Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Satisfaction. It’s not a gem of whodunits and it doesn’t give the viewers a literal conclusion like the first Knives Out. The problem is the messy ending, when things get quite anarchic. On the other hand, I've rarely been so immersed in a film this year that I've tried to get to the bottom of it – which I didn't, thumbs up for some of the twists and turns. In short, Glass Onion works as a completely immersive whodunit and will keep you entertained. And thumbs up also for the very imaginative and substantial cameo roles, two of which sound very, very rare in the current context. (12/30/2022)

I never would have thought that Daniel Craig, after finishing his iconic role as James Bond, would find a franchise that suits him so well. But his character, the eccentric detective Benoit Blanc, along with the fresh directorial vision of Rian Johnson, is truly impressive. Compared to the first installment, everything is even more spectacular; just moving to a sunny island in the Aegean Sea has been a boon for the series. The performances are absolutely perfect, and I fell in love with every character (Edward Norton probably takes the lead :D). The screenplay is incredibly well-thought-out, the audiovisual aspects are flawless (with an excellent soundtrack), and the brilliant ending leaves you anything but indifferent. So, what could I possibly criticize? Perhaps just the excessive number of pop culture references and allusions. Even for me, there were too many (though Jeremy Renner’s spicy sauce joke was amusing). I need a third installment right now. In the realm of classic detective stories, this feels like a revelation. I give it 8.5/10. (02/15/2023)

Rian Johnson is boss! Glass Onion successfully continues to revive the rules of the old school of detective fiction, and Daniel Craig is still enjoying Benoît Blanc immensely. Naturally, you expect a moment of surprise and therefore anticipate some of the betrayals. The cast is interesting, but it’s certainly not as good as in the first film. Edward Norton revels in these roles and Kate Hudson is entertaining, the others rather support the well-written script. The Greek island setting, enlivened by hig-tech gimmicks and amenities (the non-smoking garden) and artwork, is as impressive as the Glass Onion itself. (12/25/2022)

I didn't appreciate the first film until a second viewing, but Glass Onion won me over almost immediately. It's as if Rian Johnson needed Knives Out mainly to present Benoit Blanc in a somewhat more classic story, and once he succeeded with that, he could go all in. Yes, the plot is reliably well known to fans of whodunits, but the way the script plays with it this time is much more refined. From the beginning there is something different, but you don’t know what. The more or less likeable characters do weird things, but you don’t know why, and there are some celebrity cameos. And then, the first half the film goes by and there's an absolutely amazing twist that turns almost everything upside down, and the fun can continue in an even wilder vein until the explosive finale. The direction, the script, the actors, the music, really, everything is impeccable. And Daniel Craig, he’s just flawless. You'll enjoy his every gesture, every line, and after one of the funniest monologues I've heard at the end of a whodunit, you'll want to read "Benoit Blanc will return" at the end of the credits. (12/25/2022)

Daniel Craig does a credible job, his detective character fits him like a tailored suit, and he enjoys playing that character to the maximum delight of the viewer. The costumes and the interiors and exteriors in the second Knives Out adventure are also great. The other characters arouse the viewers’ interest in unravelling the mystery and, mainly, revealing their true relationship with their host, a billionaire played by Edward Norton. However, the denouement is in no way surprising or clever, which makes the film merely a pleasant, colorful diversion with a refined style. (04/03/2023)