Best old-fashion whodunit we've had in years

Rating: Null/10 (1 December 2019)

Everything I am outlining below on this excellent, old-fashion 2-hour whodunit pertains only to the first hour. Nothing therein should be considered a spoiler if you look at them in the context of what is to come in the second hour. Still, for purists, please do not read on.
Enormously successful murder mystery writer Harlan (Christopher Plummer) is found dead lying on the couch in his study, a couple of hours after his 80-something birthday party at his luxurious mansion. Of his three siblings, one son had died years ago leaving behind widow Joni (Toni Collette) with a daughter Meg (Kathrine Langford), a college student. Daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), a very successful businesswoman, is married to Richard (Don Johnson) who has given her a son Ransom (Chris Evans), a cad so irresponsible that he has not even bothered to come to the subsequent funeral. Youngest son Walt (Michael Shannon), married and with a teenage son, is allowed to run the family publishing company but kept on a short leash.
Not a family member but treated by all as one is Marta (Ana de Armas) a young nurse hired to look after Harlan. She is a South American immigrant living with a family who, unlike her, is in the country illegally. Alienated by his family members, Harlan considered Marta to be his only friend. While Marta does not live in the mansion, there is a housemaid who does. Completing the ensemble is Harlan's mother at whose age dementia is entirely expected.
The case is officially under Lieutenant Elliott (Lakeith Stanfield), who sees nothing more than a suicide of an old man tired of living. Celebrated private investigator Beniot Blanc (Daniel Graig), however, has been hired by a mysterious client to assist the police to see if there is foul play. Four suspects very quick emerge, all with motives clearly revealed at the party, either heard or observed by other people. Walt is fired by his father for incompetence. Toni is found out to have been cheating on the money she claims to be necessary for Meg's college education, which Harlan has been generously funding. He now threatens to cut off the support completely, thereby jeopardising Meg's college education. Against son-in-law Richard, Harlan holds convincing evidence of his cheating on his wife. Finally, Ransom is heard to have had a heated exchange with his grandfather, when he is told that he has been cut out completely in the old man's will. The prime murder suspects, therefore, comprise a son, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and a grandson.
So far so good. Then comes the first big twist that changes everything. Between the finishing of the party and the time of the murder, various people have heard third big thuds from the study where Marta often plays GO games with Harlan before seeing him to bed. Toni actually knocks on the door which is answered by Harlan who explains that he accidentally knocked down the playboard and there is nothing to worry about. Going into any more details will spoil the fun of viewers, although not necessarily the convoluted plotline.
I'll just mention three key things, which the viewers would expect anyway.
1. The will, which obviously is crucial to the death, is read to the family at about the midpoint of the story.
2. The identity of Blanc's mysterious client is not revealed until the very end and has a vital significance.
3. Whether this is indeed a suicide (as the Lieutenant believes it to be), a murder (as Blanc is investigating) or even something else is not disclosed until the very end.
The star if the show is de Armas, almost unrecognizable from the computer-created character she plays in "Blade runner 2049". Equally unrecognizable, from his Agent 007 persona, is Craig. Both are superb. Plummer has a couple of impressive scenes in flash-backs. Of the other supports, Collette has the strongest role while Curtis is a bit underused. I almost forget Evan, another unrecognizable, not so much in appearance as in person, from his Captain America. All the rest of the cast deliver solid support.
Rian Johnson may not be an A-list director but certainly has a core of devoted followers. Critics and viewers unanimously agree that this movie represents his total return to form. After watching this movie, you will understand why.