#TIFF19: “KNIVES OUT”

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Popular mystery author Harlan Thrombrey (Christopher Plummer) has died from an apparent suicide. The evidence suggests this is the case, but the police and private investigator Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) feel there is more to it – especially as every family member has a motive for killing him.

I have long been a fan of Writer/Director Rian Johnson and he has delivered another masterwork with this clever inversion of a classic Whodunit story. He is keenly-aware of the conventions of the genre, and alters each one to suit his wildly unique sensibilities. The style and score are absolute perfection as is the sharp editing and absolutely hysterical dialogue. Johnson is very precise with all of his elements here, practically entering the same distinctive pantheon as Wes Anderson with his attention to detail. He stumbles a bit with the convoluted and over-stretched final act, but ensures the Film remains thrilling and enigmatic right up until the very end. And if that were not enough, the all-star Cast is one of the best groups of thespians ever brought together by one film. Every single Cast member has a blast breathing life into these amazing characters, with Craig killing it with another ridiculous accent and Ana de Armas practically stealing the show from everyone.

KNIVES OUT screens during TIFF at the following times:

Saturday September 7, 6:00pm @ Princess of Wales [World Premiere]
Sunday September 8, 11:00am @ Elgin Theatre