Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Rian Johnson plays with genre expectations in Glass Onion the same way he did in the first film, while staying true to classic whodunnit stories. If I were to take away the criticisms right from the start, I would have shortened the film, especially in the more drawn-out intro (which actually nicely parodied various CSIs and degraded the search for clues), and also the conclusion, which felt too drawn out after the culprit was revealed. The investigation itself, on the other hand (including the crucial flashback and starting with the wonderfully staged pre-murder sequence), completely captivated me and kept my (rusty) grey brain cells busy until the final denouement. Even in his second whodunit, which, among other things, shamelessly flatters Knox's Rule #10, Johnson certainly doesn't lose his breath, offering another suspenseful and unpredictable crime story with plenty of imaginative moments (whether it was the "casting" of Angela Lansbury, the character of Derola, Da Vinci's masterpiece or the ubiquitous gong). (12/31/2022)

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)

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)

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)

I was surprised that Rian Johnson sent the sequel to one of the most entertaining detective films in recent years straight to Netflix. But I get it — when it comes to choosing between theaters and VOD services, money talks. That said, this movie doesn't disgrace Netflix at all. Finally! While it didn’t captivate me as much as the first one, which was surprisingly brilliant in its detective quality, this sequel still delivers. By now, viewers have certain expectations and know that Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc is something to look forward to, and he doesn’t disappoint. The downside is the overly complex plot, its length, and some of the characters. However, these are minor issues compared to the fact that I had a great time watching it. For a five-star rating, it needed a bit more of that unexpected twist — something the first movie had. (12/29/2022)