“KNIVES OUT” — 3 1⁄2 stars — Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Christopher Plummer, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, K Callan, Riki Lindhome; PG-13 (language and violence); in general release; running time: 130 minutes
The last time we heard from director Rian Johnson, he was cleaving the nerd world in two with 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” the eighth and easily most polarizing of the “Star Wars” films. Now he’s returned from a galaxy far, far away with “Knives Out,” a fun whodunit that is considerably more earth-bound.
“Knives Out” is a classic murder mystery about a wealthy patriarch who turns up dead the morning after his own birthday party. And just as in the best whodunits, there are plenty of potential killers.
Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is a popular mystery novelist who has parlayed his prowess into a successful publishing company. As the film opens, Thrombey is found dead in a hidden study high away in his vast mansion, his throat slashed in an apparent suicide. But of course it isn’t suicide, and his family members — each in attendance for his birthday party the previous evening — immediately come under suspicion.
The various suspects are a who’s who of eccentric personalities, each with their own strong motive. Richard (Don Johnson) is Thrombey’s exasperated son-in-law, married to his oldest daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Thrombey was about to expose Richard’s extramarital affair. Linda and Richard’s son, Ransom (Chris Evans), is the black sheep of the family, and his behind-closed-doors argument with his grandfather during the party suggests secret tensions.
Joni (Toni Collette) is the widow of Thrombey’s dead son. For years, she’s been double-dipping from her daughter’s trust fund to pad her own expense account, and Thrombey was finally about to cut her off. Youngest son Walt (Michael Shannon) has been running the family publishing company, and was arguing with his father over the film rights to his novels.
Originally, Thrombey’s death was ruled a suicide, but a private investigator named Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) has put the family back in the crosshairs. Blanc doesn’t even know who hired him, but as soon as he starts his investigation, he finds plenty to suggest foul play.
Blanc’s MVP witness is Marta (Ana de Armas), Thrombey’s private nurse and confidant. Aside from her insider status, she has a particular valuable quirk: She can’t even consider the prospect of telling a lie without immediately feeling nauseous.
Unlike previous Johnson efforts like “The Brothers Bloom” and “Looper,” which relied on elaborate twists and time-bending maneuvers to tell their innovative tales, “Knives Out” follows a more traditional narrative. But Johnson throws us one curveball: Rather than wait till the final act to reveal the murderer, “Knives Out” shows the audience what happened early on, and we largely watch the plot unfold through the eyes of the panicked killer.
The unique angle adds a fun element to a tried and true formula, and fans of Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries or old family classics like “Clue” will enjoy watching the proceedings play out. The story is clever enough to keep you on your toes, and a fantastic cast fills in all the gaps, with especially enjoyable performances from Evans and Craig. Craig continues to defy his James Bond image with another character rooted in the American South.
“Knives Out” is a bit more PG-13 than “Clue,” with scattered profanity and vulgarity, and some grisly imagery (though the violence is mostly kept off screen). Johnson’s effort is a better fit for mom and dad than the kids, but it doesn’t push the boundaries too much.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fun story with a great cast that isn’t concerned with the sheen of a big holiday release, “Knives Out” is an excellent option for a night out, a night in, or wherever you choose to take a stab.
Rating explained: “Knives Out” is rated PG-13 for profanity, including two uses of the F-word, and some scattered violence.