KNIVES OUT (Rated PG13; Nov 27′ 19 release date)

Grade: 4/5

Knives Out is an excellent “whodunit” style movie that is entertaining, fast paced and gripping. A must watch comedy thriller! Don’t go in thinking Agatha Christie, go in thinking “Clue” and you will enjoy one of the best movies of the year. Note that I have made sure not to put any spoilers in the review.

Movie boasts a star studded ensemble cast led by the great Christopher Plummer (89 years young), Daniel Craig (James Bond), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween), Toni Collette (Sixth Sense), Don Johnson (Miami Vice) and Chris Evans (Captain America) among others. However, I was most impressed by the acting of “Marta” the nurse played by Ana De Armas. She was a natural fit. Director Rian Johnson has to be commended for making a movie of this genre which have become such a rarity in this day and age – quite a departure from his last directorial movie “The Last Jedi”. 

Movie takes place in a wintry cold and cozy setting of a Boston suburban mansion with the cast of characters you would expect in a murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. Begins predictably with the death of the grand patriarch of the family Harlan Thrombey, an opulent crime novelist, played by Christopher Plummer, the night of his 85th birthday celebration where the entire family was gathered. The house maid finds his dead body, throat slit in the study (Clue, anyone?). This prompts an investigation into his death led by a renowned private detective Benoit Leblanc, played by Daniel Craig. At first I was skeptical of seeing Daniel Craig outside of his debonair James Bond character and was completely flabbergasted to hear his hard southern American accent which came out of nowhere – my mind was doing its best to resist! But alas, I was pleasantly surprised as to how quickly he morphed himself into the role, made it his own and sold it perfectly. His demeanor and mannerisms were very Colombo like – not in your face, cigar in hand, calm, nonchalant yet very inquisitive and intelligent.

Detective Benoit interviews all the usual suspects including the children, grand children and the help – each one portrayed as having a motive. His son wanting ownership of the publishing company, his daughter feeling she was the natural heir to the throne, his erratic grandson (Chris Evans) upset at possibly being shunned out of the will, his daughter in law (Toni Collette) stealing tuition money for her daughter, his son in law (Don Johnson) being possibly outed by the victim about his extra marital affair and so on – you get the drift. Several flashbacks during the movie provide important clues. Detective Benoit follows the bread crumbs as best he can trying to find holes in everyone’s story (donut holes to be exact, a reference detective Benoit is amusingly fixated with).

Movie keeps you engaged throughout, allowing the audience to keep on guessing but at the same time peppers you with significant reveals as it progresses. This ensures that at the end of the movie – you aren’t left exercising your mind furiously trying to piece together a convoluted mystery puzzle which sometimes gets too heavy. This was brilliantly handled in the movie. 

Loved the ode to Murder She Wrote in the middle of the movie – a great show by its own right. Still watch it on reruns from time to time. Such a travesty that the great Angela Lansbury never won an Emmy for her role as Jessica Fletcher. She was nominated as Best Drama Actress for each of its 12 seasons but never won. I digress…

Side Note: Ana De Armas who plays the nurse “Marta” in this movie, is the new Bond girl in the latest installment “No Time To Die” (set to be released on Apr 10, 2020) where she will again be opposite Daniel Craig. She has previously starred in Blade Runner 2049 and is slated to play the role of Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde”, a Netflix movie.

Bottom Line: Go see Knives Out if you want to watch a fun “Clue” style murder mystery that is suspenseful with a myriad of lighter moments sprinkled in to make it a pleasurable movie going experience for the old and even young alike. There are enough plot twists and turns to keep you hooked but not too much as to lose you. It’s PG13 so parents can take their kids to watch this movie and just seeing “Captain America” on the big screen will give the kids some cheap thrills. Took my teenage son to the movie and his first comment after it ended was “One of the best movies I have seen”. Now that’s an endorsement!