{"id":444,"date":"2020-01-04T19:58:39","date_gmt":"2020-01-04T19:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=444"},"modified":"2020-01-04T19:58:39","modified_gmt":"2020-01-04T19:58:39","slug":"knives-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=444","title":{"rendered":"Knives Out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Well, that<\/em> was fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKnives Out\u201d is the (fairly) new dramatic crime thriller from\nwriter-director Rian Johnson (\u201cStar Wars: The Last Jedi\u201d). The movie also incorporates\nbits of dark and twisted humor \u2013 which is exactly how I like my comedy \u2013 and an\nongoing element of mystery that keeps its audience fully engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the night of his 85th<\/sup> birthday, esteemed crime writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer<\/a>) dies. Enter Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig<\/a>, meow!), with his analytical mind, a judging gaze, and that \u201cKentucky-fried Foghorn Leghorn drawl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without question, Detective Blanc thinks something is fishy\nabout Harlan\u2019s death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI suspect foul play,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, with the help of Lieutenant Elliott (LaKeith Stanfield)\nand Trooper Wagner (Noah Segan), Detective Blanc proceeds to question the estate\u2019s\nstaff and, one-by-one, the members of Harlan\u2019s unstable, self-absorbed family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blanc\u2019s hope? To see through the smoke screens and beyond\nthe distractions to find out what really happened to Harlan Thrombey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re paying attention, you know something is up from the moment each family member \u2013 including daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis); son-in-law Richard (Don Johnson); son Walt (Michael Shannon); and grandchildren Ransom (Chris Evans<\/a>), Meg (Katherine Langford), and Jacob (Jaeden Martell) \u2013 is seated for the inquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those close-up shots almost scream deception. And the slow zooms\nand pull backs as each character recalls the events of the evening in question hint\nthat what we\u2019re hearing and seeing may not entirely be the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director Johnson shuffles in helpful flashbacks that crisscross\nthe storyline and help fill in the events we didn\u2019t<\/em> see that led up to\nthe outcome serving as the film\u2019s crux.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either nothing or everything is exactly what it seems. And as\nDetective Blanc attempts to uncover the mystery, the audience is right there\nwith him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKnives Out\u201d is an unpredictable yet delightful shell game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The storyline is a magician\u2019s pursuit that keeps its\naudience disoriented and speculating and hanging on every word, sound, movement,\nor glance. Everything could be a clue \u2013 or a diversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t yet seen this flick, I highly recommend giving it a look. If you have<\/em> seen it, I\u2019d suggest watching this fun, shrewd puzzle again \u2013 to take notice of all the pieces that are hiding in plain sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter @movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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