Knives Out

More of a Howdunnit than a Whodunnit, I enjoyed Knives Out as a romp through the familiar tropes that characterized all the mystery movies and shows that I’d watch with my mom when I was younger. When Murder, She Wrote appeared in the film (dubbed into Spanish), I peeked a glance at my mom and she just smiled.

My favorite parts of the film involved the verbal sparring among its players: they would contradict each other either in frame or through a montage of clever edits, making me laugh while revealing more about the characters than one would initially think.

Furthermore, Christoper Plummer’s monologue on aging and what he owed to his family was fantastic: the words left me astounded at the gravity that he imbued the scene, and in effect, the entire film with. He and Ana de Armas portray the goodness of their characters and the easygoing nature of their friendship so well that rooting for her as the film goes on is easy. Everything else in the film becomes the frosting on the cake.

Knives Out is good fun and makes me want more all-star cast movies to come out, especially a cast filled with such talented actors that enjoy competing with each other on screen.

Edit to Post Upon Watching Knives Out Again (December 24, 2019):

Even better the second time around; this viewing, I was struck by the visual motif of the hanging knife circle piece. Marta (Ana de Armas) fills the center of it in her interviews with Blanc, unlike the other characters who to its side. She literally becomes the “doughnut hole” that Blanc needs to solve the mystery, making the arc of the case complete and helping it to arrive at the inevitable and satisfying conclusion.

Plus it ends on the Stones’ “Sweet Virginia” and that song is fantastic.