Knives Out

It’s sharp.

No spoilers here, but let’s go ahead and solve the mystery of the review: Knives Out delivers on what I expected from 2017’s hugely disappointing Agatha Christie franchise reboot, Murder On The Orient Express. It’s a sharp, witty crowd-pleaser.

Other than entries in the Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes series, the list of whodunnits in film is surprisingly short. Gosford Park, The Usual Suspects, Clue and The Big Sleep come to mind, but that’s about one per decade. TV is the likely suspect of this drought, with procedurals solving crimes and mysteries as often as Angela Lansbury finds a murder in her town.

Director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) takes us on a fast-paced journey where every suspect has a strong motive. Christopher Plummer, slays as the wealthy patriarch. The full cast includes the ensemble of Toni Collette, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, and Katherine Langford.

Daniel Craig, as Benoit Blanc, takes a stab at a hefty New Orleans accent, perhaps to accentuate the point that this is an American version of the Agatha Christie format. I found it distracting.

The script has its share of familiar elements that feel half like a throwback to the genre and half like cheats. The family mansion setting, the family will as a common motive, murder night flashbacks, and the showy reveal of clues in the final scenes are all very familiar elements of course. However, all of those elements feel appropriate given the genre, the brisk pace, several star turns, the smart social commentary, and a lively script.

This may not be one of the top films of the year, but it is one of the most enjoyable ones to see with friends in a theater. I suspect you’ll enjoy this as much as I did.

In a nutshell: Knives Out is KO entertainment.

Award potential: It's already nominated for Golden Globe Best Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Best Actor in the same category. It won’t be included in SAG or Oscars however. If so, I’d bet on the Art Direction of the Thrombey estate as a possible nod. Long shot for SAG's Ensemble Award for this killer group. I’d also consider Chris Evan’s perfect sweater for a best supporting role.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.