"Knives Out" (2019)

I love a good whodunit. Even when the mystery itself is not much of a puzzle, the formula lends itself to some of the best storytelling, character development, and exploration of what it means to be human. With the popularity of the form, originality can suffer. “Knives Out” manages originality, satisfying puzzle construction, and wonderful, wonderful entertainment.

Rian Johnson in “Knives Out” has finally topped his excellent first effort, “Brick” which was itself one of the best films of the century so far.

The story is compelling. The mystery confounding. The characters are wonderfully portrayed by the cast of actors all at the top of their game. And the sleuth introduced here is one I hope we get to see many more times.

To top it all off, the story is an exploration of the class and economic divide so relevant to our times. It is subtle, so not likely to annoy people who are happy in the comfort of their riches and privilege, but it does deliver some scathing critique of the hypocrisy of the well-meaning upper classes.

(Rated PG13 for adult langugae, violence, and dialogue, as you can see in part from the trailer.)