One Of The Best Films Of The Year, And Certainly Amongst The Most Entertaining

Rating: Null/10 (5 December 2019)

One of the sharpest, smartest & slickest whodunnit murder mysteries that embraces & subverts its genre in equal measure, Rian Johnson's Knives Out is an intelligently plotted & ingeniously directed crowdpleaser that delivers on all fronts, and is all the more bolstered by outstanding performances from its stellar ensemble.
By taking the existing template & turning it on itself, Johnson provides his own spin on whodunnit tales and weaves the plot so cleverly that it's always one step ahead of the audience. The story is gripping from the get go, the set up is quick, character introductions are swift, and the juxtaposition of lies & truth offers us a better insight into each character's persona.
Johnson's suave direction & sly script further benefits from razor-sharp editing that expertly juggles & interweaves multiple viewpoints into one tightly-knitted structure which is then paced to perfection & never for once loses its momentum. The entire ensemble renders their rich, flavourful characters with finesse. Daniel Craig & Ana de Armas impress the most, with latter's role being the heart & soul of this story.
On an overall scale, Knives Out presents writer-director Rian Johnson at the top of his game, and is his finest film to date. An endlessly enjoyable & wildly entertaining cinematic ride that's accomplished in nearly all aspects and features a brilliant cast that nails the brief with effortless ease, Johnson's modern take on the whodunnit is one of the best films of 2019, and certainly amongst the most entertaining. Strongly recommended.