Knives Out First Reviews: Rian Johnson Revives the Murder ...

Critics Consensus: Knives Out sharpens old murder-mystery tropes with a keenly assembled suspense outing that makes brilliant use of writer- ... Home TopBoxOffice Tickets&Showtimes DVD&Streaming TV News SIGNUP LOGIN JesterMcGree Logout What'stheTomatometer?® RTCritics Home BoxOffice TV DVD MORE News Movies TVShows News Tickets&Showtimes News KnivesOutFirstReviews:RianJohnsonRevivestheMurderMysterywithRazor-SharpScriptandKillerCast CriticsattheTorontoInternationalFilmFestivalsaythereareclueseverywherethatKnivesOutisoneoftheyear'sbest:fromDanielCraig'sperformancetothemovie'ssmartpoliticalsatire. byChristopherCampbell|September8,2019| Comments TAGGEDAS:crimethriller,festivals,FilmFestival,FirstReviews,Mystery,TIFF FollowinguphiscriticallyacclaimedStarWarssequel,2017’sTheLastJedi,writer/directorRianJohnsonpremieredhisnewmysterymovie KnivesOut(2019)97% attheTorontoInternationalFilmFestivalonSaturdaynighttomultiplestandingovations.Andthefirstreviewsoutofthegateareintunewiththatimmediatereception.Criticslovethismovie,sofar,fromitswhollydelightfulensemblecastandtheirbigcomedicperformancestothesmartsuspenseofthestorytelling,whichkeepsviewersguessinguntilthefilm’sfinalmoments.Manywereevenquicktoclaimthatthiswillbehighonyear-endlists. Here’swhatcriticsaresayingaboutKnivesOut: Howmuchfunis KnivesOut? “KnivesOutispurefunfrombeginningtoendandapopcorncrunchingwhodunitofthehighestaccord.”–CarlaRenata,TheCurvyFilmCritic “It’satotalblast.”–ChrisEvangelista,Slashfilm “Thisjuicycomedythrillerisatreatfromstarttofinish.”–DavidRooney,HollywoodReporter “It’soneofthemostpurelysatisfyingandenjoyablemoviegoingexperiencesI’vehadinrecentmemory.”–AdamChitwood,Collider “KnivesOutisoneofthemostpurelyentertainingfilmsinyears.”–BrianTallerico,RogerEbert.com “Thisoneisacrowd-pleaser.”–JoeLipett,BloodyDisgusting Isitfullofsurprises? “Johnson’sscriptisloadedwithmoretwistsandturnsthanarollercoaster.”–ChrisEvangelista,Slashfilm “The audienceiskeptontheirtoesfromthefirstframetothelast,asthistaleweavesitswaythroughtwistsandturnsleadingtoashockingconclusionyouwillneverseecoming.”–CarlaRenata,TheCurvyFilmCritic “Therearerevealsthattipthestandardstructureonitsheadinwaysthatprovewickedlydisorienting.”–BenjaminLee,Guardian “Johnson’sscreenplayinmanywaysisthestarhere,withitswell-oiledplotmechanicsandguilefultwistsandturns,constantlypullingtherugoutfromundertheaudienceasmuchasthecharacters.”–DavidRooney,HollywoodReporter “Evenifyoudosomehowmanagetopiecethewholethingtogetherinadvance,there’snowayofpredictingthejoyofwatchingitallunfold.”–DavidEhrlich,IndieWire “Thethingthatmakesthisabettermousetrapthanmostisn’tthecomplexity,butthefacthe’smanagedtorigitwithouttheusualcheese.”–PeterDebruge,Variety (PhotobyClaireFolger,Lionsgate) Willmysteryfansloveit? “RianJohnson showsthatthere’slifeleftinthegenre.“–PeterDebruge,Variety “There’snothingbetterthanawhodunitmysterymovie,butinthehandsofawriter-directorlikeRianJohnson,theenjoymentisheightened.”–JasonGuerrasio,BusinessInsider “KnivesOut is,aboveall,acelebrationofmurdermysteriesthatputsonafairlyniftyimpressionofoneitself.”–TimGrierson,ScreenInternational “KnivesOut amoreplayfulandfarmorecontemporaryrenewalofthegenrethanKennethBranagh’spageant-like2017 OrientExpress remake.”–DavidRooney,HollywoodReporter “Thisisn’tjustMurderontheOrientExpresswithcellphones,butratheraroom-shakingcrowdpleaserthatreckonswithhowfreshAgathaChristie’sbooksfelttothosewhoreadthemintheirtime.”–DavidEhrlich,IndieWire “It’safilmthatworksbecauseofJohnson’spalpableloveforthegenre,butheneverallowsthefilmtobecometoometaorreferential.”–BrianTallerico,RogerEbert.com “It’ssuchararepleasuretoseeadirectorsoinlovewithagenrewithoutslippingintoTarantinoesquefanboyindulgence.”–BenjaminLee,Guardian Andit’shilarious,too? “Certainlyoneofthebestlaughriotsin2019.”–DanielleSolzman,SolzyattheMovies “[It’s]averyfunnymoviewhereeventhemostthrowawayjokesarelaterexhumedwithvitalimportance.”–DavidEhrlich,IndieWire (PhotobyClaireFolger,Lionsgate) How’sthe(incrediblystacked)class? “Therealtreatof KnivesOut iswatchingthisincrediblecasthamitupandhaveaclearlygreattimedoingit.”–ChrisEvangelista,Slashfilm “Thewholecastisinontheover-the-topfun…alltheseactorsgettheirtimetoshine.”–JasonGuerrasio,BusinessInsider “There’snotaweaklinkintheensemble.”–DavidRooney,HollywoodReporter “There’snotonlynotasingleweaklinkintheentireensemble,it’salsokindofimpossibletochooseanactingMVP.”–AdamChitwood,Collider “Recognizableyetincisivecasting,eachactorperfectlymatchedtotheirrole.”–BenjaminLee,Guardian “Someofthecastgetslost…it’salargeensemblepieceandyourfavemaygetshortshrift. –BrianTallerico,RogerEbert.com Andspecifically,howisDanielCraig? “ThisisoneofthemostenjoyablecharactersCraighaseverplayed,andhere’shopinghestartsdoingmoreandmorecomedynowthathisBonddaysaredrawingtoaclose.”–ChrisEvangelista,Slashfilm “It’senoughtomaketheBondactor’syee-hawprisonerturninLoganLuckyfeellikeawarm-uproutine.”–DavidEhrlich,IndieWire “Theactorseemsdeterminedtoamusehimself,goingoverboardwiththecharacter,muchashedidinLoganLucky(althoughthere,atleast,itplayedtomoreamusingeffect).”–PeterDebruge,Variety “Iwouldputhisworkhereinasimilarplacetowhathedidin LoganLucky. Hecancertainlysurpriseuseverynowandthen!”–DanielleSolzman,SolzyattheMovies “Craigneverentirelybreaksfreeofthestraitjacketofhisknowinglypreposterousrole—he’salittletoostifftobetrulyfreewheeling.”–TimGrierson,ScreenInternational DirectorRianJohnsonwithChrisEvansandAnadeArmas.(PhotobyClaireFolger,©Lionsgate) ButthisisreallyAnadeArmas’movie,right? “AnadeArmas isasurprisingstandout.”–AdamChitwood,Collider “AnaDeArmas isspectacular.”–CarlaRenata,TheCurvyFilmCritic “DeArmasshinesasthehiredhelpplungedintothemiddleofamurderinvestigation.”–TimGrierson,ScreenInternational “Sweet,charming,andadeptatsomegreatphysicalcomedy,deArmasisatreattowatch.”–ChrisEvangelista,Slashfilm Anyotherswhostandout? “JamieLeeCurtisdoesamazingworkforlaughsbydeliveringadeadpanperformance. It’samazing.”–DanielleSolzman,SolzyattheMovies “Collettepunchespasttherafters,throughtheroof,andentersEarth’slowerorbit,combiningfaux-spirituality,liberalelitism,andemotionallystuntedneedinessintoawhirlwindofhilariousinanity.”–JakeCole,Slant “Thelocalcopsplayedby LakeithStanfield and NoahSegan…deservetheirownspin-offmovie.”–ChrisEvangelista,Slashfilm Whichbelow-the-linetalentsmakeanimpression? “It’satestamentto BobDucsay’seditingthatnotonlydoesthefilmflyby,buteachscenefeaturingthemassiveensemblefeelseven-handedandclear.”–AdamChitwood,Collider “TheThrombeyestateisanartdirector’sdream,asproductiondesignerDavidCrankimaginesamansionthatonlyamysterynovelistcouldfashionforhimself.”–PeterDebruge,Variety (PhotobyClaireFolger,Lionsgate) Doesthemoviegetpolitical? “[It’s]grandstatementaboutAmericaandourcurrentmoment…thefirstfilmtotakeonthesignificanceofaPresidentTrumpwithoutlapsingintocornypreachiness.”–CharlesBramesco,ThePlaylist “Thefilm’struelacerationsconcernthoseinflictedbytheeliteonthemselvesinJohnson’sexpertparodyofwhodunnitclasspolitics.”–JakeCole,Slant “Someof[the]attemptstogivethefilmacontemporary,Trump’sAmericaspinarealittletooclunky,othersimilartouchesworksowellthatyou’rewillingtoforgetthem.”–BenjaminLee,Guardian “Therich-folksjabsprovidethefilm’scheapestlaughs.”–PeterDebruge,Variety “Thankstoanimpeccablescript,gameactorsandplentyoflaughs,though,themessaginggoesdowneasy.”–JoeLipett,BloodyDisgusting Anycriticisms–atall? “Thisthrillercansometimesbetoomechanical—abreezyexerciseifnotalwaysanemotionallysatisfyingone.”–TimGrierson,ScreenInternational “Spendingsomuchtimewith[AnadeArmas]whenthetimecouldbespentwiththefilm’slargerthanlifepersonalitiesisadmittedlyfrustrating.”–JoeLipett,BloodyDisgusting Wehearthere’safinalshotfortheages…  “MyGoddoesJohnsonstickthelandingwithoneofthebestfinalshotsoftheyear.”–BrianTallerico,RogerEbert.com “[It’san]all-timerofafinalshot.”–DavidEhrlich,IndieWire “[Johnson]’sassembledadazzlingcontraptionthat,iftwistedinjusttherightway,popsopentorevealanuggetofwisdomcrystallizedbythecatharticfinalshot.”–CharlesBramesco,ThePlaylist Willwewanttoseeitagain(andagain)? “Whenitendsyou’llimmediatelywanttogetbackon.”–AdamChitwood,Collider “Icannotwaittoseethislaughriotagain!”–DanielleSolzman,SolzyattheMovies KnivesOut premieredatthe TorontoInternationalFilmFestival onSeptember7,2019.ItwillbeintheatersNovember27,2019. #1 KnivesOut(2019)97% #1 AdjustedScore:126392% CriticsConsensus:KnivesOutsharpensoldmurder-mysterytropeswithakeenlyassembledsuspenseoutingthatmakesbrilliantuseofwriter-directorRianJohnson'sstellarensemble. Synopsis:ThecircumstancessurroundingthedeathofcrimenovelistHarlanThrombeyaremysterious,butthere'sonethingthatrenownedDetectiveBenoit...[More] Starring:DanielCraig,ChrisEvans,AnadeArmas,JamieLeeCurtis DirectedBy:RianJohnson Likethis?Subscribetoournewsletterandgetmorefeatures,news,andguidesinyourinboxeveryweek. 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