Johnson turns the whodunit on its head in entertaining ‘Knives Out’

Posted on December 6, 2019

By MARK VIOLA

November gave us a quite a few movies in genres we’re not used to getting much of anymore, such as the crime noir “Motherless Brooklyn.” Now we have an old-fashioned whodunit in “Knives Out,” from writer/director Rian Johnson (“Looper,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”).

Before I get into my review of this movie, I need to state two things up front. First, I really enjoyed this movie. Second, I still haven’t forgiven Rian Johnson for “The Last Jedi,” one of my least favorite “Star Wars” films, as well as his reaction to the criticism of that film. This isn’t the time or place to get into that, but suffice it to say, I went into “Knives Out” not really wanting to like it. The fact that I did should say something (beyond everything else you’re about to read).

Johnson manages to completely subvert our expectations when it comes to whodunits, to the point that there is a significant portion of the movie I didn’t want the mystery to be solved. Even when we think we know everything, there is often another twist or turn just waiting to send us further down the rabbit hole. Despite my misgivings going into the movie, I will say Johnson pens quite the page-turner of a movie, keeping the pacing strong through much of the film.

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