Knives Out.
This was a very gripping movie in the style of Agatha Christie's whodunnits. It's pace is fast and sinister and one keeps guessing, but I for one was unable to sort it out in my head, till the grand reveal.
It deals with the murder of a Head of the Family, who has potloads of money. Just like any good whodunnit, there are wild goose chases and dead ends and red herrings. But the writing is very, very good and ultimately it all concludes quite satisfactorily.
Before I go on to the performances, let me tell you that I will pretty much watch anything that Daniel Craig is in. This one was no exception and I quite liked the way they put him in the shade(literally) and he still made an impact.
It is a very Hitchcockian filming technique and you feel the mark of the actor by his absence.
Daniel Craig is sensibly aware that there is more to life than being an agent with a License to Kill. Given what he is choosing to do these films these past years is a sure indication of a man who has his future well charted out. I absolutely loved him in Logan Lucky.
Just like in that one, Craig puts on an accent in this one too. The accents are far off from being perfect, but somehow overall they worked for me. Both in Logan Lucky and in this one.
The star of the movie is undoubtedly the lovely Ana de Armas. She is a huge bundle of talent and is wonderful to watch. Chris Evans is good eye candy, but doesn't have too much of a band width.
Toni Collette is wasted, as is Jamie Lee Curtis. Christopher Plummer does what he is meant to do, add a twist to the tale and play the salty head of the family.
Unlike the classic Agatha Christie whodunnits, there isn't much of a back story to explore for any of the characters and that leaves a shallow feeling. Like none of them has any depth...or past and is just a newly harvested potato with a lot of starch but no smudges.
Thus it takes some very clever script writing to tell us what is the flaw that each family member has. And to add a layer, this they establish with some voiceovers and sharp conversations.
A little more humor wouldn't have been amiss and would have lightened the sombre note.
But still do watch this one, particularly if you like mysteries.
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