Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - Review
Overview -
Director Rian Johnson is the new grand maestro of whodunit murder mysteries. From his first outing with Brick all the way to the big hit sensation thriller Knives Out, Johnson has proved he is a cinematic wizard not only in this particular genre but also others, including one that takes place in a galaxy far, far away. It's no secret that audiences around the world fell in love with the all-star cast of Knives Out, centering on Daniel Craig's southern P.I. Benoit Blanc. A couple of years later, Craig and Johnson are back at it again with the sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Our Mystery that amps up the stakes and has a lot more fun with the colorful cast of characters and scenarios. Highly Recommended!
Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take
What worked so well with Knives Out is that through most of the film, it was so difficult to figure out just who the killer was and how Johnson gave morsels and crumbs of clues from the start as his character Benoit Blanc (Craig) tried to solve the case. It was a donut within a donut of murder, betrayal, chases, and dark comedy that conjured up everything great about that film. In this sequel, the elements are heightened as Benoit is back in play as he is seemingly invited to a lavish party weekend on an island hosted by a billionaire named Miles Bron (Edward Norton). The attendants are his college friends and Benoit seems the odd person out. Johnson sets up the intriguing backstory of these friends who all seem to be a Gilligan's Island assortment of characters, all of who are hugely successful in their own way with one strange connection that the screenplay plays out over time.
How the first film played out like a traditional murder mystery with a ton of original elements and fun style, this sequel flips it on its ear. Benoit has his big moment early in the movie and all bets are off when this party goes from theatrical playtime to a real murder investigation, leaving all guests torn on what to do. It's one of those Fight Club moments where the voiceover says, "Make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your tray tables are in their upright and locked positions", which is a ton of fun to watch unfold on screen. Rian Johnson just simply finds new and creative ways to tell a thrilling yarn with brilliant characters time and time again.
The cast of characters is phenomenal with Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monae, and many more wrangling out these hilarious friends who are caught in the middle of their own pity and self-worth as they try and figure out what is happening in front of them. There are a lot of hard truths to face as Johnson uses the current political and social climate in a satirical way regarding social media and the tech world. And true to form, there are a lot of laughs to be had here.
Catch Glass Onion In Theaters For A Limited Time Wednesday November 23rd through Tuesday November 29th
Glass Onion Premieres on Netflix December 23rd
Video Review
Audio Review
Special Features
Final Thoughts
Everyone turns in amazing performances that are all memorable and quotable that only adding to the entertainment value of each scene. But it's Daniel Craig who has finely tuned this character that everyone will be wanting a dozen more films with this man. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is even better than the first film in that is not afraid to make fun of itself and cross over into a meta storyline where the characters are mentioning other's films and projects both visually and narratively. If this is the track for the next movie, everyone is in luck. Highly Recommended!
-
'Ordinary Angels' Announced for Blu-ray Combo Pack on April 30By:
-
'Arthur the King' Races to Blu-ray on May 28By:
-
Let's Whet Your Appetite/The Statham Sting - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Apr 22, 2024By:
-
Neon Conceives The U.S. Blu-ray Release of 'Immaculate' Starring Sydney Sweeney June 11 German 4K Mediabook July 18By: