(photo courtesy of IMDB.com)
Knives Out is a
scintillating murder? mystery while offering affective family drama with a
comedic touch. The film is also well written and directed particularly if you
are familiar with mystery films in general. With the great mystery films things
are never what they seem especially as you start guessing. Even if you guessed who
did it you still will not be able to figure out how because of the layered
presentation and characters going in and out of the narrative. As usual there
is a big reveal but this should encourage you to watch it a second time in
order piece it together. If it is a
great film then many of the clues should be there when you watch it again. Also,
it must be said that the issue of murder or suicide is one of the most engaging
aspects in the mystery. The motive is also important and it is here that we get
a sense of the wider family drama. It is a white petty bourgeois family
dependent on the patriarch who is now dead.
The introduction of an immigrant nurse from central or South America
gives the film a new edge as she pierces through the cynicism with her kind
heart. In that sense it is fantastical and entertaining beyond what could have
been a turgid portrayal.
This film is directed and written by Rian Johnson and
features an all star cast. The stand outs are Daniel Craig, as private
detective, Benoit Blanc; Ana de Armas as the immigrant nurse, Marta; Chris
Evans as the spoilt grandchild, Ransom Robinson; Jamie Lee Curtis, as Linda
Robinson; Michael Shannon as Walt
Thrombey and Chirstopher Plummer as Harold Thrombey.
Positives
The primary positive is the murder mystery and what it says
about the Thrombey family in general. This becomes apparent when establishing a
motive for the murder. The Thrombey family is mostly dysfunctional and a lot of
it has to do with their dependence on the patriarch, Harold, who is now dead. Another
crucial element is the immigrant nurse, Marta, and her peculiar revulsion of
lying. She is portrayed rather optimistically as a pure soul in contrast with
the practical cynicism of the Thrombeys. Obviously this mystery says a lot
about white America and their relationship with immigrants in general. This makes
it a timely topic especially when considering how things unravel towards the
end. In the good old days this kind of mystery film would not have such an edge
with a character like Marta. It would not reflect white America accurately when
their position was more secure in their hold on the country.
The introduction of a character like Marta suggests that
these white ensemble films will have to account for the immigrant element in
some way. The immigrant is crucial to any social portrayal of white bourgeois America
because it is now a defining element in their experience. The film smartly makes this film about a
family with a small fortune as opposed to a big one and so the issues regarding
inheritance are not so grave. If billions were at stake instead of millions
then it would be all out war and the film would probably descend, farcically,
into a shoot out. The film can then be seen as a microcosm of white America at
a turning point. The mystery and how it unravels merely brings this to the
fore. The film would not have been so meaningful without these wider issues to
discuss.
Negatives
The primary negative is the sanctified portrayal of Marta in
this cynical world. I will not reveal how the mystery unfolds but her role in
it and her kind heart seem too convenient for this plot. It is not clear why she is singled out
as an invigorating factor because she is just a good nurse and Harold’s friend.
The motives of the patriarch, Harold,
are also not clear cut and although things are conveniently wrapped up at the
end I was not sure of his own motives regarding Marta. He laid out this grand
plan on his birthday but is it because of the old adage that the 1st
generation produces and the second generation consumes. Something like that. In
some sense he is responsible for the family being so dependent especially in
his unwillingness to allow some of them to exercise their initiative and to
thrive in some areas. It is also clear throughout the film that he uses Marta
to solidify his last hurrah or middle finger to his family. How will she
continue to navigate the cynicism despite what appears a somewhat triumphant
end? In such a sense the emphasis on such a kind hearted Marta narrows the portrayal
and limits what could have been said
without it becoming merely comedic.
All in all the presentation of this mystery is technically
very impressive but I still have some reservations about the pure hearted
intentions of Marta.
