‘Knives Out’ has a tight script, solid acting

BY Ron and Leigh

A wealthy crime novelist is murdered in his creepy mansion and his entire family of eccentrics is suspected of the crime by the renowned private investigator. Ok, fans of Agatha Christie or even “Murder She Wrote” have seen this story dozens of times. Yep, we all just know the killer was Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick.

Writer-Director Rian Johnson honors the genre’s traditions but takes it to a new level of complexity, unpredictability and amusement. Daniel Craig carries the role of gentleman sleuth, Benoit Blanc. The Brit delivers his best Foghorn Leghorn Southern accent to the family of suspects. Haughty grandson Ranson (Chris Evans) snidely asks, “What is this? CSI KFC?” You’d hardly recognize this interaction is between 007 and Captain America.

The “self-made” parasites live off patriarch Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) whose throat is slit on the night of his 85th birthday. The heirs are wealthy, colorful and so wonderfully loathsome. They include daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), daughter-in-law Joni (Toni Collette) and sons Walt (Michael Shannon) and Richard (Don Johnson).

The tagline is that everyone has a motive and no one has a clue. The witty and clever script is filled with amusing one-line zingers. The “whodunit” is expectedly charming, smart and well crafted, but surprisingly fresh and stylish. With the zany characters, the key to enjoyment is to buy into the complex labyrinthine of a plot and its twists.

The debonair detective is mysteriously enlisted to sift through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies in hopes of uncovering the truth behind Harlan’s death. Each member of this dysfunctional family is a natural target but he must also consider the devoted staff, which includes personal nurse, Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas).

Detective Blanc announces, “I suspect foul play. I have eliminated no suspects.” Naturally, everyone has a motive, so the audience gets to help untangle the knots. Much of the fun is watching the ensemble all-star cast deliver purposefully over-the-top performances that have them playing against type. We can’t help but root for and against the myriad of suspects and hope some might eventually have to work for a living.

Of course, there’s the requisite “reading of the will” scene. You just know this is a perfect opportunity for the family to wrangle over the results. Ranson howls, “I’ve got to do this more often.” After the attorney (Frank Oz “Muppets”) delivers the news and Blanc announces, “This is a twisted web and we are not finished untangling it, not yet.”

Although the plot is convoluted, Johnson lays it out so we can follow and enjoy the meticulous maneuverings without becoming dazed. Sure, there are a few plot holes here and there, but with so many moving parts, just go with it and you’ll have some fun. With so many big-budget blockbusters these days, it’s a welcome relief to see a quality production with only a few sets but tight script and solid character acting.

These exceptionally appealing actors put everything into their silly roles and never take themselves too seriously. In fact, it’s almost a contest to see which can be more deliciously arrogant and despicable. When a movie of this genre is done well, it appears the entire cast is having a lot of fun, which invites the audience into the party.

“Knives Out” is 130 minutes and rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, strong language, sexual references and drug material. This movie is a throwback to a tried, true and somewhat worn-out genre. Rian Johnson not only revives the murder mystery but opens the door for others to join in on the action.

We thought we’d seen it all, yet neither of us predicted the outcome of this caper. After Detective Blanc explains what happened, it not only makes sense but also is brilliant! However, we did find it interesting that the super-sleuth is from the deep south. We understand in certain towns down there, a valid murder defense is, “He needed killin”.

Ron’s Rating: B+ Leigh’s Rating: B+