Knives Out: The most tightly written script of the year

Knives Out is a murder mystery that takes that those typical plot points and flips them on their head. it is also an homage to the Agatha Christie "who did it" stories. Writer and director Rian Johnson has made a really solid and tightly knit movie. Every plot point has a payoff. Every detail is crafted so carefully and intricately. The writing is clever because the audience thinks they are ahead of the characters in figuring out the plot but then the movie throws them 3 steps back. Christopher Plummer plays a mystery writer who is murdered and Rian Johnson uses that fact that the character is a mystery writer to the full extent.

This movie has an allstar cast including Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, and Katherine Langford. While every main actor gives a great performance, the 3 stand out performances belong to Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans. Daniel Craig plays a world famous private investigator hired to solve the murder. His performance ranges from subtle to powerful and booming. He uses somewhat of a southern accent which is great because its very unlike most of his cool, collected characters he normally plays. He also has great comedic talent.

Ana de Armas plays the medical aid assigned to take care of Christopher Plummer and has been like part of the family. Ana de Armas has had minor roles in movies like Knock Knock, War Dogs, and Blade Runner 2049. Knives Out is her first starring role and she is amazing. She gets to really show her range as an actress. She will be starring in the upcoming Bond movie, No Time to Die along with Daniel Craig. Chris Evans gets to play the sassy, sarcastic grandson of Christopher Plummer. This is a nice change from the years he has played the honorable and pure hearted Captain America he's played for the last 8 years. It's nice to see him curse and be silly like he was in Not Another Teen Movie.

Rian Johnson has taken the murder mystery formula and turned it on its head, doing unconventional things plot wise. He also did the same thing in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. But both movies feel radically different even the Johnson used mostly the same writing style. The problem with this writing style for Star Wars is it's such a widely known and coveted property by the fans that the unconventional writing and going against the grain failed and left audiences divided. Add the fact that he had to come into an already established story from a different writer so by subverting expectations some plot points from The Force Awakens were cut short and had no real conclusion. Rian Johnson is a great writer but maybe not for Star Wars. Knives Out is definitely his best film to date and everyone should go see it. 🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔