The "Knives" are back
Daniel Craig returns in "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery". The film is writer/director Rain Johnson's sequel to his hit, "Knives Out". This time, detective Benoit Blanc investigates a murder in Greece. Billionaire technology company head Miles Bron invites five old friends to a murder mystery weekend at the Glass Onion, his mansion on a private island in Greece. Detective Benoit Blanc shows up uninvited, to everyone's surprise. Also among the guests is Cassandra "Andi" Brand, Miles's ex-business partner. Her presence unnerves the others with good reason. They all have strong financial ties to Miles.
Blanc quickly solves the "mystery", but then one guest dies at a party. Blanc probes relentlessly, exposing Miles as a selfish and manipulative control freak in the process. It all leads to an explosive and satisfying conclusion.
The film is not as good as "Knives Out", but Rian Johnson has made another entertaining Agatha Christie-style whodunit. It's well-directed and beautifully filmed in Greece. The script has its predecessor's sharp wit and some good one-liners. The all-star cast (Leslie Odom Jr. Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, et.al) is amusing. Edward Norton makes a deliciously smarmy bad guy, and Janelle Monae nearly steals the movie as Andi. Best of all, Daniel Craig again strongly anchors the film as Benoit Blanc.
Rian Johnson has made another sparkling whodunit.