Wake up dead man – Knives outthe third chapter of the trilogy directed by Rian Johnson, starting today on Netflix, it’s an ingenious and gripping mystery whodunit, with targeted satirical touches to Trumpian America, that Agatha Christie would have liked. Daniel Craig returns to wearing his elegant clothes by detective Benoit Blanc and, this time, to accompany him there is a search for the killer the young and spectacular Josh O’Connor.
Wake up dead man – Knives out on Netflix: the plot of the thriller film, review
The young Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), after punching a deacon, is reassigned to Chimney Rock Parish, the most depressed area of New York state. He thus becomes assistant pastor to Monsignor Wicks (Josh Brolin), verbally aggressive man and at times violent. His undoubtedly charisma influences the actions of his small number of faithful: they partly fear him but see in him a great spiritual leader.
There is Martha (Glenn Close) perpetuates it do everything, devoted to Wicks and religious to the point of madness. Samson (Thomas Haden Church), gardener and recovering ex-alcoholic, who loves Martha deeply. Doctor Nat (Jeremy Renner) has just been left by his wife and Drowns his sorrows in whiskey.
True (Kerry Washington), lawyer in the family practice, took charge of her stepson Cy (Daryl McCormack). In reality he is her half-brother: her father brought him home one day, forcing her to take care of him. Cy is now a YouTuber always with the camera in hand and aspiring right-wing politician. Then there’s Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), science fiction writer who stopped working to write a book about Wicks. Finally Simone (Cailee Spaeny) an almost disabled former cellist due to a mysterious chronic pain, who hopes to heal thanks to faith.
The cast of “Wake up dead man – Knives out” (Netflix)
The cast: the Craig/O’Connor couple, the true jewel of the film
Without the amazing chemistry that is perceived between the Daniel Craig/Josh O’Connor couple and the very talented supporting characters, it would be a halfway successful film. In fact, it is not the crime that provides the spectacle but the entire cast of possible murderers.
O’Connor (The Chimera) fits perfectly into the part of an innocent but guilt-ridden man. A sinner who has atoned and is now ready to redeem himself once again. The dialogues with Craigwhose Inspector Benoit has become a mythological character like his 007, they are nothing short of electric and irresistible. Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction) never makes a mistake in character, even when he chooses figures with a wavering and dark mind. Josh Brolin (Weapons) is a perfect man to hate and kill with gusto. The only underappreciated star is Andrew Scott: its hallucinated writer is a little too out of focus.
Josh O’Connor and Daniel Craig “Wake up dead man – Knives out” (Netflix)
Wake up dead man – Knives out – the review of the film on Netflix from December 12th
The last chapter of the adventures of investigator Benoit Blanc, the best of the entire trilogybrings the supporting structure of the detective story back to the center of his speech. In particular, takes declared inspiration from the pages of Agatha Christie’s novels as The Killer by Roger Ackroyd And Death in the village.
The atmospheres of suspense and action mechanisms, typical of darkroom crimes, here they take on more noir and twisted hues. This gloomy accent takes shape thanks to the guessed contrast between Benoit’s logical soul, Jud’s unshakable faith And the blind fanaticism of the small community by Chimney Rock.
This three-way dialogue creates not only narrative tension but an interesting moral perspective. A dialectical game that confuses and puts the viewer on a false trail. Murder, thus, is not a matter of revenge, not of divine punishment but a motive that has its roots in the most banal and cruel human motivation. While the funniest part is the one before the murder and the usual ironic tones are not lacking, Knives out 3 departs somewhat from the humor of Dinner with crime and by the surreal and unresolved atmospheres of Glass Onion.
The arrival of Inspector Benoit is the red thread of an impossible crime
Wicks does not accept any interference on the part of his spiritual order nor that of Jud. He provokes him with inappropriate confessions and, when the young priest tells the faithful that he killed one of his opponents in the ring during a match, the monsignor takes advantage of this to turn the entire community against him.
His ideas are radical: he is convinced that Marxist women will destroy the world and that to save yourself you don’t need forgiveness and faith but only anger. After a particularly violent sermon at the Good Friday mass, Wicks catches his breath in the small closet next to the altar. The anomalous wait and a suspicious noise make everyone present come running. The monsignor is lying on the ground, diedwith a dagger stuck in his back. The police, led by Commissioner Geraldine (Mila Kunis) questions the inhabitants: the suspicions and accusations are all for Jud.
The infallible private investigator Benoit Blanc introduces himself (Daniel Craig). After a brief conversation with the young priest, decides to believe him And he invites him to join him in searching for the killer. Too bad that a murder in an empty room, without doors and windows, visible to everyone, is practically impossible. Could a remotely controlled device have moved the knife? Was he already dead before he was stabbed?
Things get complicated when they find themselves faced with the open coffin and the body missing. Wicks is resurrected! The solution to “the holy grail, the best of murders”, according to Benoit, is a challenge he cannot lose.