Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
The latest whodunnit from Rian Johnson, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, is a film that will be endlessly dissected & unravelled over time.
To quote one of the finest philosophers of our time, Shrek, this onion “has layers”. At its core Glass Onion is a whodunnit murder mystery. As we radiate out through the layers though we discover biting satire, social commentary & hilarious comedy. All encompassed by outstanding acting performances from an all-star ensemble cast.
A sequel to 2019’s sleeper hit Knives Out we once again tag along with the world’s greatest detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). For this investigation, Blanc is again tasked with solving the murder of the ultra-wealthy elite. This time around though we move away from the extravagant country estate to an idyllic, private Greek island where the Elon Musk-esque tech billionaire Miles Bron has invited his group of friends known as “the disruptors” for a weekend murder mystery game. Little do they know the murder & game of cat & mouse will soon become real.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery employs a similar approach to its predecessor but ups the ante in every way imaginable. This is most obvious in the satirical caricatures on display from the ensemble cast. From the win-at-all-costs politician (Kathryn Hahn), to YouTuber & men’s rights activist Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) & his ditzy influencer girlfriend Whisky (Madelyn Cline), & finally, the clueless racist model-turned-fashion designer who can’t shut up Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson). No social issue or celebrity trope is safe from Glass Onion.
While the ensemble cast each plays their roles with aplomb, it’s Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe & Edward Norton who truly jump off the screen with their performances.
Monáe is powerful & nuanced in her role, which is much more complex than first meets the eye. Norton is wonderful as the maniacal, egotistical tech-bro who thinks money can solve all of life’s problems as he strives to find the thing that will define his lasting legacy.
Then there is Daniel Craig who returns to the role of Benoit Blanc. Rather than simply relying on what brought him to the table & garnered praise in Knives Out he uses Glass Onion to add further depth & backstory to Blanc. We learn here that although he may be a brilliant detective he struggles with everyday problem-solving & social skills.
Much like Knives Out the true joy of Glass Onion begins once we hit rewind. At this moment the story goes back to the beginning & we pay witness to an assortment of new perspectives, all of which alter the perspective & have you second-guessing your original assumptions.
Across its 139-minute runtime Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is always entertaining. It’s bigger, bolder & much more comedic. So, whether you’re pondering clues to solve the mystery yourself or laughing at the absurdity of it all, you’ll always find something to enjoy.
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