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.
Netflix announced today the title of the sequel to KNIVES OUT – 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. The cast includes Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline with Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista. Look for the movie this holiday season 2022.
The original movie grossed $165.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $146 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $311.4 million. Johnson received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the 92nd Academy Awards and it still sits at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Read our review of KNIVES OUT: https://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2019/11/knives-out-review/
Johnson tweeted this out earlier on Monday
When I made Knives Out, that’s what excited me about the prospect of making more mysteries with Daniel as Benoit Blanc – to emulate Christie and have every film be like a whole new book, with its own tone, ambition, reason for being… and (ta dah) title.
Monday was full of surprises for movie fans all over the world. Filmmakers Rian Johnson, James Wan and Chad Stahelski started production on the next installments of JOHN WICK, KNIVES OUT and AQUAMAN movies and all were announced via Social Media.
Director Rian Johnson announced filming on his sequel via Twitter. KNIVES OUT 2 is coming to Netflix in 2022.
Aaaaaaaand WE’RE OFF! Day one of filming on the next Benoit Blanc mystery. Thanks to all the lovely patient people here in Greece for letting us do all this murdering on their peaceful shores. pic.twitter.com/SUFptCpl3G
Fans of JOHN WICK received their notifications via a text message, as well as the film’s official Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages. Lionsgate officially announced the fourth installment during John Wick 3’s opening weekend. The first three John Wick movies have grossed $584.7 million at the global box office. Starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Rina Sawayama, Hiroyuki Sanada and Shamier Anderson, Lionsgate plans to release JOHN WICK 4, directed by Chad Stahelski, in theaters on May 27, 2022.
And lastly, director James Wan made his “chilly” announcement, with a curious title, on Facebook and Instagram for the sequel to the box office smash AQUAMAN.
Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, and two-time Golden Globe nominee Patrick Wilson starred in the DC superhero film, which was released December 21, 2018. Number 1 at the U.S. box office for three weeks, the title has become DC’s highest worldwide grossing film of all time.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled for a December 2022 release.
Welcome to Drive-In St. Louis! Drive-In St. Louis @ POWERplex is located at 5555 St Louis Mills Blvd. Hazelwood, Missouri 63042. Their site can be found HERE
Launched in May of 2020, in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Drive-In St. Louis’ goal was and still is to bring together our community through a shared experience. Drive-In St. Louis has helped over 4,000 area students graduate from high school in a socially distanced safe environment. Drive-In St. Louis also allowed over 60,000 music and movie lovers to come together, safely, to hear their favorite musical acts and view movies they treasure with family and friends.
This year Drive-In St. Louis promises to be so much more with over 20 graduations held on-site, 45 concerts and/or movie nights and 20 private events from May through October. We are adding more to our guests experience featuring Private VIP party pads and parking, a Hospitality Lounge with games including cornhole, fowling, and Food Truck Alley with cuisine from St. Louis’ most mouth-watering food trucks.
• 5:30pm Gates Open
• 7pm Headliner Set Starts, Movie to Follow
Here’s the line-up:
May 7th – SUPER JAM! Featuring spectacular re-creations by artists such as: Boston, STYX, Journey, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Sammy Hagar & more!Featured Movie: Iron Man (2008)
May 14th – Trixie Delight.Take all of your favorite bands from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and now…then, have them play your favorite songs, all on one stage, all in one night. This is what the audiences coming to see Trixie Delight have come to love and expect from their favorite St. Louis cover band. with Featured Movie: Thor Ragnarok
May 15th – Queens Blvd. THE 80s ARE FLYING HIGH AGAIN AND IT AINT NOTHING BUT A GOOD TIME. COME SEE THESE POP ROCKERS AT THE DRIVE-IN!with Featured Movie: Captain Marvel
May 27th – Griffin & the Gargoyles. St. Louis’ premier high-energy party and dance band! Their extensive play-list and freshness keep the crowds coming back for more!With Featured Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy
May 29th – That 80’s Band. That 80s Band brings back the sound of the 80s Pop/Rock/New-Wave era. That 80s Band is a fun, high-energy recreation of the 80s music scene.With Featured Movie: The Breakfast Club
June 11th – Jeremiah Johnson.Born and raised in St. Louis, Jeremiah Johnson is the voice of Mississippi River blues blending with the struggles of everyday life.With Featured Movie: The Blues Brothers
June 18th – Joe Dirt and The Dirty Boys Band. The Best Rock n’ Roll Band you will ever see in your entire life. 70’s and 80’s Classic Rock with a few songs from the 60’s thrown in! With Featured Movie: Goodfellas
June 19th – Dr. Zhivegas. Come see The World Famous Dr. Zhivegas! Rocking since ’95! Playing all your favorites: Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Pitbull, Queen & David Bowie. With Featured Movie: Saturday Night Fever
June 25th – Steve Ewing Band.Steve Ewing who fronted St. Louis’ pride and joy, The Urge. Steve has spent the past 20 years rocking out on stages of all sizes!With Featured Movie: Star Wars – The Force Awakens
June 26th – Plastic Kings.Come see a high-energy rock show with big production and jaw-dropping songs from the biggest names in rock and pop!With Featured Movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark
July 2nd – Mr. Blue Sky. Mr. Blue Sky brings the splendor that is the music of ELO. This authentic tribute to the original symphonic rock icons soars on stage!With Featured Movie: King Kong (1976)
July 3rd – Sean Canan’s Voodoo Players (Beatles Tribute). Guitarist Sean Canan heads up the Voodoo Players, they recreate and reinterpret music by a wide array of legendary artists and bands.With Featured Movie: Yesterday
July 9th – Bitter Pill. Bitter Pill is an established St. Louis based cover band playing crowd-pleasing hits that span from ’70s to current rock and alternative!With featured Movie: Joe Dirt
July 17th – Groovethang. Groovethang is a seven-piece band that has become known playing hits of some of music’s most popular groups, Chicago, Al Green & Steely Dan!With Featured Movie: Mamma Mia
July 23rd – Extremely Pointless. The best modern rock/metal cover band in St. Louis. Melting faces on the regular! Come see them rock the lot at the Drive-In!With Featured Movie: Knives Out
And here are some rules you should know:
To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience Drive-In St. Louis asks that you please read through our policies. Failure to follow these policies will result in ejection from the parking field without a refund.
• Drive-In St. Louis does not allow anyone to sit on top of their vehicle for any reason.
• The SPEED LIMIT on the parking lot is ALWAYS 5 MPH!!! PLEASE watch for the staff, ushers, concessionaires, and security offices who could be on bikes or in golf carts
• Management has the right to refuse service/admission to anyone at any time for any reason. These are private shows, and the safety of the guests is paramount
• There is NO RUNNING or HORSE PLAY on the grounds or buildings (This includes parking lots, restrooms, concession area, etc.) This is for your safety and the safety of others
• Drive-In St. Louis asks that you keep your car stereo audio at a reasonable level for your family to hear and enjoy, while not disrupting anyone else around you
• Drive-In St. Louis asks that after you have safely parked, you shut-off all lights (interior and exterior), and put your car in the ALT position, to minimize the electrical drain. If you need Air Conditioning or Heat for a period, we understand starting the car for short periods of time
• Please keep your lights OFF
• Smoking is not allowed near your vehicle. Please visit the designated smoking areas on-site to smoke during the event
• Drive-In St. Louis demands that you drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Additionally, public intoxication and disorderly conduct are against the law and will not be tolerated. If you drink, do so responsibly. Underage drinking will be closely monitored, and any violators will be arrested and prosecuted
• Laser pointers are not permitted at any time. If you are caught with one, it will be confiscated or everyone in your party will be asked to leave the Drive-In
• Do not throw or launch objects of any kind at the stage, screens, buildings, cars or people. Anyone who throws and launches an item will be immediately asked to leave. Drive-In St. Louis asks that you place all trash in the trash bag provided when you entered
• Drive-In St. Louis asks that you place all trash in the trash bag provided when you entered and take it with you upon departing. Either take the bag with you upon departing or place in trash can. This is for the safety of the staff and for keeping the Drive-In clean of debris
• Drive-In St. Louis is NOT RESPONSIBLE for Motor Vehicle accidents
• Drive-In St. Louis is NOT RESPONSIBLE for damage to vehicles or personal property
• Drive-In St. Louis is NOT RESPONSIBLE for lost or stolen items including, money & personal property
• Drive-In St. Louis is NOT RESPONSIBLE for Medical injuries & accidents
• All paying patrons and visitors know there are personal risks associated with any large venue gathering and accept those risks upon purchasing a ticket and entering one of the Drive-In St. Louis Concerts and Movies
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.
What is your favorite Whodunnit film?
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Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material
