Director: Rian Johnson

Story By: Rian Johnson

Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick

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It may not have that stand out appeal that Knives Out had when it was released, but it’s still a fun and well crafted mystery film. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  

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Theme & Story: A

Pacing: A

Character: A

Overall “Paper” Score: A

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Entertainment Factors

General Public: Worth the $$$

Mystery/Crime Movie Fans: Worth the $$$

Experience Seekers (Twists & Reveals): Worth the $$$

Knives Out Fans: Interesting Enough

Overall “Viewing Experience” Score: Interesting Enough

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TAKEAWAYS:

1. A billionaire brings his rich and successful friends on an annual weekend trip to play a murder mystery game that turns real and forces truths to be revealed. This is Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. 

The film does a good job carrying out a theme I tracked to be about the consequences & karma connected to narcissism, treason, and capitalistic greed. 👍🏾👍🏾

The film’s strength for me was honestly beginning to end. One thing that this film does around Act Two is cleverly connect all the dots throughout Act One that gets us to the current moment in the film that also continues to push the film forward. Additionally, while doing connecting these dots, there’s the showcasing of how all characters have some accountability with fitting the theme. Rian Johnson truly has a great technique at this revealing recap of storytelling. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

 My only issue with the story is ensuring that there’s continuity throughout. There’s a moment in the film where characters who have gone on this trip before ask clarifying questions that don’t make sense. The only person who should’ve been asking those questions was the only person on the trip who was new to the experience. 🤷🏾‍♂️

2. Wait… was that Kanye painted on that wall like a God? 👀😩😂😂

3. Um… Miss Hudson and that BAWDY! Yeeeessss! 😩😩🙌🏾🙌🏾

4. Ooo Leslie Odom Jr looked SO good. 😍

5. This film is about 129 minutes of engagement. Every character delivers performances that hold your attention, and the setting/scenery is visually appealing. There was never a moment where I didn’t feel stimulated. 👍🏾

The pacing of the film also supports the thematic clarity. There’s a fun and fast energy that the film possesses, but it slows down at the right time to thread the theme in through characters and the story itself—especially when in Act Two. Every moment felt intentionally planned. 👍🏾

6. I was expecting to see that recorder…but I also appreciated that lack of predictability. 👍🏾

7. I want to have a non-problematic friend who invites me out to private estates for fun weekends. ::le sigh::😩😩😩

8. When he went on the intentional rant about “words not being real words…” 😂😂😂😂

9. Daniel Craig has some beautiful eyes! And I also wanted that striped shirt and short outfit. 👀😏

10. All characters were a joy, but there is something so charming about Daniel Craig’s performance as Benoit Blanc. I just love him in this role. 👍🏾❤️

In terms of character followthrough with the theme, I mean… just solid. Every character had a connection to narcissism, treason, and greed—whether active participants of the ideas, &/or victims to the consequences of the ideas in some way. There wasn’t really any complexity to the character connections to the theme as there were with Knives Out. It was just right in your face. 👍🏾

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Overall #GlassOnion gives Clue – meets And Then There Were None – meets The One on Netflix – meets Death on the Nile- meets Knives Out

This was such a fun time. There’s nothing else to really say. It’s smart. It’s funny. It’s clever. Just an unexpected, yet expected (if coming from a Knives Out experience) and chill good time. 

Also, SN: That was clearly Kanye on that wall…and since it was tied to the character Miles Bron, it was such a messy/petty/hilarious jab.