This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Eli Crowhurst’s review published on Letterboxd:
This review may contain spoilers.
What an incredible movie. I've said in my review for Snowpeicer how Rian Johnson casts actors for roles based on that actor's portfolio in totality. And that has to be the entire genius of Knives out.
Knives Out is a film that lives and breathes it's cast. From Chris Evans to Christopher Plummer, the cast is made entirely out of recognizable faces that at least 75% of all audiences would have seen before playing some sort of evil character and, of course, Chris Evans as Captain America.
But that's enough about its cast there is still one more movie that I would love to talk about before I do a full discussion of casting. (As I someone who has directed a short film or too before has much of an opinion on, but I digress.)
The actual film itself has a straightforward plot in terms of its overall mystery murder for those who have eve seen a sherlock holmes movie or episode or are in any way family with plot twists. That says it still kept me on my feet the entire time, which is impressive for a movie of this kind.
Most murder mystery's attempt to go more and more elaborate, which often confuses an audience; and gives off an overall divisive response. However, Knives Out, stay's true to what the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christine have done before—delivering what is ultimately a straightforward murder mystery in such a compelling way that the viewer is still Surprised. Seeds it initially plants and the beginning of the movie come to light at the end but are the second guest by the characters logically and believably.
And to quickly mention the cast one final time. The audience has been given a film with so many classic actors famous for their villainous role, such as Michael Shannon, Christopher Plummer, Don Johnson, Riki Lindhome, that. You feel like anyone could have done it, and that is the genius of the plot make everyone capable and give everyone motive with small side stories. That way, the reveal isn't cheap, but instead 3-Dimensional. If your characters aren't deep, then neither can you're story be.
Knives Out is a fantastic family movie that can be enjoyed by everyone. It's appropriate for all ages with parents and a great classic murder mystery that has long since been overshadowed by overcomplexity.
Masterful yet straightforward, that's the best way I can describe it and defiantly worth multiple watches.