By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig | Dave Bautista | Edward Norton | Ethan Hawke | Jessica Henwick | Kate Hudson | Kathryn Hahn
Country: united_states
Year: 2022
Running time: 139
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11564570/reference/
Brett says: “KNIVES OUT scratched an itch in audiences that they may have not known they even had when the first film in the franchise revived a standard for classic murder mystery characters in a refreshing new standard of modern murder mystery setting and scenario. GLASS ONION brings back detective Benoit Blanc for a new set of murderous hijinks in what is sure to keep the flame ignited for eager audiences to investigate a new whodunnit.
“Arguably, the trait of any good whodunnit is to eventually find oneself buckled up during the all the sleuthing and go along for the rollercoaster ride rather than wandering off on one’s own, snooping down rabbit holes that don’t exist. Like the first installment in the series—perhaps even more so—the audience must simply take it all in, throw their hands up, and let the writing guide them rather than trying to lead the investigation themselves.
“Other than Detective Blanc, GLASS ONION features a new set of characters in a fresh scenario that requires no previous viewing. In fact, a previous viewing may work against the film here, depending on each viewer’s set of expectations going into it. One way KNIVES OUT can impact this new viewing is that GLASS ONION feels different at times in terms of tone. Blanc has a much more prominent on-screen role, and part of the initial charm of the original seemed to reside in Blanc’s ‘leave them wanting more’ infrequency on camera while the ‘oooh’s’ and ‘aaah’s’ of the mystery was the main attraction. Also, with Blanc’s increased screen time, his antics have to be matched with characters that lean into jokes and comedy more heavy-handed than the first. Mileage will vary with this extra serving of laughs.
“The thing that will appeal to fans of the first film is that the writing does burrow into the deduction/puzzle pleasure center of the brain, confounding and perhaps even frustrating throughout. (Any good rollercoaster makes a participant want to scream or question what decision they’ve just made, right?) Another bit of fan service is in dropping a few non-plot-reliant Easter eggs that will connect audiences to the first.
“While it is likely to be welcomed by many fans of KNIVES OUT, after it is all said and done, this viewer wonders if this one was all that necessary. The identity of the first film was a diamond in the rough during an era that—before its arrival—seemed to have left classic murder mystery tropes and appeal by the wayside before it appeared on screen and provided a jolt to the genre. The fear is that if this franchise audience-chasing catches on, will we see a more watered-down fan service approach than what the original KNIVES OUT seemed less bound by? 3 cats out of 5“