Knives Out - The Most Entertaining Film of the Year
Moments after I first watched 'Knives Out' I could hardly stay still because I was full of adrenaline and excitement; it is truly one of the most entertaining cinema experiences of the year. Rian Johnson has suffered two years of unwarranted harassment for 'The Ladi Jedi' and he hasn't let it fade his confidence one bit as this film is slick, expertly crafted and more than compelling. Following the format of a traditional whodunnit, Johnson pays homage yet deconstructs everything about the genre whilst also remaining true in creating an authentic mystery. He even takes it one step further in exploring an intensely interesting social-political angle and having a set of well rounded hilarious characters to develop his point in one of the tightest scripts of the year. It is an absolute crowd-pleaser and I mean that as a compliment, it manages to create a hilarious comedy and an utterly inticing murder mystery without sacrificing the effect of either part. I loved watching 'Knives Out' and was itching to see it again straight after.
After the mysterious suicide of wealthy crime writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), his dysfunctional greedy family comes to terms with the possibility that there was foul play involved in his death. Prestigious private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired by an unknown source to investigate the messy family politics and the young nurse (Ana de Armas) that is caught up in it all. The plot reads like any murder mystery, including rich complex family dynamics and motives with a suspicious butler thrown in for good measure. But Johnson is aware that you know this genre, he understands his audience is more than familiar with these elements and uses that to his advantage when plotting the narrative. It is this beautiful combination of elements of what we love yet using more modern expectation-subverting elements to create simultaneously a love letter and deconstruction of this genre which is beyond impressive. He leaves a lot in the audience's hands, we are encouraged to keep guessing and working it out, there is this modern trend in new crime thriller's that if the audience can't predict what is going to happen, that makes it a compelling mystery. However, this results in situations like 'Sherlock' where the evidence isn't presented to the audience to make their own assumption, instead, we don't get that killer piece of evidence that the characters conveniently know. Johnson makes sure to set up every single piece of the puzzle in immaculate detail to keep the audience guessing.
I would describe Johnson's writing style as a magic trick, combining deception, sleight of hand and misdirection to maintain his essential mystery. This makes the film feel fresh and exciting, you clock things that have been hinted at and your mind starts racing about the possibilities, you are trying to work out the possible consequences from every detail and it is so engaging to watch. I found myself getting more and more invested as Johnson pulls back more and more of the curtain. This is one of the tightest and most thorough scripts I have ever seen, nothing is left without sufficient set-up and pay off in such an impressive manner. You have to keep an eye on every character and every situation to work out how everything unfolds and the climactic act lives up to this potential in creating an exhilarating and satisfying conclusion. It has been a while since a film has felt this satisfying and refreshing, the mystery is so well constructed it is mind-blowing at times. But Johnson doesn't just dedicate his writing skills to creating a genuine mystery, he uses it for amazing comedic moments and a thematic through-line that create the package of perfection that is this film's plot.
Most of the comedic elements come from the incredible ensemble cast which contains so many incredible actors it is unbelievable. Daniel Craig's performance is undeniably hilarious and does a fantastic job as a ridiculous Poirot-esque character. His accent is unplaceable and he has some of my favourite moments of the film, he plays into the stereotypes yet doesn't stray away from creating a convincing character. The heart and soul of the film is Ana de Armas as Marta, the young nurse who is caught up in the politics, I don't want to spoil much about her character but she is easily my favourite character. Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Toni Colette and LaKeith Stanfield fill out the cast wonderfully, they all have this fantastic enthusiasm for their roles. It is clear everyone is enjoying every bit of materiel they can flex with, Shannon and Colette especially play these wonderfully heightened characters that expand this world so well. The cast manages to create such strong characters that even though they are all such recognisable names they disappear into the Thrombey family seamlessly.
The overall design of 'Knives Out' is something that I didn't expect to love as much as I did. The production design is outstanding, to say the least, mostly taking place inside this one mansion that harkens back to the classical settings of many of these murder mysteries. Full of secrets and attention to detail that compels the audience to pay attention, the house is owned by a crime writer so it is full of this eerie memorabilia. From the iconic wheel of knives to the disturbing paintings and models lining the walls the Thrombey mansion feels like its own disorientating angle. The cinematography is a prominent part, although perhaps not as exceptional and inventive as other films released this year Johnson uses framing as an essential thematic angle. The few closing and opening shots are absolutely unforgettable and communicate everything they need to so effectively. It is this brilliant use of every element that sells 'Knives Out', being just stylish enough without being obnoxious at all.
I had no idea I would love 'Knives Out' as much as I did and had no idea it would be as successful as it is. It is such a gamble and a beautiful collection of risky ideas, Johnson has a lot on his plate as the nature of many murder mysteries but he pulls through. Every element works so well and every moment pays off in such a beautiful fashion in a conclusion that is thematically fascinating and almost brought a tear to my eye. One of my favourite films of the year and probably the most fun experience in the cinema, it is an absolute delight.
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