Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (English) Review {3.5/5} & Review Rating
Star Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh Brolin, Josh O’Connor
Director: Rian Johnson
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Movie Review Synopsis:
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is the story of two priests. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor) is a former boxer who joins the Church after killing an opponent in the ring. After becoming a priest, he's sent to Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude as assistant pastor in a village named Chimney Rock in upstate New York. The church is led by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Jud gets an unpleasant feeling about the place from the very start, beginning with Wicks' attitude and way of preaching to the absence of the crucifix in the church. Jud speaks to Martha (Glenn Close), Wicks' right-hand woman, and Samson (Thomas Haden Church), a gardener in the Church. Through them, he understands the dark past of Wicks and his family. Wicks' preaching’s are radical and most of them have abandoned the Church, except a devout few. During a Good Friday service, Wicks is murdered in a storage closet. While the murder weapon has a connection with Jud, it soon becomes the light that each and every one of Wicks' brainwashed disciples also had a reason to finish him off. In comes Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to solve the mystery. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Movie Story Review:
Rian Johnson's story is full of twists and turns. Rian Johnson's screenplay is captivating and in sync with the previous two parts. However, the writing also gets stretched. The dialogues are often heavy but easy to comprehend.
Rian Johnson's direction is supreme. Like a classic mystery, he sets the stage, stacks the suspects with motives and then springs the murder. It goes without saying that the film gets better once Blanc enters the narrative. The investigation unearths startling revelations and it's sure to surprise the viewers. A major twist in the tale is unexpected, while the final scene is a winner.
On the flipside, the film is quite lengthy. At 146 minutes, this is the longest film of the series. Though the makers try their best to keep the proceedings engaging, it still drags a bit in a few places. Though the suspense is unpredictable, it is also too complicated. Many viewers might not be able to digest that such a plan can even be executed. This never happened in the previous parts, where the crime seemed impossible but also doable once the mystery was unveiled. Lastly, a few suspects, like the doctor and the musician, are not well fleshed out.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Movie Review Performances:
As Benoit Blanc, Daniel Craig has a different look this time, but it suits the character. Performance-wise, he’s theatrical yet understated. Josh Brolin leaves the maximum impact and rocks the show, despite limited screen time. Josh O'Connor is suitably cast and delivers a knockout performance (pun intended). Glenn Close leaves a tremendous mark and has a crucial role to play in the film. Jeremy Renner (Dr Nat Sharp) doesn’t get much scope. He’s a recognizable face and to see other actors dominating him might not be accepted by the audience. Mila Kunis (Geraldine Scott; police chief) is decent and it’s a surprise to see her in such an avatar. Kerry Washington (Vera Draven) and Daryl McCormack (Cy Draven) deliver bravura performances. Thomas Haden Church, Andrew Scott (Lee Ross; sci-fi writer) and Cailee Spaeny (Simone; disabled musician) are just okay. Jeffrey Wright (Bishop Langstrom), Annie Hamilton (Grace) and Bridget Everett (Louise) do well in cameo appearances.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery movie music and other technical aspects:
Nathan Johnson's music goes well with the mood of the film. Steve Yedlin's cinematography is impressive, especially the use of sunlight. Rick Heinrichs' production design and Jenny Eagan's costumes are authentic. Bob Ducsay's editing could have been slicker.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is a captivating, twist-packed whodunit elevated by Rian Johnson’s confident direction, strong atmospherics and terrific performances by Daniel Craig, Josh Brolin and Josh O’Connor. However, it’s a bit too long and the plotting gets overly complicated at places, with a couple of suspects underwritten. Nevertheless, it’s a solid treat for the fans of the series and, like the previous instalment, is poised to clock massive viewership on Netflix.