Outside of Avengers: Endgame, I don’t think I had a better time at a theater than with Knives Out.
Writer/Director Rian Johnson’s “Whodunnit” features the best ensemble of the year. Johnson uses this cast to tell an original story that blends elements of comedy, mystery and even touches on the division between social classes.
The culprits are predictable. Johnson’s script doesn’t try too hard to steer the audience away from the guilty parties. However, the delightful dialogue, Nathan Johnson’s violin heavy score, the pitch-perfect cast and the overall journey more than makes up for the fateful destination.
Let’s dive into the Boston Creme (Yes, the film is set in New England) center of this film by looking at the different family elements of the film.
The Thrombey Family
The family patriarch and acclaimed murder mystery writer, Harlan Thrombey’s (Christopher Plummer) birthday party serves as the main setting in the film. Every member of the Thrombey family comes across as entitled, greedy and insincere.
Toni Collette as Joni Thrombey, Michael Shannon as Walt Thrombey and Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why) as Meg Thrombey all have their moments in the film. Collette brings a fun, flight nature to Joni. Shannon plays against type and is by far the most timid out of Harlan’s offspring. Meg is certainly self serving, but Langford does provide Meg with some semblance of a soul, which is more than can be said for the rest of the Thrombey family tree.
Oscar Worthy Performances in Knives Out
The acting is strong, across the board but Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig with help from Rian Johnson’s script put forth two of the best performances of year.
I’ve enjoyed Craig’s portrayal of James Bond. However, Knives Out features the best performance of his career. Benoit Blanc is a one-of-a-kind – KFC Sanders meets Sherlock Holmes – character that could have been irritating in the hands of a lesser actor. His command of wit, intellect and language gives the film some much need warmth opposite the terrible Thrombey family.
Craig may get top billing, but Marta Cabrera is the protagonist in Knives Out. Ana de Armas is phenomenal in the role and should receive a supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance. As Harlan’s nurse and confidant, Marta knows the potential motives that each of the family member could have for murdering the patriarch. Plus her regurgitative reaction to lying allows film’s plot to kick into high gear.
The Drysdale Trio
Outside of Blanc, Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis), Richard Drysdale (Don Johnson) and Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans) are the most colorful characters in the film.
Linda Drysdale is Harlan’s daugher. There’s a sardonic nature to the character provide by Curtis that sets her a part from the rest of the chracters. Don Johnson is great at playing chracters with huge personalities and Richard Drysdale (Linda’s husband) is no exception. He earns the bulk of the film’s laughs, but also portrays Richard as the most overtly racists of the bunch.
Ransom is Richard and Linda’s son as well as Harlan’s grandson. Evans is clearly relishing the opportunity to play a character that’s the exact opposite of Captain America. Ransom is the black sheep of the family and Evans doesn’t hide his character’s hatred of pretty much everyone that’s not him. He’s not subtle about referring to Marta as “The help” and also has nothing but animosity for his entire family, which makes him fun addition once he enters the film.
Knives Out Wrap Up
Overall, Rian Johnson’s direction and script combined with this ensemble cast has resulted in a fantastic film that should also serve as the beginning of a promising frachise. What did you think of the Knives Out? Discuss in the comments.
The Review
Knives Out
PROS
- Best dialogue of the year
- Fantastic cast. Some used to their strengths and others playing against type.
- Perfect Pacing
CONS
- The culprits are predictable
