For Cluedo and Agatha Christie-obsessed film fans, Knives Out may be the perfect watch. Starring James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, never has there been a more star-studded whodunnit in all of Hollywood. And this one unites Bond with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and even Star Wars as well.
Knives Out is a rip-roaring ride for fans of the crime genre.
To begin, we have a simple premise: an elderly man and crime author Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer) is dead.
The old gent has met his untimely demise, on the eve of his 85th birthday party, where his entire family has been brought together.
His whole family, including his surviving children, Linda Drysdale Thrombey (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Walt Thrombey (Michael Shannon.)
Along with them are their spouses, Richard (Don Johnson) and Donna (Riki Lindholme) and their slightly troublesome children, Ransom (Chris Evans) and Jacob (Jaeden Martell.)
As well as them is Joni (Toni Collette,) the wife of Harlan’s deceased third child, and her daughter Meg (Katherine Langford,) and the formidable matriarch Great Nana Thrombey (K Callan.)
His death was rather a surprise, especially to his kind-hearted nurse, Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) and housekeeper Fran (Edi Patterson,) so soon the police are called to find the culprit.
The police, played by Lakeith Stanfield and Noah Segan, seem to be convinced the death is by suicide, as are his family, until the arrival of experienced and lauded detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig,) who has his own ideas.
Craig’s performance as Blanc is a larger than life, almost like a pantomime dame, but this seems to very much be the point.
Blanc is all your best loved detectives rolled into one, with hints of the Poirot and Sherlock Holmes about him with his methodical ways of doing things, mixed with an understanding of the human psyche which eludes some of the fact-based detectives.
He quickly takes one of the family, Marta, under his wing in order to work out the family – especially after discovering Marta has one personality trait which will make falsehood impossible.
The pace quickens and the movie is full of laughs – albeit it at some unsavoury things – as Blanc and his team of ‘top’ detectives follow the clues.
The family are completely stellar, with no bum note in any of the stars.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson and Chris Evans’ dysfunctional family is particularly enjoyable, as well as Michael Shannon’s injured son, who seems desperate to spread his wings and do something of his own despite living in his father’s shadow.
Toni Colette’s mercenary Joni is hilariously ‘Valley girl,’ which sets her apart from her daughter, who seems genuinely saddened by the death of her grandfather and wanting to improve through her studies.
All in all, the film is bouncy, lively and fun, with twists and turns all over the place.
The finale may not be quite as satisfying as an Agatha Christie slam-dunk, but the film is so well directed, with each star giving it their all, and relishing every minute.
Knives Out is out in cinemas on November 29