Enormously entertaining, WAKE UP DEAD MAN offers more than a good murder mystery, delving into the soulful with an ex-boxer priest, playing excellently by Josh O’Connor, seeking his own forgiveness and an unforgiving monsignor, played menacingly by Josh Brolin, with his own little kingdom in a Gothic church isolated in a rural upstate New York that feels straight out of “The Headless Horseman.” Rian Johnson’s third installment in his Knives Out mystery series may be his best yet, featuring his droll Southern detective Beniot Blanc, the two Joshes and a star-studded cast of supporting players including Glen Close, Andrew Scott, and more.
A murder in a church sounds wrong but in Rian Johnson’s capable hands it turns into the perfect place in a story that pits faith and love against power and evil. The Gothic setting lends itself well to the tale of long-buried secrets and hidden motives in this isolated, claustrophobic small community. But director/writer Johnson makes you wait a bit for the crime and the detective, focusing first on Josh O’Connor’s priest as he grapples with his spiritual journey, trying to put love at the forefront, and overcoming the rage that led to him killing a man in the boxing ring.
To help him in wrestling those inner spiritual demons, and to help the church to unravel the curious goings-on at a remote little parish, his bishop (an unexpectedly darkly funny Jeffrey Wright) gives the young priest his first assignment. Not to replace the mysterious long-time priest, a monsignor, at that ancient church but as to be the assistant priest, and perhaps figure out what is happening there.
Josh O’Connor’s priest starts out with a firm belief in the power of love but a more knowing eye for human failings, his own and others. He arrives at the ancient church, which looks more like it was transported whole, complete with churchyard graves, from old England than something in New England. Josh Brolin’s parish priest gives the newcomer a chilly greeting, insisting on being called monsignor, and immediately asking him to hear his confession, a scalding one that leaves the young priest staggering. The battle of the Joshes is on.
Rian Johnson spins out this tale brilliantly, crafting the characters and the mystery to draw you in, and adding plenty of humor and twists along the way. Daniel Craig’s detective arrives a bit late but from that point on, the film takes the brakes off for a wild, massively entertaining ride, while still keeping it’s good versus evil. Figuring out who is good and who is evil is part of the fun.
Reportedly, this is the last of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out mysteries, which is disappointing news if true. This mystery is the best of the series, demonstrating the elastic nature of the genre and showcasing Johnson’s considerable talent.
Of course, that is aided mightily by the wonderful cast, especially first-rate performances from Josh O’Connor, who is really having a year, and Daniel Craig, as the clever, quipping detective. Some of best moments are between these two, as the believer debates the non-believer, in dialog that is both though-provoking and entertaining. Who wants to see that kind of film-making come to an end?
WAKE UP DEAD MAN opens Wednesday, Nov. 26, in theaters.
As the temperatures continue to dip, and some parts of the country are neck-deep in snow, a great way to spend the day is to curl up next to the fireplace, or space heater, with a mystery. Perhaps it’s one featuring a familiar investigating sleuth. Well, if you can make it out to the multiplex, then there’s a cinematic equivalent around for just a week, Oh, and the sleuth’s only been around since 2019. That’s when a filmmaker who just survived an entry in the biggest movie franchise ever, decided to create his own modern version of those Agatha Christie “all-star whodunits” (mind you that Kenneth Branagh had just donned the “stashe” for a new series). Well, it was a hit, so he and his hero star have returned with GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY. Let’s find the clues and keep track of the suspects…and victims.
Talk about being modern! It all begins right in the middle of the height of the Covid pandemic. Political candidate Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) gets a delivery that’s definitely not what she ordered from Amazon. It’s a large, apparently solid (no lids or hinges) wooden box sent from an old friend. Immediately she gets into an online conversation with the other old friends who were in the sender’s group. There’s Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), a former fashion model turned high-fashioned designer along with her aide Peg (Jessica Henwick), scientist Lionel Toussant (Leslie Odom, Jr), and Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), social media agitator/ men’s rights activist, who lives with his girlfriend media/co-creator Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) at his mom’s house. They soon figure out how to open the box which contains several puzzles that reveal an invitation to the island home of their old buddy, tech mastermind billionaire Simon Bron (Edward Norton). Oh, someone else, a stranger to them also gets the box: famous detective genius Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). It’s not long before they’re all on a dock in Greece awaiting the transport boat to Bron’s island when all of them are stunned by the arrival of another invited guest, Cassandra ‘Andi’ Brand (Janelle Monae). Why stunned? Andi had sued Simon claiming that he stole her idea for the software that made Simon so rich. The group is greeted by their host at his lush resort-like island who tells them that they will be part of a fun “murder mystery” game. Still, Simon wonders why the “pro”, Blanc, is there. Of course, he easily wins the game, but things take a dark turn when a real murder occurs. Over the course of a long night (no boats can handle the tides till morning), Blanc puts his skills to the test to find a real killer before he, or she, strikes again.
Although it is a new, very different, case most film fans will focus on the return of that Southern-fried Sherlock Blanc played with a long drawl just a bit west of Foghorn Leghorn by Craig. And he appears to be having a blast not dodging bullets as that gentleman secret agent (his biggest risk here is trying to find a place to fire up a massive cigar). It’s a treat to see Craig indulge his comic talents as he goes from genteel to annoyed and outraged. Matching his intensity is Monae, who views everyone with apprehension and refuses to be the victim, not only of murder but intellectual thievery. As that thief Norton also seems to be having fun with his usual intellectual characters, making Bron a pompous “showboat” who’s not nearly as clever as he believes. His glee is close to that of Hudson as the high-fashion dimwit who is oblivious to the world’s sensitivities. Plus she makes a good duo with Henwick’s Peg, who wants to take a more aggressive and violent response to the situation. Now Birdie’s a beacon of tolerance compared to the near-neanderthal Duke played with lunk-headed confidence by the very funny Bautista. His blustering keeps us from wondering if pools and pistols are a great mix. Yet somehow he captures the affections of Cline whose sultry Whiskey may be a more deadly weapon than his sidearms (and she’s more than “side candy”). And it’s always great to see solid supporting players like Hahn and Odom, although the politico and the grim scientist aren’t as enjoyably wacky as their cohorts.No spoilers from me, but keep your eye, and ear, peeled for lotsa’ fun cameos.
This extraordinary cast is led and perhaps inspired, by director Rian Johnson, who also penned the very witty script. Sure, it’s a pretty great whodunit, but it’s also a wonderfully satiric comedy skewing social mores and media, from the pandemic to toxic tweets, while taking well-deserved aim at the “one-percenters”. Hmmm and just days after the also clever dark comedy THE MENU, which also involves an island and foul play amongst the “well-off”. Smart minds think, not alike but on “shared wavelengths”. The “icing on the cake” for this romp are the wild costumes (Birdie’s just a burst of flesh and pastels) and the gorgeous Greek locations (now there’s a beach backdrop for Bron’s excessive tribute to his genius). If you enjoyed the first outing, then you’ll relish this bigger, bawdier new caper. My only problem was the somewhat downbeat ending. Mind you the culprit’s revealed, but the world pays a hefty price for their indulgences (can’t say more). Everybody’s having a splendid time which is quite contagious as fans will be watching with engaging grins. This is another Blanc tale in the works, but it will be tough to top the marvelous mirth of GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY.
3.5 out of 4
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY opens in select theatres for one week only beginning on November 23, 2022
On December 23rd, Netflix will premiere GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY.
In the follow up to Rian Johnson’s KNIVES OUT, Detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery involving a new cast of colorful suspects.
Starring Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline with Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista, check out the brand new teaser.
According to Johnson, Blanc’s penchant for bombast is partly to thank for the film’s title, which pays homage to the 1968 Beatles song of the same name. “I’m always fishing for something fun that Blanc can grab onto as an overwrought metaphor that he can beat to death,” he says. “This is all in plain sight from the very start. So, the idea of glass came to me, something that’s clear. I’ll be very honest. I literally got out my iPhone and searched my music library with the word glass.“There’s got to be some good glass songs.”I was like, “Oh, is it a glass fortress? Is it a glass castle? Is it a glass man?” The first thing that came up, because I’m a huge Beatles fan, is ‘Glass Onion.’” Read more on the new mystery here: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/glass-onion-knives-out-2-release-date-photos
Hey all you lovers of cinema excitement and thrills, you know the name and you know the number. The “gentleman secret agent’ has been delighting movie audiences for nearly sixty years now .Each new adventure just seems to build on the prvious one, with more action, more romance, and, well, just more (not a pun on the 70s into the mid 80s potrayer). Oh, but what an excruciating tease this has been. He was supposed to return to the multiplexes nearly 18 months ago, but a worldwide crisis (one that some felt was similar to some of the villainous schemes of previous movie masterminds) kept him “out of duty”. But the wait is over. I’ve been viewing these films in theatres for over fifty years now, but I must admit that seeing those opening white circles along with the opening strains of his musical theme kicked my pulse rate up a couple of beats. But really, with the official 25th entry will film fanatics worldwide insist that 2021 is NO TIME TO DIE?
The producers still have a few surprises up their sleeve with the franchise as it opens with a traumtic flashback that doesn’t focus on “the pride of the British Secret Service”. No it’s a look into the past of Madeline (Lea Seydoux), who was introduced in 2015’s SPECTRE. Since the end of that mission, she’s the traveling paramour of 007, James Bond (Daniel Craig). While visiting Matera an ambush leads to a painful parting for the couple. Skip ahaead five years as a secret MI6 biological warfare lab is attacked by heavily armed goon who grabs one of the deadly viral creations along with its creator, Valdo (David Dencik). We’re than off to Jamaica, the retirement home of Bond, who suspects he’s had a visitor drop in while he was out. Heading into a nightclub that evening he bumps into the mysterious Nomi (Lashana Lynch), a woman connected to Bond’s past life. A bit later he discovers his “houseguest’, old friend and CIA liason Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) who is mentoring over-eager young agent Logan (Billy Magnussen). After much cajoling, Felix enlists Bond to join them in Cuba to resuce the kidnapped scientist and his work. On that island, Bond is teamed with another agent, the sultry Paloma (Ana de Armas), but the retrieval mission goes fatally wrong. This prompts Bond to return to London and MI6 HQ where he is reunited with weapons wiazrd Q (Ben Whishaw), Miss Moneypenny (Naomi Harris), along with his former boss, M (Ralph Fiennes), who may ulterior motives. Nonetheless, Bond is on the job, one that will have him crossing paths with a former love, an old archenemy, and a sinister new threat named Safin (Rami Malek). Could he be the fiend that finally closes the case file of 007?
With his fifth Bond blockbuster under his belt. Craig easily delivers all the requirements of the iconic role, handling the stunts confidently while looking elegant in his Tom Ford suits. Unlike some of the previous entries he gives us a bit more of the Bond humor, tossing off witty asides while never overdoing the cringe-wothy “bon mots” that several actors couldn’t quite “land”. And, once again, Craig is perhaps the most beaten and battered Bond, but not just phsically in this outing (though his facial cuts and bruises don’t quite fade). This time he’s emotionally “put through the ringer” as he reflects on past romances and deals with a heartbreak in the opening minutes that hits him worse than a “too close for comfort” bomb blast. Craig balances Bond’s ruthlessness with a little explored vulnerability. If this is Craig’s last mission, then he more than the delivers the goods bringing an unexpected humanity to “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”.
Much of the same can be said for Seydoux, who is more than merely the “Bond-girl” damsel-in-distress (it helps that she’s the first major “love interest” to be in back-to-back installments). Turns out that there was much more to Madeline’s story, and Seydoux expertly shows us her complexity and inner trauma. Yet there’s still her passionate protective instinct that kicks in when evil surrounds her and those she loves (not just her James). Malek is suitably unnerving as the “big baddie” Safin, but he’s not very compelling as Malek delivers a hestitant line delivery couple with a constant “deer in the headlights” leer. He’s such a talent, so it’s a shame that these choices don’t work. What does work in this story is another return, that of Christoph Waltz as the now incarcerated mastermind Blofeld. Though he over-indulged on the role’s eccentricities last time, the Hannibal Lechter-like restraints have brought a greater intensity as Blofeld intellectually toys with Bond like a cat with a trapped mouse. Also bringing a new spin on a familiar role, Fiennes gives M some deceptive and devious dark tones as we learn of his twisted machinations when he’s not barking at Bond. Luckily there’s Harris as Moneypenny, the peacekeeper, who displays a cynical sense of irony. Much of that is shared by Whishaw as Q, who still is flusterd by Bond, but has a quiet respect for him. But this time he’s not really sure of his own “gadgets and gizmos a-plenty”. Lynch is impressive as the very capable Nomi along with de Armas as the awlward but very skilled (a deadshot in a deliciously distracting outfit) Paloma, though I wish we saw more of her (and I’m not still talking about that dress). Magnussen and Dencik also provide a bit of comic relief until they both get the proper and very deserved denouncement.
It’s intersting that this actor arc of the series concludes under the skilled eye of a filmmaker new to this world of spies and seducers. Cary Joji Fukunaga , most celebrated for his TV work on HBO’s “True Detective” injects a sense of gritty and grim danger into this globe-trotting movie mission. He brings an edge to the often downbeat dramatics along with a fevered immediacy and even a sence of “gallows humor”. Much of this works thanks to the screenplay that he worked on with Robert Wade, Neal Purvis, and Emmy darling (for Fleabag) Phoebe Waller-Bridge (perhaps she aided in the comic interpaly and the strong female characters). As far as entries in the “Craig-era” of Bond, this is near the top of the quintet. It’s one that’s easily accessable to “new operatives” as it’s stuffed “to the gills’ with breathless action, mystery, and some “grounded gadgetry” ( the pulse-emitting watch is more plausable than the “invisible car’ from the last era). And happily there are lots of nods and winks at the series legacy, from a phrase and a song instramental early in its first act ( a big thanks to master music-scorer Hans Zimmer for his tribute to the great John Barry), to Safin’s attire, which seems to have been swiped from Dr. No’s closet. And that goes for the villain’s hidden lair/fortress (no, it’s not a hollowed-out volcano, but close) and even the hallways of MI6. Sure, this flick is a tad too long (too much dispatching of faceless goons John Wick-style in endless corridors in the big finale), but the surprising (for this franchise) conclusion is a fitting final bow to Craig whose bruised tightly-pursed lips breathed new life into a character who always seems to be re-invented just in time to capture the hearts of eager and always greatful filmgoers.It may be time for him to hang up the tux, but for Ian Fleming’s immortal creation, there’s really NO TIME TO DIE.
3.5 Out of 4
NO TIME TO DIE is now playing in theatres everywhere
“The world is arming faster than we can respond. Where’s 007?”
Daniel Craig receives his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame hitting the States before NO TIME TO DIE opens in theaters this weekend.
In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga Screenplay: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, and Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge Story: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Cary Joji Fukunaga Producers: Michael G. Wilson, p.g.a. and Barbara Broccoli, p.g.a. Cast: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris,with Jeffrey Wright, with Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes as “M”Also starring Rory Kinnear, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, and Billy Magnussen
“The world is arming faster than we can respond. Where’s 007?”
Oh sure, it opens at plenty of other theaters as well, but why see it elsewhere when you can see the new 007 at The Hi-Pointe Theater (1005 McCausland Ave in St. Louis), the best place in St. Louis to see movies? The Hi-Pointe has the best popcorn, the biggest screen, and a great beer selection! No reservations required at The Hi-Pointe. Just show up! Daniel Craig in NO TIME TO DIE opens this Friday October 7th at The Hi-Pointe.There will be an advance screening October 6th at 7pm. The Hi-Pointe’s site can be found HERE
On the 3rd of March MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced “that after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of NO TIME TO DIE will be postponed until November 2020. The film will be released in the U.K. on November 12, 2020 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the US launch on November 25, 2020.”
Jump to the 3rd of September.
007 is back in the brand new trailer for NO TIME TO DIE, hitting cinemas on November 20. From director Cary Joji Fukunaga, the movie stars Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, with Jeffrey Wright, with Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes as “M”. Also starring Rory Kinnear, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, and Billy Magnussen.
In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Get ready! NO TIME TO DIE is in theaters April 10, 2020! And here’s the new trailer everyone’s been waiting for:
In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Director Cary Joji Fukunaga helms the new films, written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, and Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. NO TIME TO DIE is produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
The cast includes Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, with Jeffrey Wright, with Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes as “M”. NO TIME TO DIE also stars Rory Kinnear, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, and Billy Magnussen.
A dead body, a dozen
shady characters, and an elegant country house filled with rooms and weapons. Those
are the ingredients for KNIVES OUT, a farcical revival of the old fashioned whodunit that audiences
are being served this Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a big entertainment which
manages to well-capture the magic of the bygone era of all-star mysteries while
providing modern twists and hearty laughs along the way.
Christopher Plummer plays Harlan Thrombey, a millionaire publishing baron whose greedy children, in-laws, and grandchildren have lived off of his generosity all their lives. . When the family assembles at Thrombey Mansion to celebrate the patriarch’s 85th birthday, stress and strain are obvious as the old man has announced that he has, for one reason or another, cut off the family’s gravy train. This makes everyone at the gathering a suspect the next morning when Thrombey’s nurse Marta (Ana de Armas) comes to wake him up only to find his throat cut ear to ear (this is the opening scene – not a spoiler – the time-line jumps back and forth). The murderer’s row of colorful would-be killers starts with Harlan’s unpleasant real estate mogul daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis). Or perhaps the murderer is Linda’s unfaithful husband Richard (Don Johnson). Or maybe it’s their cocky son Ransom (a particularly smarmy Chris Evans). Then there’s Harlan’s cagey son Walt (Michael Shannon), who’s just been booted from the family publishing empire. There’s also Joni (Toni Collette), the widow of Harlan’s late son who’s been caught taken advantage the old man’s largesse by double-dipping into his payments for her daughter Meg’s (Katherine Langford ) college expense. That’s two more suspects. The maid Fran (Edie Patterson) has a drug problem, and then there’s Marta, who’s been considered part of the family for years, yet nobody seems to be sure where she’s from (Uruguay? Paraguay? – a funny running gag). A pair of detectives assigned to the case (Noah Segan and Lakeith Stanfield) can’t decide whether this is a suicide or foul play, so agree to let flamboyant private investigator, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig sporting a Yosemite Sam southern drawl), who’s been hired by someone (?), to help them interrogate everyone in the house. When questioned, each insinuates that another family member had a stronger reason to want Harlan dead. None can be trusted to tell the truth, except perhaps Marta, who has the unfortunate habit of projectile vomiting when she lies. Giving away more than that wouldn’t just be unsporting, it would be difficult, because from this point,KNIVES OUTis off and running with a plot that subscribes to the old screwball comedy philosophy that you can sell the audience just about anything if you do it fast enough. As the entire plot twists are whizzing by, you may not notice that eventuallyKNIVES OUT falls short in the satisfying level when all is said and done, at least in terms of who the culprit is (or if there was even a murder at all). So if you’re in this for an Agatha Christie-style mystery, or have some hope of getting a jump on the characters and figuring it out in advance, you may or may not be out of luck. But if you’re open to a weirdly atmospheric comedy that sprints from deadpan to manic and back again, it’s a delight. The cast is all working at the top of their game. The largest role is given to the star with the shortest resume. Ana de Armas, so loveable as the sexy hologram in BLADE RUNNER 2049 is given a lot to do in a demanding role but keeps up with her more seasoned co-stars. Daniel Craig plays it way over-the-top, and while it takes a while to get used to his accent, it eventually fits into the spirit of the film.
The script and direction by Rian Johnson are clever and dynamic, the cinematography and set design ravishing (the circle of knives displayed in the film’s ads is just one of the many glorious eccentricities of Thrombey Manor). One minor complaint with KNIVES OUT is the climax when Blanc assembles all the pieces for us, defines all that has happened, and revisits the timeline to explain events in flashback. It’s a classic murder mystery trope, but usually consists of the movie’s final ten minutes, not the final thirty (I was thinking ‘Let’s get on with it’). But still, KNIVES OUT is a lot of fun, like a party on the screen to which we have all been invited.
Acclaimed writer and director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie in KNIVES OUT, a fresh, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.
With an all-star ensemble cast that also includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell, KNIVES OUT is a fun, witty and stylish whodunit guaranteed to keep audiences guessing until the very end.
KNIVES OUT opens in St. Louis on November 27th
Enter for your chance to win two free passes to the St. Louis advance screening of KNIVES OUT. The theatrical sneak preview will be on November 19 at 7pm.
Answer the Following: Best known as the writer-director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (and the upcoming new Star Wars trilogy), Rian Johnson got his start in 2005 with the small-scale murder mystery, Brick. The film, which starred a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a Dashiell Hammett style story set in a California high school, set the template for the films which followed – The Brothers Bloom (2008), Looper (2012) — along with Johnson’s TV work on Breaking Bad, taking innovative approaches to familiar genres. With Knives Out, Johnson, employs a similar approach, here taking the tropes of an Agatha Christie mystery to tell a thoroughly contemporary story.
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Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material
