When a wealthy novelist is found with his throat slit – seemingly at his own hand – a celebrated sleuth arrives at his country mansion to investigate.
Rian Johnson’s homage to Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries feels very much like a return to home turf. His debut Brick was a similar pastiche of Film Noir set within a high school and he uses many of the same stylistic tricks -although his work behind the camera does now seem more assured and confident. The strong ensemble cast includes Daniel Craig sporting a southern drawl and tweed suit as the gentleman detective who is a million miles away from his incarnation of 007, Jamie Lee Curtis as the caustic matriarch, Toni Collette as a stereotypically scatty New Age liberal and a host of semi-contemptible “vultures” picking at the carcass of their father’s estate. It’s here where Johnson throws in some political barbs as he contrasts the hard work and kind heart of the victim’s care-giver and confidante – who is literally physically incapable of lying – with this assortment of the entitled rich who are all convinced of their virtue and status as the “self-made” despite the fact that they are – and always have been – completely reliant on their father’s money. Thanks to some beautiful production design and excellent cinematography, the house can also be seen as a member of the cast in a similar way to The Haunting and it’s the kind of film that keeps you guessing even after the credits have rolled.
It is a little one note – nearly the entire plot unfolds in a series of interviews and because of this I felt that Johnson could’ve got to the point just a tad more quickly, but as a whole Knives Out is a very accomplished and enjoyable whodunnit from the old school.
7/10
Film Noird 