Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) | Film Review

Rarely spoken of in critical circles is the fact that all of us are fans. Well, most of us anyway. Far too frequently our pontifications on the visual arts deter from the very genuine truth that we also just absolutely love movies. Instead, we mask it, attempt to compartmentalize, and itemize the entertainment you are so very curious about. In respect to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, I will break this cardinal rule and take you behind the curtain a hair to fully explain that Knives Out was my very favorite film of 2019, and it was not close. So it should be no surprise to say that, as a critic AND a fan, I walked into writer-director Rian Johnson’s sequel, Glass Onion, with mighty lofty expectations.

I must tread lightly on the story, as Rian Johnson is extremely intricate with his plot mechanisms. On this merry-go-round, it is the height of the pandemic in 2020 and rapscallion detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is bored. His baths stretch on for days as he depressingly communicates with several delightful surprise guests. One day, fate intervenes when Blanc receives a curious box of puzzles that ultimately ends in an invitation to a murder party game on a picturesque island thrown by billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton), where he will serve as the intended victim.

Also in attendance are Bron’s friends, who in one way or another owe their careers to Bron. There is the governor, Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn); the Twitch streamer, Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), who travels with his influencer girlfriend, Whiskey (Madelyn Cline); scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.); vapid model Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), who is always accompanied by her trusty assistant, Peg (Jessica Henwick); and lastly, former partner Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe).

The purpose of the gathering is to both announce to his friends that Bron will be unveiling his revolutionary power source, Klear, to the masses while simultaneously partying in Bron’s coveted Glass Onion, an elaborately stunning glass bachelor pad for billionaires in the shape of an onion. It’s the kind of addition you would build if you had no concept of cost or modesty. Oh, and he thought it would be a grand idea to bring together his closest “friends” – who each seem to have a motive for actual homicide – for a pretend murder party…one that eventually goes awry when an authentic death occurs. Thankfully, world-renowned detective Benoit Blanc is on the case!

Knives Out felt like an anomaly. A tightly wound script elevated by pitch-perfect performances and a tone that tangoed its way breezily between genres. Now that I have witnessed the sequel, I can safely say this was no fluke, as Glass Onion carries on Rian Johnson’s formula by blissfully changing it up. Where we opened Knives Out with a murder, this time the murder is well into the film’s hefty runtime (the only real negative here is the length), and Johnson’s script is just as snug.

There will be twists, and there will be clichés turned on their heads. One specific trope that is probably in my top 3 of plot points which will cause me to audibly “ugh” is thankfully handled with Machiavellian poise, completely selling its purpose due to the writing and acting involved. There was also an obvious increase in budget thanks to Netflix, as director Johnson’s lavish production seems almost Bondian in scope compared to the original film.

Not one actor underperforms, and even the weakest of characters are given depth as the film rolls on. Norton seems to play on his own reputation as we come to know Miles Bron, delivering winsome snark like no other. Bron and Andi developed Alpha, a non-descript tech platform, and the name itself holds meaning that Norton playfully dances with at various times. Rian Johnson also creatively imbues Bron with the characteristics of a combination of recognizable billionaires, not the least of which is Elon Musk. Bron believes himself to be a brainiac, lording above all others (even his friends) his intellect and fortune. Like all billionaires, he is obsessed with toys, like his beloved Porsche that travels with him even to a private island with no roads to speak of, placing it on an elevated spinning platform for all to envy. Yes, Bron seems very much a middle finger to the Musks of the world.

The remainder of the cast are as eclectic as expected, but none are as captivating as Janelle Monáe’s Andi. There is a stoic versatility to Monáe’s performance, and as the mystery unfolds, the many layers to Andi’s character begin to peel, a tricky dynamic which only works due to Janelle Monáe herself fully committing to every opportunity that comes her way. Monáe has already charted a solid body of work, but Glass Onion should elevate those opportunities exponentially.

Last, but never least, is Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. His undistinguishable accent is ridiculously magical as always, and his role is significantly larger than it seemed in Knives Out. We also get a much more substantial understanding of how great a detective Blanc truly is, one scene in particular where Benoit demonstrates how far ahead of the game he sits is executed and played nothing short of brilliantly, an overused descriptor that is aptly applied. Daniel Craig deserves enormous credit for taking what could have been a one-note performance – the genius detective, etc. – and leaving audiences with an enigma wrapped in a riddle of sheer glee. Craig clearly relishes this role, and I cannot wait to see where Rian Johnson and friends take Benoit Blanc’s adventures next.

All-in-all, my expectations for Knives Out 2 were to the moon, and Rian Johnson once again exceeded them with a captivating mystery complimented by an increased mix of comedy injected throughout. In fact, with his latest endeavor, Johnson has now officially joined the ranks of directors such as Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino where his name alone should be a worthy enough addition to draw fans in. Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe lead perfect casting which benefits a complex script that, while not QUITE to the same level of its predecessor, is nonetheless remarkable on its own merit for building on its established formula. In an era where audiences are desperate for any original entertainment, this Glass Onion delivers in layers.