Knives Out review. Rian Johnson’s redemption?
Posted by James, 22 January 2021 (3 minute read)
Rian Johnson’s stock as a filmmaker was pretty low after the release of The Last Jedi in December 2017. In its aftermath, the director was accused of everything from disrespecting fans, not adhering to the lore of the Star Wars universe and poorly handling the return of cinematic icon Luke Skywalker.
The poor audience response and lower-than-expected box office return were so bad that Disney is still stalling on officially announcing Johnson’s proposed new Stars Wars trilogy, despite being in talks with him for some time.
But the release of Knives Out – Johnson’s first project since writing and directing The Last Jedi – reminds us just what a talented filmmaker he really is. Put simply, the man who directed Breaking Bad’s epic ‘Ozymandias’ is well and truly back!
Without wanting to give too much away, Knives Out is your classic ‘whodunit’. Wealthy mystery writer Harlan Thrombey invites his family to his mansion for an 85th birthday celebration. The next morning, he is found dead. The police believe it to be suicide, but world-renowned sleuth Benoit Blanc is not so sure. A murder investigation ensues…
A modern film aware of old roots
Knives Out is littered with references to great sleuthing stories of the past. Clearly a fan of Agatha Christie, Johnson writes and directs the film with real confidence.
And because of this, Knives Out pays homage to past detective genre brethren, but is still more than creative enough to not succumb to them entirely. So alongside well-worn themes of the traditional ‘whodunit’ (old mansions, fireplaces, warring families), the film also makes a number of modern points too.
Most notable is Johnson’s casting of Ana de Armas in the lead role of Marta Cabrera, the good-hearted latinx nurse thrust into the greedy vortex of a capitalist-driven American family jumping over each other to get their hands on a large inheritance after the sudden death of their patriarch. (Mark Conroy has written a great piece that delves deeper into these ideas. Check it out here – after you’ve watched the film of course!)
A stellar cast
But de Armas isn’t the only brilliant performance in Knives Out. Johnson ensembles a real galaxy of stars to bring his story to life.
Daniel Craig looks to be having the time of his life playing Detective Benoit Blanc. A character worthy of Christie’s Hercule Poirot, I cannot wait to see how Johnson develops Blanc in the already green-lit sequel!
Then we have the equally captivating Chris Evans – Captain America himself – playing Thrombey’s grandson Hugh Ransome Drysdale, while Jamie Lee Curtis demonstrates all her usual poise as his despicable mother, Linda.
A visual (and audible) treat
The film is delicious to look at. The Thrombey residence (a picturesque house in Massachusetts) allows for any number of great shots and plot subtleties, where potential murderers can escape through the traditional secret passageways and hidden top-floor windows.
The soundtrack is superb too. Johnson chose his cousin (Nathan Johnson) to write the score. It really is the perfect accompaniment. Jarring, poetic and moving all at the same time, it underscores the action, adding yet more suspense to the already suspenseful on-screen drama.
Knives Out is available now on Amazon Prime. You could even watch it using the free 30-day trial!
Watch the trailer below.
JW’s Thoughts of a Copywriter will be back in two weeks with a new post about my favourite advertising slogans of all time! Find out more about future posts by following me on Twitter @JWCopywriting and liking my Facebook page.
Have a great couple of weeks,
JW