Rian Johnson hit the jackpot when he wrote and directed the first Knives Out mystery in 2019
Apart from giving great performers, and a fantastic whodunnit, Johnson also gave us a suave, brilliant detective Benoit Blanc in Daniel Craig. Glass Onion starts with a group of 5 people getting a mystery box. Miles Bron is a genius billionaire, who is inviting 5 of his best friends to unwind on his private Greek island and solve the case of his murder over the weekend. Birdie Jay is a former supermodel, who is now canceled because of her unfiltered, politically incorrect statements. Claire is a Connecticut governor, who is now running for the Senate. Lionel is the lead scientist at Miles' company. Duke is an influencer and men's rights activist. All four of them are dependent on Miles in some way or the other. Miles pays for Birdie's sweatpants fashion line. Financially banks Claire's campaigns. Employs Lionel and Duke in his various ventures. And then, there is Andi. She receives a box too. But she is too busy to solve these juvenile puzzles and instead just takes a hammer to it. But what befuddles everyone is the arrival of Blanc. Who invited him and why?
Soon the weekend at the sunlit, breezy Grecian beach begins. And Blanc adorably solves the murder mystery before the dinner even begins. But then, because it is a whodunnit, the real murder occurs.
Blanc is finally having the vacation that he wanted. A bloody murder and all the suspects under his watch.
The movie takes its sweet time in establishing all the characters and their interpersonal relationships. The 6 of them, during their youth, used to call themselves the disruptors. Even though Andi who recently split from the rest after a sour legal dispute gave them a more appropriate name, the shitheads. There is a blatant display of richness, and undercurrents as to why each might want to kill someone. Miles is easily the jerk that everyone secretly hates but is dependent on because he is rich.
Daniel Craig seems to be genuinely having fun playing Blanc. In his sailor suits, fancy scarves, and fashionable outfits. Janelle Mone is outstanding as Andi. Others add color and shine to this campy Grecian outing. Netflix did us well when they bought the rights to all of Knives Out mystery. We will gladly wait for all the installments.
By SB
