Director/Screenwriter: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon
Genres: Comedy/Drama, Mystery/Suspense
MPAA Rating: Rated R for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material
Release Dates: 11/27/19 (Wide Theatrical); 6/12/20 (Disc/Streaming–Amazon Prime)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
From the moment I viewed the trailer for Knives Out, I knew it would be a blast; with such a pedigreed cast including Halloween star Jamie Lee Curtis, former Captain of America Chris Evans, and James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, how could it NOT be gloriously fun? Luckily, my instincts and hopes were correct. Not only is director-writer Rian Johnson’s who-dun-it hilarious and entertaining, it’s also inventive, clever, and at times poignant.
Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049) is the real break-out star here, and carries the various tones and events of the film on her shoulders quite nicely. But it’s Craig who is the real scene stealer here, especially towards the end when explaining how he knew who’d done it. While some actors, including Curtis, don’t receive nearly enough screen time, in such a large, eclectic ensemble, that is understandable. Knives Out — nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 2020 Oscars — has the feel of an Agatha Christie who-dun-it with contemporary elements.
A-