With 2019 coming to an end, we’re finally seeing what Hollywood has in store for awards season. One of the biggest surprises of the year happens to be a modern day murder mystery directed by Rian Johnson. KNIVES OUT is a diabolically clever treat. Sure the trailers looked fun, but it's far better than just a "fun" flick. There is so much to admire here. The cast – one that features Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armes, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell and more – is absolutely fantastic. And as far as the story goes, there are twists and turns abound, and it’s all wrapped up in a delightful script that beautifully finds humor in a sensational whodunnit.
After taking on STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, Mr. Johnson has returned to a much smaller, yet incredibly satisfying feature that would make Agatha Christie proud. We recently sat down with Rian and he discussed why he decided to take on something like KNIVES OUT after spending some time in a galaxy far, far away. He also opened up about the appeal of this kind of mystery, and of course, the amazing cast he pulled together. It’s a rare treat to see this type of movie in your local cineplex, and frankly, this is one of the most wonderfully engaging flicks of the year.
As a fan of both Jamie Lee Curtis and Daniel Craig, it was a dream come true to sit across from these two wonderfully talented actors. For Craig, he talked about how he and Rian brought us this amazing character. The actor gives such a charmingly cool performance, it may in fact be one of his best. And as for Ms. Curtis, she opened up about taking on comedy and horror, and what appealed to her about this project. However, both Mr. Craig and I disagreed strongly when she said she’d never be cast as something like “Lady Macbeth.” I for one think she would be a perfect choice for that classic role.
And finally, we took a little time to speak with both Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell. Jaeden has had a pretty good year with his impressive performances in both IT: CHAPTER 2 and LOW TIDE. The same can be said about Ms. Langford who stunned audiences with her work on the series 13 Reasons Why. The two discussed sharing the stage with some of the best actors in the business. They also chatted about taking direction from Mr. Johnson. It was such an incredible pleasure taking time out with this talented group behind such a fantastic film. Make sure you check out KNIVES OUT opening today! The hype is real!