Pros: large and diverse cast; irony; non-standard development of the detective line Cons: there are several gaps in the plot of Knives Out
Genre detective
Directed by Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig (Benoit Blanc), Chris Evans (Ransom), Ana De Armas (Martha), Jamie Lee Curtis (Linda), Toni Collette (Joni), Don Johnson (Morris), Michael Shannon (Walt), LaKeith Stanfield ( Troy), Katherine Langford (Meg), Jaeden Martell (Jacob), Christopher Plummer (Harlan), Riki Lindhome (Donna), etc.
Lionsgate, Media Rights Capital (MRC), T-Street
Year of release 2019
IMDb website
So, at the center of the plot is the wealthy writer Harlan Thrombey. He gathers all the heirs in a huge house to celebrate his 85th birthday. The celebration is accompanied by quarrels, about which the parties to the conflict prefer to remain silent. However, they will have to be told about them, because at the end of the holiday, Thrombey is found dead. The police and the famous detective Benoit Blanc, whom someone anonymously hired to investigate the case, have to figure out what happened. To quickly find the killer, Blanc arranges an interrogation. He gradually reveals secrets, as well as the thirst for inheritance that all family members are obsessed with.
The film attracts not only the detective genre, but also the cast of actors. Here you can find the most unexpected faces: Christopher Plummer (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween), Chris Evans (Captain America), Toni Collette (Hereditary), Don Johnson (Django Unchained), Michael Shannon (Man of Steel), Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why), Jaeden Martell (It), Anu De Armas (Blade Runner 2049).
All actors are conducted by Daniel Craig, who plays the detective. Here, Craig allows himself to relax and shed his usual 007 persona. He squints at suspects, asks questions mockingly, and seems to casually conduct the investigation. Some of the clues come across to his hero completely by accident, he ignores the other part, and somewhere he is completely distracted by his own singing in the car.
The idea to return the classic detective genre to a feature film with a new detective came to the mind of director-screenwriter Rian Johnson (Brick; Star Wars: The Last Jedi). He’s a big fan of twists and turns, so writing a twisted murder story was something he could do.
Rian Johnson sets the film at a brisk pace, immediately allowing Craig’s character to delve into the nuances of the murder that took place. So the director gradually gives the viewer pieces of the puzzle of the overall picture, complementing it with a large number of details in the interior of the house. Johnson encourages you to peer into every frame and listen to the testimony, and then suddenly turns events on their head.
At one point everything becomes obvious, and the film radically changes direction. If so, don’t be disappointed. Firstly, because the plot is still interesting. Secondly, because this is not the end yet.
In addition, Rian Johnson is ironic, putting social meanings into the basis of his film. The house in which the murder takes place becomes the image of the United States. It brings together conservative Republicans, liberals, and representatives of migrants. They argue among themselves and remain tolerant of each other only up to a certain point, until the struggle for territory comes to the fore.
The cast and the brisk pace of the film make it truly fun to watch. Despite the fact that the film’s running time is not eternal, all the leading actors manage to introduce their characters, demonstrating their main qualities. In some places, this turns out to be a comedy, proving that a detective does not have to plunge into depressing colors.
By the way, about paints. In “Knives Out,” unlike other films with a crime plot, there are no muted tones. The costume designers select bright clothes for the characters, and cinematographer Steve Yedlin takes close-ups, simultaneously adding the eccentric interior of the house into the frame.
All this suggests that “Knives Out” can reach a large audience who go to the cinema for distraction. That’s right, in two hours the film captivates, makes you laugh and invites you to create your own version of what is happening. So detective fans who are tired of dark, manic plots should like it.
There are several plot flaws in the film, but it’s probably not worth talking about them before watching it. By the way, they ultimately do not spoil the picture, which was created solely for entertainment.
Conclusion:
A light entertaining investigative film that will appeal to a large audience.
