1. Movie Review Knives Out Trailer
2. Knives Out Movie Review Rotten Tomatoes
3. Film Knives Out Review
4. Reviews Of Movie Knives Out
5. Movie Reviews Knives Out

Overview:

Movie Review Knives Out Trailer

Wait! Don’t go. I totally get it, films like Knives Out are very, very sensitive to spoilers. And I promise, I won’t spill any beans in this review, alright? My name doesn’t rhyme anywhere close to Mark Holland or Tom Ruffalo, however you put it.

The reason any mainstream audience would get attracted to Knives Out, is, no doubt, the presence of Steve Rogers in the film, aka Chris Evans himself. The good news is, you get to see a lot of him in Knives Out, and the character which he played is befitting of him in the looks department. The bad news? It’s far from being Evan’s strongest performance. That honor goes to Ana de Armas, and Daniel Craig to some extent.

The fun in “Knives Out” is watching an ensemble of super-serious actors getting to misbehave. Like a cheerleader gone goth after a bad breakup, Craig is rebelling as an unhinged investigator. ‘Knives Out’ movie review: A brilliant, modern whodunnit with laughs to spare By Kristen Kranz It’s hard to come up with the right words to describe Knives Out. Knives Out Review: Rian Johnson's Whodunnit Is A Masterful Thrill Ride Knives Out leads viewers on a thrilling and wickedly fun ride as the entire ensemble offers breathtaking performances in this whodunnit mystery. By Molly Freeman Published Nov 27, 2019. 'Knives Out,' Rian Johnson's updated take on the whodunit, is star-studded, twisty, and devilishly fun. Home Movies Movie Reviews. November 25, 2019 12:00PM ET ‘Knives Out’ Review: Whodunit.

I’m not particularly averse to a ‘whodunit’ film like Knives Out. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I love the brain workout and mind games that thrive in such movies, and oddly, I saw joy in Daniel Craig’s unusual role as a mischievous, Sherlock Holmes’esque detective. With that said, Knives Out had always been on my radar since the trailer’s release.

One common pitfall of whodunit films has got to do with the plot, which, if done incorrectly, can lead to extended sessions of boredom and disconnect. “I don’t give a sh*t anymore! I’ll just wait for the finale to reveal who the murderer is!”. Sounds familiar? In which, I can reassuringly report that it’s not the case with Knives Out.

Apart from Star Wars, Rian Johnson is well known for single-handedly direct, write and produce strong performing films like Looper (2012) and Brick (2005). The one-man-army has done it again with Knives Out, and he had come out with this original story that is nothing short of breathtaking.

Of course, you don’t get that traditional whodunit plot that plays by utmost secrecy until the very final moment of the finale, when everything is spilled out. And of course, with that, the usual “based on best-selling crime novel” flair is missing.

But that doesn’t take away any of the suspense and fun of the film, as Knives Out plays by a unique plot that breathes some fresh air into the genre. It’s a story that shares a generous amount of truth to the audience as the clock ticks into the early hours of the film, and yet abide by that final piece of a puzzle that Johnson had planted into the plot as a dangling carrot. I prefer to call it a bait, because that is what motivates you to be continuously vested in the plot, but in some other way assures you that you already know the big picture, and persuades you to let your guard down.

There is a superficial lack of variety in the location where the events unfold, because, you guessed it, most of the scenes happen right within the Thrombey’s mansion. Still, I called it superficial because this, together with the absence of bold camera moves have been compensated by Johnson with extreme attention to the rich details of the mansion. Ironically, it never gets old seeing the antiquated mansion in action, because there is virtually a hidden treasure tucked within each scene. Besides, the maze-like layout of the mansion made me feel like a little kiddo who wants to explore that mansion even more.

All that expensive backdrop and the apprehending story requires an equally dedicated act to bring it all to life, in which, Johnson had struck a lottery with Ana de Armas, and perhaps a consolation with Daniel Craig. They said that the eyes are the window to your soul, which rings true for de Armas. Maybe that is why Johnson often rewarded Marta Cabrera with unusually close-up, shallow depth of field shots towards her face as compared to other characters. De Armas’ oftentimes moist (with just the right amount) eyes that were choked with worries, tell more story than many other things in the film.

I likened Craig’s casting to a consolation prize because while I enjoyed seeing him in Knives Out, I am still a little divided. His character, Benoit Blanc, speaks with an unusual slang which made him an even more peculiar character than what he seemed at first. It certainly needs some getting used to, especially if you’re used to his smooth, suave conversation manner in Bond films. Sure, it’s not the most natural of acts, and Blanc does not necessarily speak or act intelligently at times, but that also made the character raw and feels relatable. And made many, many scenes terrifically hilarious.

Perhaps, it’s the humor that has lightened up the mood in Knives Out and balanced it so well against its dark color tones. A story-line that starts with someone’s death is not particularly uplifting, so it’s nice for the audience to see some contrasting events. Like a group of obnoxious family members fighting with each other. Which, was the exact treatment that Johnson had given to the Thrombeys, and he really liked to cook them up into fully baked subjects of ridicule.

Elsewhere in Knives Out, some carefully thought over, and tremendously metaphorical scenes can be observed. Those are the scenes which separate Rian Johnson from the average filmmakers, and are worth studying even long after Knives Out has lost its grossing ability. Here’s a little activity, without spoilers, for those who plan to watch Knives Out anytime soon. Spot the scene in the movie that’s befitting to this description: “As she was running away, she found herself passing a long, dark tunnel. There was a glaring light at the end of it, and she knew that it was her salvation. A monster appeared, halting her journey, and with each hammering strike, she was pushed back into the darkness, deeper, and deeper, away from the light.” It won’t be that hard.

Addict Verdict:

Knives Out tied together Daniel Craig’s unusual portrayal, Ana de Armas’ believable performance, and Chris Evans stratospheric fame with an original story worthy of awards. Rian Johnson is more than capable to spice up this otherwise dark-natured film with satisfying amount of humor, and instill his own artistic twist towards the story and scenes. In the end, Knives Out, as its name may suggest, is relentlessly entertaining—The Film Addict

*Knives Out is now available on Prime Video

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by Tommy Delp | published Apr. 6th, 2020

While comparisons between 'Knives Out' and 'Clue' are easy to make, I find the film better fits the idea of a story with holes.

In high school, I had a teacher who would constantly pull out a type of brain teaser to help entertain her students. The idea is simple enough. You're given a quirky little tale with key pieces of information missing and it's then your job to determine the missing bits. Nothing may click in the beginning, but something is clearly amiss and one key clue will likely bring the whole story hurtling towards its explanation and conclusion. In short, it was a story with holes.

When I was younger, I didn't really understand the point or fun in this type of storytelling. I felt like they were always meant to stump you rather than make any logical sense (although they always did in the end).

'Knives Out' has helped me to better understand the attraction to these types of stories though. Sure, things are tricky and misleading on purpose and you'll probably be guessing until the end, but that's the whole point of it! When there's an interesting narrative at play, mystery and excitement can go hand in hand.

'Knives Out' centers around Harlan Thrombey, a world-famous murder mystery novelist and patriarch of the dysfunctional yet affluent family. When he passes away suddenly and unexpectedly, the police are ready to declare it an unfortunate case of suicide. But when private detective and modern-day Sherlock Holmes, Benoit Blanc, arrives on the Thrombey's doorstep, the family proceedings unravel into a messy web of lies and misdeeds.

The Good

Politically charged and subversive, Rian Johnson's surprisingly timely take on a murder mystery trickles information to the viewer. The way the film weaves between narratives and structures is bound to keep sleuths of any age entertained. Great setups and payoffs are the most important part of this genre, and 'Knives Out' is chock full of them.

Production-wise, the film is gorgeous and well-made. The New England countryside provides charming and natural visuals that fit the film's Victorian style and narrative, and the violin-led score is sharp and effective.

It's bright and cheery even with its darker subject matter, so you'll never have any trouble spotting important clues in a poorly-lit scene. The camera work is also enjoyable, as it often twists, turns and swoops to keep up with the film's story.

It may sound silly without context, but the film's final shot is worth a special mention. It's wonderfully epic and filled with a great amount of poetic justice.

Filled with great performances, every member of the cast is given a chance to shine. Daniel Craig's hokey country drawl, in particular, is a constant joy. I also personally love 90 year old Christopher Plummer, who steals the first act of the film as Harlan Thrombey.

Some of the characters are a bit one-note, but the film is aware of that and knows which characters deserve more focus. Props to the lead though (which is a spoiler in and of itself), for delivering a more subdued performance in a film where everyone else feels directly knocked off of a 'Clue' board.

While the ensemble cast is excellent and deserve much praise for all of their performances, the real standout character here is Johnson's work. The movie is soaked in modern-age commentary and much more connected to the real world than other current films. His hands are all over the piece from the whip-smart script and dialogue, to the smooth camera work.

The Bad

Rian Johsnon is really a director's director. He clearly puts his heart and soul into his films and leaves his own indelible mark on them. This is a positive in many ways. You can tell when a movie oozes with passion like 'Knives Out.' There is only one issue with this type of auteur though.

Rian Johnson will do what Rian Johnson does, and his flaws often carry from film to film.

Knives Out Movie Review Rotten Tomatoes

Just like many of his other pieces, the humor in 'Knives Out' can be hit or miss. Being a modern and relative film, a few of the jokes and punchlines have already fell out of the zeitgeist from when the film was written.

Although, with some of the comedic misfires, I have to wonder if anyone would have ever found them funny to begin with.

Also the pacing, while serviceable, has its flaws. It can go a fair amount of time without any big story development, to dumping a lot on the viewer all at once.

This is not a complete negative for a film working in the murder mystery genre, as it still helps to heighten suspense. Things probably could have been spread out slightly better though. When the film's highs are so high, it can be difficult to get through the less exciting moments.

It should be noted that none of the flaws are anywhere near deal-breakers. If you're looking for a good time, 'Knives Out' is the perfect movie.

Film Knives Out Review

Final Thoughts

Reviews Of Movie Knives Out

It's hard to speak on the topical themes at play within the film without spoiling major plot details. I'm willing to avoid the subject entirely though, as the less you know going in, the better! Hopefully though, the film’s tackling of hot button issues will help to make it a timely classic for our era.

Movie Reviews Knives Out

With 'Knives Out,' classic Agatha Christie tropes are infused with modern style. A great cast and a witty script make for a rollicking good time. And to top it all off, the movie provides a perfect bow to tie everything together — just as a good whodunit should!