Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix, 2022)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is almost as good as its predecessor. And I mean that as a compliment.
To me, Rian Johnson's first Knives Out movie is - apart from being a great Agatha Christie tribute - pretty much the ultimate murder mystery, thanks to a brilliant script and great starring roles from Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.
Craig is once again in fine fettle in Glass Onion (named after a Beatles song). This time he gets able support from the likes of Edward Norton, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monae. However, some supporting characters are painted in broad strokes, which makes them feel like caricatures.
At least for the first thirty minutes. Cause when the story really gets going, it's tons of fun, and Johnson tricks his viewers once again with the many twists and turns of his story, which this time takes us to Greece.
Private detective Benoit Blanc (Craig) appears curious when he is invited by tech billionaire Miles Bron (Norton) to spend a long weekend with him and a number of his old pals on a luxurious private island, with the intention of playing a murder mystery.
It soon turns out there is more to it, and that is really all you need to know. In Knives Out Johnson poked satirical fun at Old Money. This time he takes aim at New Money. (Note: Glass Onion would make a great double bill with The Menu, which I recently reviewed).
Glass Onion is set during the pandemic and it is fitting that the characters play with face masks in some scenes. But soon the masks start coming off and Blanc is allowed to show us once again why he is called The World's Greatest Detective.
Without spoiling too much, the movie ends with a big set piece, complete with slow motion, which vaguely reminded me of Tarantino. It’s a bold move that makes the movie go out with a bang.
Production design, costumes and make-up and of course cinematography are all top notch. And as a director Johnson shows us once again he is a master of misdirection.
Glass Onion is a four star sequel to a five star original, and in my book that’s called a worthy successor.