Knives Out 🗡
Happy Thursday!
Today’s movie is Knives Out (2019)—streaming on Prime Video. This murder mystery comedy landed in my top ten best films of 2019 and inspired more than one rewatch to untangle its brilliance. Ladies and gentlemen, the game is afoot.
Here’s what it’s about: The wealthy Thrombey family is shaken when their patriarch Harlan (Christopher Plummer), a famed crime novelist, is found dead the day after his 85th birthday. Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), hired by a mysterious benefactor, is tasked with solving how Harlan died. Was it a member of the family, the staff, or something more convoluted. [Trailer // 87 mins]
Why you should watch it: Knives Out is a whodunnit done well (*holds for applause*). Leave it to Rian Johnson, who managed to piece together one of the most compelling Star Wars movies with The Last Jedi, to construct a nearly perfect murder mystery. Despite the many twists and turns, all the pieces to solve the mystery are always there. You can truly solve the puzzle.
That doesn’t stop him from going on a devilishly hilarious romp with it. Funny with a sharp wit, brilliant without pretension, and as relevant a takedown of performative wokeness as any other satire. Knives Out begs to be watched over and over.
📺 Buy or Rent: Prime Video | Apple TV | YouTube
Pair it with 🍷
Game Night: Married couple Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) and their group of friends think they’re a part of a highly realistic kidnapping mystery game night when Max’s brother (Kyle Chandler) is taken by dangerous gangsters. Little do they know it’s all real and they’re at the center of a criminal conspiracy. [Where to watch]
The Oscars are officially (and egregiously) delayed
In perhaps the least important story breaking in the past few weeks (support BLM), the 2021 Oscars have been pushed back by two months—from February 28 to April 25—and films released between January 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021 are eligible. I could talk about why this is a bad decision, but Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri took the words right out of my mouth: “The Oscars blew it.”
He writes: “An Oscars built around smaller releases that are nevertheless great movies might actually serve as a necessary reset for AMPAS, and return the awards back to what they should be about in the first place: honoring excellence. It would also serve as a great platform to help people discover amazing new films.”
By removing the traditional awards season, where studios spend tens of millions throwing lavish parties and parading their stars and filmmakers from talk show to podcast, the Oscars might honor smaller films that wouldn’t usually have the chance. What a concept!
Have a great day and an even better weekend.
See you Monday —
Karl (@karl_delo)