing for different feels to emulate off of them. The film loses its atmospheric feel in parts however when character venture off the estate for something outside of the area. While it would make sense for characters to leave given the circumstances, you always find yourself wanting to go back to the mansion to begin exploring again. I guess that shows how good the overall design of the film really is though.
Knives Out is a very different murder mystery, and that is what makes it so engaging. Rather than taking a traditional approach to the scenario we’ve seen a hundred times before; Johnson makes some big reveals rather early on in the film. This brings me to some of the problems with the film. Because these big loads of information are given to the audience so soon, the impact of them is somewhat lessened because the tension hasn’t been pulled as much. However, Johnson substitutes this lack of traditional tension building by employing different techniques to achieve this effect. This can be off-putting to some viewers, especially those looking for a traditional whodunit.
However, those with an open mind and looking for a new take on the genre will find this film to be clever, witty and really engaging. By employing clever twists on the genre, giving great actors some fantastic dialogue lines and creating enough traditional atmosphere to build tension, Rian Johnson’s take on the whodunit succeeds in killer fashion.
8.5/10