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Nov 23, 2022 · Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery brings back Benoit Blanc for another wildly entertaining mystery rounded out by an outstanding ensemble cast. Read Critics Reviews
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The percolating tension that existed within the classy confines of the first Knives Out has lessened here against the sprawling, sun-dappled splendor of an over-the-top, private Greek island.
- A bigger, bolder, funnier sequel.
- What We Said About Knives Out
- What's the best Rian Johnson movie?
- Verdict
By Rafael Motamayor
Updated: Dec 16, 2022 6:34 pm
Posted: Sep 12, 2022 5:02 pm
This is an advanced review out of the Toronto International Film Festival, where Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery made its world premiere. It will show in limited theaters in November 2022 before streaming on Netflix on Dec. 23, 2022.
Rian Johnson is back with the series he was born to lead, and round two of the Benoit Blanc cinematic universe is bigger, twistier, more lavish, and as good – if not better – than the first go around. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery sees Johnson continuing to refine his own take on the whodunit, mixing classic tropes and aesthetics with modern commentary and self-aware, referential humor. Daniel Craig delivers what may very well be the best performance of his career thus far, digging deeper to make Benoit Blanc a compelling, complex character belonging to the great pantheon of detectives. Likewise, Glass Onion feels worthy of being compared to the great works of the genre, as it exchanges the breeziness of the original with a funnier but angrier and more complex sequel.
Agatha Christie's best whodunits tended to comment on contemporary social issues, and feature archetypes of the type of people that were prominent at the time. Johnson aims to give the same treatment to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which targets economic disparity and class warfare while making targets of the kind of over-the-top, comically absurd wealthy people with stupid amounts of power we hear about every day.
Chris Tilly gave Glass Onion's predecessor an 8.5/10, writing that it's "a crime thriller with its tongue placed firmly in cheek. From frame one, Rian Johnson and his cast are clearly having a blast, and that mix of comedy and mystery makes it a genuine crowd-pleaser." Read the full review here.
While the first Knives Out had some poignant commentary on immigration and class warfare, Glass Onion feels like Johnson unchained and free to truly throw hard thematic jabs. It’s preoccupied with the hold people allow money to have on their lives, how often we look the other way because it's convenient to us, and how it can drive us to betray others and ourselves, while also showing that exorbitant wealth doesn’t make you special, or even smart. At times, its themes and the script's approach to tackling them might seem a bit too populist and ripped off from Twitter, but it works, especially when Johnson turns its more poignant moments into hilarious jokes. This time around, the comedy is a bit broader, and the jokes appear more often and with more of an impact.
Janelle Monáe steals the show as Andi, while Kate Hudson is a highlight of every scene she's in.
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To drive home the point about wealth and excess, Glass Onion uses that sweet Netflix money to full effect, making the sets look grossly and disgustingly luxurious. We're talking a Banksy-designed ice bridge that rises from the water, robot butlers, a literal giant glass onion, and a whole plot involving the Mona Lisa.
Like the first film, Johnson assembled a phenomenal cast for Glass Onion. Monáe steals the show as Andi, while Hudson is a highlight of every scene she's in with her excellent comedic timing and line delivery. Then there's Blanc himself, with Craig digging deeper into the character, his poor skills at playing Among Us, and his obsession and drive. He is definitely more of a protagonist this time around, and there is a feeling of resignation in his voice as he ponders what a detective is actually capable of doing to achieve justice when the entire system is constantly kicking you down.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Knives Out
The Brothers Bloom
Looper
Brick
Shot and also set during lockdown, Glass Onion finds clever ways to introduce the COVID pandemic to the story, showing which of the characters sheltered in place and which had raves at their homes, and even featuring some very welcome Among Us footage.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a bigger, bolder, funnier, angrier sequel that improves on almost every aspect of its predecessor. Rian Johnson plays with an air-tight script that targets the absurdity and stupidity of the one percent while delivering a hilarious murder mystery on the most luxurious private island not owned by a Bond villain.
Nov 21, 2022 · Critic’s Pick. ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ Review: Another Clue for You All. Daniel Craig returns as the world’s greatest detective, facing down a blue-chip cast of possible...
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Sep 10, 2022 · ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ Review: Rian Johnson Outdoes Himself With a Wildly Enjoyable Sequel. The follow-up to 'Knives Out' showcases an all-star ensemble including Daniel...
Dec 22, 2022 · Our Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery review explains why it's one of the best movies of 2022, and one of the biggest Netflix Original movies yet.
- Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)
Sep 11, 2022 · ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ Review: As Sharp as the First One, But in a Go-Big-or-Go-Home Way, and Daniel Craig Once Again Rules. Rian Johnson's whodunit sequel has a new set of...
