Knives Out [Rian Johnson]

Fysh · 26-11-2019 9:59pm

Caught it last night at the Cineworld preview and really enjoyed it, a great Christie-style mystery whodunnit with a lot of wit and a perfectly paced plot. As johnny says in his spot-on review, a lot of people in this film are arseholes, and it's great fun watching how things unfold.

Only advice I have is, go in as blind as you can - this is a film best enjoyed without foreknowledge of anything that happens along the way.

homerun_homer · 27-11-2019 5:11pm

I got to see this in the preview too and enjoyed this movie. It's light and fun. Daniel Craig was great in it. If I had a complaint it's that

the ensemble fades away and aren't used as much as you would think going in.

Calhoun · 27-11-2019 6:45pm

Fysh wrote: »

Caught it last night at the Cineworld preview and really enjoyed it, a great Christie-style mystery whodunnit with a lot of wit and a perfectly paced plot. As johnny says in his spot-on review, a lot of people in this film are arseholes, and it's great fun watching how things unfold.

Only advice I have is, go in as blind as you can - this is a film best enjoyed without foreknowledge of anything that happens along the way.

I am now even more excited, have the Christmas lights this weekend so not sure when ill get to see it but I really want to see it now.

Fysh · 28-11-2019 11:53pm

If you want to see this, be aware that the current ad for it at the cinema (at least in Cineworld) is one of those dreadful ones that gives far too much away.

branie2 · 30-11-2019 1:53am

I thought it was very good

Optimalprimerib · 30-11-2019 6:14am

This must have been the most expensive film this year due to the set having to be rebuilt over and over again with the scenery chewing. But it is great fun.

Avoid reviews and just go see it. Even kermode spoiled it partially in the first 10 seconds of his review.

mrmorgan · 01-12-2019 2:43am

saw it yesterday, thought it was great fun!!

OldRio · 02-12-2019 12:05pm

Well twas a cold Sunday afternoon. Said to herself 'Lets go to the pictures.'

And what a blast we had.

An utterly perfect whodunit. The cast was exceptional but the script was the real star. Clever and witty.
Wonderful film.

I just wish more films were made like this.

johnny_ultimate · 02-12-2019 12:54pm

Now that more people have seen it, can I just flag two particular moments -

the ‘Fran’s dead’ reveal and the final shots

- as bordering on perfect?

El Duda · 02-12-2019 1:22pm

I believe the correct word to describe this film would be; 'spiffing'

Fysh · 02-12-2019 1:29pm

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Now that more people have seen it, can I just flag two particular moments -
the ‘Fran’s dead’ reveal and the final shots
- as bordering on perfect?

Particularly the second moment and

the pan down to show the mug Marta's holding

- *chef kiss*

pixelburp · 02-12-2019 1:33pm

Ok, I'm going to duck out of this thread, because I've not seen this yet & those black bars are just too tempting by half.

johnny_ultimate · 02-12-2019 1:51pm

Also, I usually don’t give a **** about box office, but it’s encouraging if nothing else to see that this has proven a hit, apparently doubling expectations. It’s not necessarily an underdog given the cast and a director just off a massive franchise film, but it’s great to see a relatively modest-scale original film making its mark. That the film is great doesn’t hurt, I’m sure

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/frozen-2-box-office-scores-124m-holiday-record-knives-hits-42m-1258559

spiritcrusher · 02-12-2019 2:36pm

There's something so... satisfying when you get to see a good actor just let rip and knowingly ham it up. It really suited this type of in-joke heavy whodunnit. At the same time a loving tribute and hilarious send-up of Agatha Christie. Craig really is pitch perfect throughout, from ridiculously over the top to (slightly) more subtle when needed.
And the

doughnut hole

line had me in stitches - was like something out of a Coen caper.

El Duda · 02-12-2019 2:45pm

Seeing as the film was full of nods to other murder mysteries, I wonder if the doughnut stuff was a reference to Twin Peaks?

El Duda · 02-12-2019 3:40pm

Knives Out - 8/10

Really happy to see Rian Johnson get so much deserved praise for this star-studded murder mystery. It's great to see an original work succeed in an age where studios are relentlessly churning out franchise films, reboots and sequels.

The audience I saw it with had just as much fun as Daniel Craig seemed to be having on screen. His Kentucky fried Benoit Blanc is a key tone setter and his transitions from comedic to more serious moments are effortless.

With such an array of talent, I was surprised that Ana de Armas was chosen as the central protagonist. To her credit, she not only holds her own, but she ends up the standout performer.

It's best to go in cold knowing as little as possible, but I will say this; There is a moment that comes early on that felt like a final act revelation. It's from this point on that the move really had me in its grip. It fills you with so much intrigue.

The climax doesn't quite surpass some of the earlier inventive moments, but this is still a thorough recommendation.

humberklog · 02-12-2019 6:11pm

"What's the Cheeeeese?".

Great performances, great fun, great movie.

santana75 · 02-12-2019 6:37pm

Saw this at the weekend and I absolutely loved it. Even though it has nothing to do with Christmas it had a Crismassy feel to it, if that makes any sense.......Anyway it gets stuck in straight away and doesnt let up til the end. Just a ridiculously entertaining film all round. Daniel Craig isnt give enough credit for his acting, after a couple of minutes I'd forgotten I was watching Daniel craig and bought completely into his character. I saw it in a packed theater and everyone seemed to be having a blast. Its the kind of film you could actually take the whole film to, kids and all.

spiritcrusher · 02-12-2019 7:13pm

I had a good laugh at the start of the film when Craig first spoke as I didn't watch any trailers or know much about the tone of the film. Had no idea what Craig's character was supposed to be like (and with the name Benoit Blanc I was half expecting a Poirot knock-off) so when I heard him first talk I laughed and thought "Aaaah, so it's that type of film... Excellent".

pixelburp · 03-12-2019 11:16am

Wow, what a perfectly balanced, immaculately crafted machine of deviousness that was; I daresay this is going to be a landmark film, against which future Murder Mysteries will be judged. Just utterly, fantastically entertaining and a true joy to watch as it gently unravelled its secrets. Never withholding, never rolling its own eyes at the excess of it all, all executed with playfulness and a deft touch that made it look easy. Not to mention finding a perfect balance between drama & comedy, with some genuinely heartfelt or hilarious moments. Not the most visually idiosyncratic of Johnson's works, but his experience with puzzlebox narratives meant he could knit all the disparate wires together and stick the landing. Everyone was on top form, and while scenery was chewed, it wasn't because the actors didn't believe in the material & were just letting lose; the performances suited the melodrama of it all, a twinkle in the eye of each actor, savouring the fun had by all.

kerplun k · 04-12-2019 3:43pm

There you go folks, the most entertaining film of 2019. I loved every minute of this.

Man, I want that donut shaped piece of art with all of the knives for my apartment

Daniel Craig hamming up that Kentucky accent to perfection.

Loved it, loved it, loved it.

pixelburp · 04-12-2019 3:56pm

I love how the script's final action had the confidence, and trust in its audience, that it didn't need to call back to the original clue & tip of the hat. The communal realisation & laugh in the audience I sat in, that "ahhh, of course!" when

Ransom failed to tell the difference between a stunt and real knife, just like Granda observed at the start of the film

, was fantastic.

Genuinely think in years to come this will be held up as a near flawless script & piece of art-entertainment. Rare enough I want to immediately see a fim a second time, just to watch the various cogs get put in place.

Sudden Valley · 04-12-2019 4:10pm

Really enjoyed the movie was quite good a feel good movie. I left wondering whether the Daniel Craig character was not actually a good detective as throughout he seemed to be ignoring key peices of information. He seemed to get lucky in the end.

pixelburp · 05-12-2019 11:01am

So I see this has accrued $75 million in worldwide box-office so far; no idea what the budget was, but that reads like a success to me? Good to see this is garnering some success, validating the worth of smaller, intelligent crowdpleasers. (especially released against a juggernaut like Frozen 2)

Fysh · 05-12-2019 11:59pm

pixelburp wrote: »

So I see this has accrued $75 million in worldwide box-office so far; no idea what the budget was, but that reads like a success to me? Good to see this is garnering some success, validating the worth of smaller, intelligent crowdpleasers. (especially released against a juggernaut like Frozen 2)

Budget is estimated at $40M according to IMDB so unless its legs completely drop out from under it I'd say it's doing well.

Sabre0001 · 06-12-2019 1:42pm

Really enjoyed this. I liked the

flip from who-dun-it to cat and mouse game and then back again.

Thought the cast were really on form and some wonderful shots too. Would highly recommend.

johnny_ultimate · 07-12-2019 9:39pm

Anyone on Twitter and who wants some very film nerdy insights should check out Johnson’s regular cinematographer Steve Yedlin - lovely little tidbits about the details that go into seemingly simple shots!

https://twitter.com/steveyedlin/status/1203374687444594689?s=21

Fysh · 07-12-2019 11:11pm

Some interesting (if you like the technical/nerdy stuff, and I often do) stuff there, cheers!

Also saw a link to this very technical interview with Yedlin about the nuts and bolts of how the look of the film was achieved.

Sad Professor · 08-12-2019 12:48pm

Probably the best film I have seen this year. I might even go see it again before it leaves the cinema. Brilliantly constructed and loads of fun from start to finish.

nix · 10-12-2019 1:12pm

I enjoyed it but found it far too predictable to warrant it amazing, i loved the cast and performances, but the whole "mystery" was all too meh, he telegraphs everything throughout, like absolutely everything, didnt bury anything in any actual conversations

Knives Out [Rian Johnson]

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