TIFF 2019: KNIVES OUT: A Delightful, Masterfully Crafted Detective Mystery

Knives Out was the first movie that I saw at the Toronto International Film Festival. And even now, almost a week later, it still holds a fond place in my memory. Despite my jet lag, having just flown in that morning, witnessing it in a full theater of movie lovers was an invigorating experience. 6 days and 16 movies later, it still remains, far and above, my favorite of the festival. Let’s delve further into it.

Old School Detective Mystery

The premise of Knives Out is relatively simple, at least at first glance. Harlan Thrombrey (Christopher Plummer) has been found dead on the night of his 85th birthday. Famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) has been assigned to the case, but he has to make his way through the eccentric Thrombrey family first, including Harlan’s daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), son-in-law Richard (Don Johnson), daughter-in-law Joni (Toni Collette), son Walt (Michael Shannon), and grandkids Ransom (Chris Evans), Meg (Katherine Langford), and Jacob (Jaeden Martell). Also reluctantly along for the ride is Marta (Ana de Armas), the longtime nurse of Harlan.

Perhaps the most standout part of Knives Out is the incredible ensemble cast. Put this many talented people in one room together, and it’d be a real shame if the end result was lacking. Thankfully, though, Rian Johnson‘s film is anything but. What you may suspect, and you may be correct on this assumption, is that Daniel Craig, in particular, is just fabulous in this. His iteration of the classic noir hero is as unorthodox as you can imagine, with the character’s southern drawl somehow perfectly fitting along with his uncanny knack of knowing much more than he lets onto. This is especially impressive given that Craig is obviously more known as the suave James Bond. But it’s hard not to watch him here and smile along with every new twist of the story, as we witness much of it through his perspective.

What you might not expect, though, is the film’s additional standout role, that of Ana de Armas‘ Marta. As a Colombian nurse, one might think that she is simply reverted to the sidelines for much of the story, but that just shows how subversive Rian Johnson can be, giving Armas a weighty, complex role that she is more than capable of handling. It’s my sincere hope that she will be given similarly well-rounded roles in the future.

With such a large cast, though, it’s inevitable that some characters, even with such talent behind them, may recede to the background, and that’s one of the film’s only real noticeable flaws. There are some that standout, such as Chris Evans, who here manages to easily step outside his well-known Captain America persona. In addition, Toni Collette has a few scene-stealing moments, and Jamie Lee Curtis is always a delight to see. Yet others, such as Michael Shannon, despite playing the part well, at one point I even forgot was present in the movie until he showed up in a later scene. Such is one of the potential issues with ensemble films; there are bound to be characters that don’t have as much impact as others.

Twists and Turns

But as this is a detective mystery film, the mystery itself should be just as important as the characters involved in it. And here is where Rian Johnson truly excels. Rarely have I witnessed a film as full of unexpected twists as this one; without giving any spoilers of course, it’s the type of movie where you may have no idea where it’s going for much of it until finally all the tiny nuances and seemingly throwaway details come to the forefront, and you realized why they were there in the first place.

That’s truly what makes a great mystery. Every detail and plot point is there for a purpose, even if you don’t realize it at first, and it keeps you guessing until the final moments as a result. Perhaps the best example to compare Knives Out to is Clue or Murder on the Orient Express, but here the mystery is even more complex and inventive, and as a result, more intriguing as well. The film takes its influences, embellishes them into an original story, and then subverts everything you might expect from the genre. It is a truly remarkable feat.

Humor and Infectious Charm

Perhaps the most immediate setback, for some people at least, is that Rian Johnson, director of Knives Out, also directed The Last Jedi, a film that has become infamous for being trashed on by so-called Star Wars fans. Personally, I never understood the hate, as I found it to be one of the more unexpectedly exciting entries in the Star Wars franchise thus far. At any rate, what both that film and this current one do well is their use of humor.

In Knives Out, humor is similarly used not only as a way to break the tension, which at times is palpable, but also as a way for Johnson to just express his desire to entertain his audience. It’s used through camera swoops, pans, and close-ups, through its playful score, and of course, through the dialogue. When Craig, for example, is unraveling the mystery at the heart of the story, he says it in such an unexpected way that I was nearly doubled over in laughter. And yet, he’s describing the potentially nefarious actions that led to somebody’s death. But why not describe it in such a way? Why not have fun at every opportune moment of your film, and not take things more seriously than you need to? Rian Johnson seems to think it’s worth it, at any rate, and it’s hard to argue with his enthusiasm.

Conclusion: Knives Out

To conclude, Knives Out is an absolute blast. It’ll appeal to fans of the detective mystery genre, for fans of the astounding cast, or for those that love Rian Johnson‘s subversively entertaining films. This is yet another to add to his ever-increasing oeuvre, proving that he is becoming one of the top tier directors out there. I truly cannot wait for what he comes out with next.

Are you excited for Knives Out? What are your favorite detective murder mystery films? Let us know in the comments below!

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