No. 34 Knives Out (2019) 83 of 100
This is an enjoyable murder mystery that was the first of a franchise which now stands at two films, with a third to be released in 2025. The thread through the films is Daniel Craig’s detective character Benoit Blanc who uses deduction and a funny accent to unravel cavernous crimes. The film opens with a death. Best selling author Harlan Thromby (a fun Christopher Plummer, seen mostly in flashback) is found with a seemingly self inflicted cut to the throat. The police determine the death to be self inflicted and the family gather to have the funeral and for the will reading. Clearly that’s not a film, so Benoit shows up, having been hired anonymously to have a look into the matter. The film’s indulgent cast all get their introductions as the police investigate the four family members who would benefit from the death – Don Johnston, Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis and our man Mr Shannon as the author’s youngest son and business manager. For your money you also get turns ...