Movie Reviews - Knives Out

Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Crime/ Comedy
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Frank Oz

Description: A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.

Review: An old-fashioned murder mystery of Agatha Christie-like allure. That's what filmmaker Rian Johnson advocated when he took care of the story and direction for “Knives Out”. The director of “Brick” and “The Last Jedi” has stuffed all the standard elements of the genre into this classic whodunit: an immense mansion, a rich family full of intrigues, only striking characters and of course the murder of an authoritative man. As one of the characters makes clear, it looks like a lifelike game of Clue. So: who killed Harlan Thrombey with the knife in the study?
Successful thriller author and multimillionaire Thrombey had just called the family together before his death in order to tighten the ties again. Because it's hatred and envy within the family ranks. And with all those fights and conspiracies, the motives immediately come to the surface. His daughter-in-law made money back because of the study costs of granddaughter Megan, whom she cashed twice. Son-in-law Richard cheated with Thrombey's knowledge. A grandson (who by the way has the first name Ransom) was in turn disinherited and Thrombey's youngest son worked for the company. And then there is the South American nurse who may have tampered with medication.
One by one, Johnson will take care of the suspects. He does this with a series of interviews with a very special spectator. Private detective Benoit Blanc, a fantastically smooth role for Daniel Craig, who sounds like Francis Underwood's brother because of his southern American accent, has more than earned his spurs in a number of high-profile cases. Initially he is only used as an observer, but he always makes his presence known to potential suspects in an irritating way by pressing a piano key. It doesn't take long before Blanc completely takes over the murder investigation, although he leaves the detective under the illusion that it isn't so.
Knives Out is indebted to the genre that made Christie great and is therefore a tribute to the work of the highly productive British thriller author. There are studies that have shown that Christie suddenly built up her sentences in such a way that it is impossible to stop reading. Johnson's thriller may not have this hypnotic effect, but it is full of intriguing characters who all have their reasons to get rid of the pater familias. As it should be. It also helps a lot that next to Craig, famous faces like those of Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Christopher Plummer and Toni Collette make their appearance. But Craig is the one who owns this movie. It’s a very tongue-in-cheek performance, over-exaggerated, but therefor delightful to watch.
Knives Out is, with its beautiful scenery and camera work, above all a tribute to the classic murder genre, in which nothing and nobody is what it seems. It's a wonderful puzzle and therefore an escape from the daily grind. The ensemble cast is a pleasure to watch, because it must be wonderful to get absorbed in the dysfunctional family dynamics at a crime scene full of secret corners, spaces and doors.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Love, Simon

Director: Greg Berlanti
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Logan Miller, Keiynan Lonsdale, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Talitha Eliana Bateman, Tony Hale, Natasha Rothwell, Miles Heizer, Joey Pollari, Clark Moore, Drew Starkey, Mackenzie Lintz, Cassady McClincy, Alex Sgambati, Jamila Thompson, Emily Jordan, Patrick Donohue

Description: Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends and all of his classmates: he's gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.

Review: Filmmakers often struggle with the portrayal of gay characters. They mostly fall into two categories: the funny sidekick that we don’t take too seriously or the man or woman that struggles with his or her sexuality.
Luckily that is slowly changing. It’s a breath of fresh air to see a gay character for whom it’s not an issue who he likes. Simon is mostly blocking his own path. He is close with his parents, he loves his sister and he has a strong bond with his group of friends.
Like Simon states in his voice-over: he is a normal guy, with a secret. Simon knows for a while now that he likes boys. When he discovers on social media, that there is another gay boy in his school, Simon decides to e-mail him anonymously.
“Love, Simon” starts as a standard teen drama, but it’s so much more than that. The guy Simon is e-mailing with, he calls himself Blue, gives him more confidence about his true identity. But when classmate Martin finds his e-mails, he starts to blackmail Simon. And it’s not that he is ashamed of being gay. That not the reason why he doesn’t want Martin to spill the secret to the entire school. It’s his thing and he wants to tell his loved ones when he thinks it’s the perfect time. Because Simon knows that everyone will be okay with it. But he also knows that everything will change when he tells his friends and family, and he simply doesn’t want things to change.
What makes this film so special is that it stays away from the many clichés that this genre normalyl brings. Gay people are often portrayed in a very stereotypical way, but this film shows that homosexuality comes in many forms. There is another boy in Simon’s school that’s gay. He is very extravagant and very different from Simon. But they have one big thing in common. And this movie never mocks it. Everyone can be themselves, as long as you let yourself.
Director Greg Berlanti didn’t turn “Love, Simon” into a sentimental or melodramatic coming-out story. Simon is someone everyone can relate to, just as a lot of other characters in this film. It’s an honest and heartfelt story. Berlanti manages to bring Simon’s thoughts and experience to life. And also credits for Nick Robinson, who portrayed Simon in a very likeable, natural and strong way.
“Love, Simon” is a very important film, that takes on this topic very well. I loved this movie!

Rating: 4,5 / 5