Knives Out

Movie, 2019, R

Premise - The author of a successful mystery publishing franchise is found dead with his throat slit open in his own room. Each of his family members, who would have been heir to his fortune, are now under suspicion of murder. A private investigator is hired anonymously to solve the real-life murder mystery.

Review - This has been one of my favorite films to come out in 2019! There is a lot about it that is reminiscent of classic murder mysteries - the group of rich people who are each entitled and insistent that they would never do something like this, all of them being locked together in a single location and not knowing who to trust, the creepy full of murder weapons. But there is one standout piece of the film, the one thing that makes it fresh and exciting. Our heroine is not one of the rich family members, but rather the maid, Marta, a member of an undocumented immigrant family from South America.

While we do get little pieces here and there from all of the other suspects' investigations, the majority of what we see on screen is through the perspective of Marta, the only person the private investigator does not suspect because she physiologically cannot lie. The second she says something dishonest, she projectile vomits. It makes for a very funny gag within the film, but also is necessary to further the plot.

HEAVY SPOILERS FOR THE REST OF THIS REVIEW.

The private investigator (played by Daniel Craig with a weird Southern accent), never directly asks Marta if she is responsible. Though halfway through the film, we see that in many ways, she is responsible, watching Mr. Thrombley kill himself after she accidentally overdoses him... supposedly. And yet we still root for her and want her to get away with it because she meant no harm, and her entire family would be deported if the police found out. It's not an intentional murder. I don't even know if that counts as manslaughter because he was the one who took a knife to his throat.

If we find out how Mr. Thrombley gets murdered halfway through the film, then what is the rest of the film about? First, seeing if she'll get away with it. And second, finding out if there's more to the story. I found myself a little bit disappointed how I was able to predict at least a few of the plot twists. Most importantly, I guessed very early on that she did not, in fact, overdose Mr. Thrombley because the medications were switched beforehand. I also knew there was more to Ransom's (Chris Evan's character's) story because of the dog barking clue. Little details that normally would go over my head I somehow saw right through, even though I prefer to be surprised.

So yes, we've established that overall it was a fantastic murder mystery plot full of twists and turns that was quite refreshing in the order of which it told the story. But what's the point? There are so many murder mysteries. Is it fun film for the sake of entertainment? I would wholeheartedly disagree with that, instead making the claim that this film is most valuable because of its social meaning.

There are a wide range of rich people, all with quite obvious motives. We have all the classics - a secret affair, stealing money, wanting the inheritance, etc. They seem stereotypically unlikable each in their own ways. However, the characters display a range of behavior towards Marta, from deeply befriending her, to dismissing her as "the help." There is also a range of social awareness among the family members, with a teenage Nazi-to-be and a college student who is your stereotypical Social Justice Warrior. You would think that those who treat Marta like family are less likely to be guilty, right? The way you treat your "help" is indicative of your true moral nature?

Yet, in the end, they're all kind of terrible. No matter how they treated Marta in the beginning of the film, the second they find out she will be inheriting the fortune, they all turn on her. Because even though they treat her like family, she's not actually family, and they would never, EVER want her to actually have any of the things that they have. They only treat her like an equal so long as she's under their control. This is even true of our social justice warrior character who ultimately wants the money to further her own education, rather than let a disadvantaged undocumented immigrant have it.

There is this wonderful shot at the very end of the film where Marta, in her newly inherited home, is looking down at all of the people who turned their backs on her. The entire family looks up at her from below - a complete swap in power - and the smug look on her face is absolutely brilliant. It's  the ending we would have wanted for Parasite (which is also about falsely kind relationships towards the "help"), but never could have gotten outside of a fun film like this. (95/100)

Quote - "We must look a little closer. And when we do, we see that the doughnut hole has a hole in its center. It is not a doughnut hole, but a smaller doughnut with its own hole, and our doughnut is not holed at all!"

What to watch for - Oh my gosh I loved all of the performances, but Chris Evans was delightfully unlikable. In reverse, Marta was just about the most likable protagonist ever, so I watch for those two performances side by side. ALSO, this goes without saying, but watch for the set!! It's set up to kind of look like a living Clue board. Whoever designed that set must have had so much fun stuffing the house with little details.

If you liked this film, I'd recommend Clue!

Directed by Rian Johnson
Distributed by Lionsgate