Knives Out

Rating: 9/10 (26 June 2020)

Knives Out had Rian Johnson's hand all over it! He directed, produced, and wrote the film, just coming off of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, that was pretty controversial, but bounced back very well with a definitive mystery classic. Not only did he create one of the best mysterys to come to the big screen, but he was able to incorporate all of the enjoyable genres like crime, drama, thriller, & comedy. Johnson painted these beautiful frames, adding so much depth to his shots. With shooting in detail, rather than in film, it added a lot of depth to every scene, while utilizing the natural light that was provided.
Rian Johnson did a phenomenal job modernizing the murder mystery/who did it tale, and really making it his own. The screenplay was coherent & fresh, being so witty, sharp & hilarious. He created this crystal clear narrative, backed up with so much wit, and style, it made you overlook all the simplicities. The few subplots this film had, it added amazing layers & depth, while it all intertwined with the big picture so well, enhancing this great mystery tale. The tone switch ups this film had was incredible! The tone switched up every half hour or so, keeping us on our toes, but explaining everything in depth, while keeping it as entertaining as possible.
Mary Vernieu casted easily the best cast of 2019 so far. Knives Out was chock-full of A-list actors like Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis & more! Everyone knew their place, and played their roles the best they could've. Christopher Plummer put on such a mature & witty performance, arguably being one of the funniest of the group. Daniel Craig was one of my favorite castings for this movie. His performance was very witty, and clever, mixed with great tongue & cheek jokes. Craig may not have been the main protagonist we follow, but he is most certainly one of the best performers in this movie! Ana de Armas was our sweet "innocent" main protagonist. We follow her for most of the film, and my god, does she put on a GREAT performance! Chris Evans has been more focused on playing a cool headed, heroic character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but here he puts on a devious, sarcastically funny, yet charming & persuasive character. We got a little taste of him in the first act, but not as much as the other supporting characters. Evans becomes more present in the second and third act, adding a different flare to this unique family. Rian Johnson created great tention with all of the characters, throwing in nifty twists, keeping everyone involved, and relevant.

The art directors & production designers in David Crank & David Celestenger created this beautiful, old time mansion. The way Rian Johnson executed the mansion was fantastic, making everything feel free, yet claustrophobic, while rising the stakes.
Overall, I can easily say this is my favorite mystery movie, even over Sherlock Holmes; Highly recommended.