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Rating
Synopsis
Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a successful murder mystery writer, has been found dead following his 85th birthday the previous day. At first, his death is ruled as a suicide, but Detectives Elliot (Lakeith Stanfield) and Wagner (Noah Segan) investigate further. They gather up several family members, including eldest daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and youngest son Walter (Michael Shannon). Alongside them are son-in-law Richard (Don Johnson), daughter-in-law Joni (Toni Collette), and grandchildren Megan (Katherine Langford) and Jacob (Jaeden Martell). A private investigator named Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) has also been hired by an anonymous source to investigate the death. At the heart of it all is Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s caretaker who was close to Harlan. Finally, there’s Linda and Richard’s son Hugh aka Ransom (Chris Evans), a spoiled rich kid who depends on everyone else. With the suspects lined up, a murder mystery is about to unfold.
Review
In a time where we are inundated with various sequels, remakes, and adaptations, it’s refreshing to see an original release. Knives Out is a very clever, well thought out, and entertaining murder mystery that keeps you guessing the entire time. Without giving much away, there’s a point where you think you’ve solved it, but then you’re hit by a curveball. Admittedly, there’s a point where it seems like there are far too many twists thrown out, which can be confusing. However, Knives Out is well-written and well-acted enough that everything starts to make sense after a while. Speaking of the acting, everyone in the cast does a terrific job and they all have their shining moments. Ana de Armas, as our protagonist, is very likable and works as the straight man to everything going on. However, Daniel Craig easily steals the show as the eccentric investigator with a southern droll.
Altogether, this is one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled, each one giving their performance 100%. Knives Out often jumps back and forth between the present and the events leading up to Harlan’s death. Luckily, the flashbacks are never intrusive or out of place and serve to give further character insight and development. Plus, like many good murder mysteries, Knives Out gives you just enough information without outright spoiling itself. Also, even with all the twists and turns the movie takes, it’s never difficult to follow or hard to understand. Say what you will about Rian Johnson, but he’s a talented filmmaker who’s in high demand for a reason. Even if you’re not a fan of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, this is easily one of his best films. Overall, Knives Out is an enjoyable thriller with plenty of humor and suspense to make it one of 2019’s best.
Buy Knives Out on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fyDtVj.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
