Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Johnson, 2022)
Rian Johnson, the film’s writer and director, has been steadily proving himself to be one of the best filmmakers in Hollywood. His first offering, Brick (2005) was an overwhelming financial success. His subsequent movie, Looper (2012) was an even bigger success. And, at the risk of this turning into a hagiography, I also have to mention his biggest success, Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). I say all that to say that the guy knows how to make a good movie and the Knives Out franchise should be a real treat for movie-goers for years to come.
The original Knives Out movie revitalized the murder-mystery movie genre by utilizing an ensemble cast of A-list stars and its sequel wisely follows suit. Performances by the likes of Edward Norton (Miles Bron), Kate Hudson (Birdie Jay), and Dave Bautista (Duke Cody) make the cast the best part of Glass Onion. The choice to have an entirely new cast (save Daniel Craig as the ever-prescient detective, Benoit Blanc) is brilliant because it allows viewers new to the franchise to enjoy Glass Onion without any sort of initiation. Just show up and appreciate the schtick each character brings to the table! And Johnson makes sure each character gets an opportunity to personally endear himself or herself to you.
And they’re all so much fun. Birdie Jay invites facepalm after facepalm with her social media blunders. Her assistant, Peg (Jessica Henwick) earns all of your sympathy as she tries to keep herself employed and Birdie from being “canceled.” Duke Cody, who is supposed to be a hyperbolic caricature of an all-American man, feels so accurate you can’t help but sheepishly laugh at everything he does. His girlfriend, Whiskey (Madelyn Cline), and her ditzy demeanor are the perfect complement to complete the cliché. Kathryn Hahn as the corrupt politician, Claire Debella, that lives in Bron’s pocket gets the least developed character but is effective in her role. Unfortunately, tech whiz Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), feels a bit token. He has pithy moments but is wholly forgettable. He must have been making way for Janelle Monae (Cassandra Bland)…
Which makes sense because the synergy between her and Daniel Craig drives the movie. I had a hard time looking at Daniel Craig and coming to terms with the fact that I wasn’t watching a James Bond movie, but when he and Janelle were on screen together, I snapped back to “reality.” (Oops, there goes gravity.) And I use that word tongue-in-cheek because, besides the cast, the second-best thing about Glass Onion is the escape that it offers. Movie studios have made a firm commitment this holiday season to bring viewers back to the theatre and movies like Glass Onion reflect that commitment–even if it is a Netflix production.
The set designs are extraordinary, and the story delightfully teeters between surreal and fantastic. You’re going to have fun watching this movie because the player performances make it feel like you’re playing a game of Clue. It’s mostly family-friendly, but also just naughty enough to titillate your inner scoundrel. Rian Johnson is building something with his Knives Out mysteries franchise and Glass Onion is a nice addition to that oeuvre. Daniel Craig seems to be settling into this role to play it for years to come. We can only hope that some of these other characters come back to join him for the inevitable sequels because they are so funny. My only real critique of the film is that it’s a little long, but at no point did I ever feel bored with it. Ultimately, there are going to be much worse ways you could spend your Thanksgiving weekend.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was the closing night film at Filmfest919.
