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[tab title="Movie Review"]

Knives Out

Knives Out (2019) is a clever murder mystery from writer and director Rian Johnson, the best quality of which is its awesome ensemble cast: Christopher Plummer, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon and more. Everyone seems to enjoy their juicy roles as members of a rich, spoiled family named the Thrombeys. But calling the film a “whodunit” is somewhat misleading. After a suspenseful beginning, the true version of events becomes clear. It’s revealed that on the night of his 85th birthday party the family patriarch did, in fact, kill himself. The mystery aspect comes from the series of events that led to his death. In other words, although it was suicide the detective involved, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), is also correct in deducing “foul play.”

"This is the kind of movie to watch more than once, as you're bound to miss details and little intricate plot points the first time around"


Unlike other mysteries in the Agatha Christie vein, Knives Out is set in 2019 and feels timely. For example, one young relative dubs another an “alt right troll” (he calls her a "liberal snowflake"). Another family member, Joni (Toni Collette), has an influential Instagram account and runs her own Goop-like skin care company.

The Thrombeys all depend in one way or another on Harlan; only his sweet nurse Marta (Ana de Armas) had nothing to gain from his death. Marta is so morally upstanding that, displaying a trait convenient for the plot, she throws up every time she lies. As Harlan's only true friend she's the most sympathetic character: a conscientious, kindhearted health care worker who wants to do what's right, even when it implicates her. She stands in stark contrast from the selfish, scheming Thrombey family. It makes perfect sense why Harlan chose to leave his entire fortune to her, not them. But not surprisingly, that recent revision of his will did not go over very well with his family. "You little bitch! Were you boinking my father?" screams Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis). "You had sex with my grandpa, you dirty anchor baby!" accuses grandson Jacob (Jaeden Martell). Only then, at the will reading, do the family's true colors show.Knives Out

This is the kind of movie to watch more than once, as you're bound to miss details and little intricate plot points the first time around. Daniel Craig plays the detective gleefully, with a thick Southern accent. Interestingly, in real life Daniel has an unusual outlook on the topic of inheritance. His own family will not get any of his $125 million fortune, as he thinks inheritance is a bad idea: "I don't want to leave great sums to the next generation. I think inheritance is quite distasteful." I hope his family handles that news better than the Thrombeys did.

4/5 stars

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[tab title="DVD Review"]

Knives Out

DVD

DVD Details:

Home Video Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Available on DVD - February 25, 2020
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: DVD Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • Feature commentary audio track with Writer-Director Rian Johnson, Director of Photography Steve Yedlin, and Actor Noah Segan

Special Features:

  • Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary by Rian Johnson
  • "Rian Johnson: Planning the Perfect Murder" Featurette
  • Marketing Gallery
  • "Meet the Thrombeys" Viral Ads

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[tab title="Film Details"]

Knives Out

MPAA Rating: G-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material.
Runtime: 130 mins
Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas
Genre: Mystery | Crime
Tagline: A Rian Johnson whodunit.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Well, to be fair, you make a pretty lousy murderer."
Theatrical Distributor: Lionsgate
Official Site: https://knivesout.movie/
Release Date: November 27, 2019
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 25, 2020.
Synopsis: A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.

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[tab title="Art"]

Knives Out

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