On a $40 million budget, Knives Out grossed over $312 million worldwide and earned universal critical praise. Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas earned Golden Globe nominations, while Rian Johnson got a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination. With its success, Lionsgate greenlit a sequel in 2020, but Netflix bought the rights in 2021 for $469 million. Johnson, his producing partner Ram Bergman, and Craig all returned to make two sequels for roughly $100 million. Aside from Craig, none of the original actors returned, as Johnson wanted a standalone sequel over a direct follow-up. Filming started in June 2021 on the Greek island of Spetses, with additional filming in Belgrade. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022, followed by screenings in London, Miami, and Los Angeles. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story had a limited theatrical run in November before premiering on Netflix that December.
%
Rating
Synopsis
Feeling isolated due to the pandemic, tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his friends, the “Disruptors”, to a party. There’s scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), governor Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), and model-turned-designer Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson). Along with her assistant, Peg (Jessica Henwick), there’s alpha male streamer Duke (Dave Bautista) and his girlfriend, Whiskey (Madelyn Cline). However, two guests arrive who complicate things: Miles’ ex-partner, Andi (Janelle Monáe), and renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Miles invites everyone to a murder mystery, which Blanc solves easily, but things escalate quickly as the night goes on. It turns out that everyone on the island has a motive to either keep Miles alive or have him killed. Soon, we learn that not everything is as it seems, or rather, people aren’t who they say they are. All of this and more will be revealed after peeling the Glass Onion.
Review
Knives Out was one of my favorite films of 2019, so I was excited about the follow-up, Glass Onion. While it’s not as good as the original, this is still a solid thriller with some comedy sprinkled in. For one, the cast is incredible, featuring some of the best actors in recent memory. Along with Craig, you’ve got Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, and Janelle Monáe. Everyone gives a terrific performance, with Craig again taking charge as the enigmatic and eccentric Benoit Blanc. Norton fits the egotistical but clueless tech CEO perfectly, and Hudson is fun as the vapid socialite. Hahn and Odom Jr. work well as the voices of reason, and Bautista works as the blockheaded alt-right streamer. However, Monáe steals the show with her femme fatale performance and cold, conniving line deliveries. Also, Noah Segan is fun as the slacker Derol.
Rian Johnson’s direction is once again on point, taking full advantage of the Greek island locales. He also makes excellent use of shadows, low lighting, and sweeping camera angles to elevate the atmosphere. This style is primarily thanks to Johnson’s frequent cinematographer, Steve Yedlin, who knows how to frame a shot expertly. Also, Rian’s cousin, Nathan Johnson, who scored his past few movies, returns to deliver another thrilling score. Like the last film, this does a great job of leaving just enough hints without giving away the entire mystery. It makes for a fun second viewing, looking back on certain moments and seeing how they tie into the revelations. Additionally, the movie is an entertaining satire of modern society, particularly cancel culture, privileged lifestyles, and egotistical CEOs. You could easily see comparisons between Miles Bron and people like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos.
However, while most of the movie works, several issues prevent it from matching its predecessor. The original sprinkled in flashbacks here and there to advance the story without feeling intrusive. But here, the movie stops dead about halfway through to deliver one extended flashback before catching back up. Not only does this wreck the film’s pacing, but so much information is thrown at you all at once. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with nonlinear storytelling, but it needs to make sense in context to what’s happening. Also, while the ending is satisfying, it doesn’t feel like solving the mystery had anything to do with the resolution. Even if it doesn’t match the original’s quality, this remains a solid follow-up that mystery thriller fans will enjoy. Overall, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is an entertaining thriller that, while not perfect, still delivers where it counts.
Where to watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
