See Between knives and secretswith Daniel CraigIt was like getting a huge breath of fresh, pure air in a movie theater after so many thrillers with no twists. Rian Johnson’s film, which he had just directed the last JediIt had all the makings of a fun film. Cast, plot and resolution. Humor should be added.
Between knives and secretslike many films adapted from Agatha Christie’s novels, such as Crime on the Orient Express or death on the Nileis based on the premise of “who is” (a story about a murder in which the identity of the killer is not revealed until the end).
Size was the blockbuster film that Netflix paid a million to secure two sequels, and so now we fear Benoit Blanc (Craig, already unburdened by being Agent 007) will solve another murder among many suspects.
Being a detective is always attractive.
We are no longer in Boston, in the house of the writer found dead (murdered?) in his home after the celebrations for his 85th birthday, but in Greece. It’s another house, but the home of Miles Bron (Edward Norton), a tech mogul who invites a group of old friends (Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn and Dave Bautista), to spend a weekend on his island.
A game, a murder
The idea was that they would play a murder mystery game.
Counting anything else would be too much. Telling how Benoit also comes to the island. And least of all to reveal which character he ends up being killed off. And if he is only one.
The puzzles Johnson put into his script are very well hidden. What did the director do this time? Loopers? deconstruct the “who is” and reorient it between all the characters who are there, locked up and distrustful of each other. It enjoys unraveling theories and has its central character (Benoit) solve a crime and say, plain and simple, “he’s so stupid.”
Showing who knows what and why is a fascinating strategy.
The biggest difference between Glass Onion (like the Beatles song, and which owes its title to that mansion that looks like a glass onion) e Between knives and secrets it’s that the first film had a tone, a decidedly dark aesthetic. It all felt much darker than this much brighter sequel.
It takes time for someone to be killed, which allows Johnson to introduce his cast, how they met, go back and forth in time, replay scenes from different points of view of the characters, throwing everyone (and us) out street (spectators) for another crime.
Is that the humor is kept, and instead of twists and shouts (twists and shouts), Glass Onion responds more to turns and kills.
“Glass Onion: A Knife-Shot Mystery”
Very good
US Comedy/Thriller, 2022. Original title: “Glass Onion: A Knife-Shot Mystery”. 140′, SA 13. From: Rian Johnson. With: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista. Available in: Netflix.
Source: Clarin
