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 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)

When it comes to Agatha Christie, what kind of whodunit is it when the revelation of the perpetrators is a yawn for the detective (and even twice)? An onion that won’t make you cry with laughter and only released some juice after a shot through glass. The satirical backdrop of the golden nipple and the loss of mammal loyalty after its emptying is not particularly groundbreaking, and even though Rian Johnson built the best moments on small details, they didn’t create a functioning whole. Benoit Blanc seemed more balanced compared to the first film. Perhaps it was due to the Greek climate and his marriage to Hugh Grant. By the way, there were about two times when the cut came on a close-up of Craig, and the next began with notable music and a captivating shot of a floating boat in exotic settings. It was hard not to remember it, but what can you do now...? (01/25/2023)

A stylish whodunit mystery genre film, which is an order of magnitude better than those unwatchable Poirot chick flicks. I slept through the first one in the cinema, so I wasn't too interested, this was a bit more entertaining, but still not my cup of tea. Rian Johnson never deserves 4 stars from me. What I liked most was the attractive setting of the island itself, which looks nice, it's all fancy and I dig that. Of the actors, Daniel Craig again reigns supreme, and Janelle Monáe, for whom I have a soft spot, is likeable. I was expecting comic relief from Dave Bautista, unfortunately that didn't happen and Edward Norton is just alright. It's nicely filmed, well acted and the mystery itself seems intelligent, though this time I found it too predictable (the ending of the first part was better). I didn't find it very funny, there are no gags and the 140-minute running time is unnecessarily long, considering it is just a conversation piece. I got through it without much distress, which is appreciated given the genre. There's nothing like Korean and Nordic mysteries. 65% (12/25/2022)

Benoit Blanc is back, and with him the island's rich man, a bunch of suspects and one dead body! And it's as brisk, intelligent and gripping as the first film. Different case, but the same approach, the humour spot-on, the characters are entertaining, the visuals are colourful and the motif is clever again. Anyone who liked the first one should definitely not miss this one. (12/25/2022)