4/5
Dead Men Tell No Tales
114 Mins. Starring: Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church & Jeffrey Wright. Written & Directed By: Rian Johnson. On: Netflix.
Hallelujah! Awoken like HIM risen, we've finally got 'round to waking up the dead man. Apologies for the lateness. 'Wake Up Dead Man', the latest in the revelatory Rian Johnson's detective Benoit Blanc mystery (now a trilogy), had its world premiere, September 6th, at the Toronto International Film Festival, before screening at select theatres November 26th. Then, it made its streaming debut, on its Netflix home, on the twelfth of December. Saving it for coming home for Christmas to see my family, I waited a couple of weeks, but you know how the hoildays, and the New Year, gets. So finally, we got into it this weekend, albeit with screen sharing difficulty now that Skype is gone ('Past Lives' really was a love letter to all we lost). And a minor emergency across the sea. It involved a spillage. We'll pick up the rest next week. Come on up to the house, like Tom Waits singing the closing credits. A good film for Friday for your sins.
A week before that I wasn't late for the latest big-budget Netflix release. 'The Rip', starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and a whole host of Hollywood stars in an epic ensemble (much like this all-star cast). In promoting that movie, the 'Good Will Hunting' pair revealed that one of Netflix's provisos is that they reiterate the plot every fifteen minutes all for those glued to their not so smart phones. Perhaps that blank space and stare of audience attention is why every one of these Blanc sequels, like the great 'Glass Onion', are dubbed 'A 'Knives Out' Mystery'. It hasn't been about the blades, minus the murder weapon that goes in, since the original movie that saw Ana de Armas throw up all over the iconic cable-knit sweater of Captain America himself, Chris Evans. Perhaps if we really want to identify these movies, like Bond...James Bond, we should call them 'A Benoit Blanc Mystery'. Because just like Daniel Craig ('Queer', 'Cowboys & Aliens', 'Logan Lucky') is getting as well known for this agent like he was 007, the character of Blanc is finding his magnified way next to all the Sherlock's and Poirot's of the genre.
Staining the glass and ringing the church bells. Whether it's a 'Thursday Murder Club', or 'Agatha Christie's Seven Dials' (both also on Netflix), sleuthing is back in fashion. Especially when it comes to the dashing Daniel. The accent and rich tan certainly helped him shake off the stirring Her Majesty's secret service suit, but in this one, the GQ tailored Dick Tracy garb is joined by some floppy and fancy hair, flowing free. A character in itself, like the many mannerisms and engrossing expressions Craig's Benoit pulls when trying to solve who pulled all this off. This time, you're drawing a blank with Monsieur Blanc until he appears at the church steps about an hour in to the movie. But what an entrance. Never mind, though. The rest of the ample cast more than measures up to set the scene. So much so, you almost forget about Daniel Craig, until he reminds you how could you. Especially our narrator, in the form of young King Charles himself, Josh O'Connor's ('The Crown', 'Challengers', 'La chimera') bare-knuckle priest. Perfect in his performance.
He'll tell it like this. There's been a murder and there's some missing inheritance to boot. The rest, we'll leave it up to your own discovery as this mystery peels back even more layers than an onion that shatters. It's a great yearn though, highlighted by some stellar performances across the pews. At the pulpit, Josh Brolin ('No Country For Old Men', 'Sicario', 'Weapons') delivers divisive sermons, more controversial than Thanos, all whilst looking like Kris Kristofferson (thanks, Mum). But it's the great Glenn Close who owns all of this, by his side, reuniting with Netflix after their 'Hillbilly Elegy'. Mila Kunis also cops a role alongside Hawkeye Jeremey Renner. There are so many stars in this, even the legacy making likes of Kerry Washington are further down on the call-sheet than they deserve. The great Jeffrey Wright also bookends this story with his gravelly gravity. Still, whether it's rising star Cailee Spaeny ('Priscilla', 'Civil War'), or 'Ripley' and 'Fleabag's' Andrew Scott not playing a sexy priest here (believe it or not). It's veteran Thomas Haden Church ('Sideways', 'We Bought A Zoo' and Spider-Man's Sandman) and newcomer Daryl McCormack ('Peaky Blinders') who steal the show. There is great grace in this film. The mystery of this dead man's wake goes all out. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Knives Out', 'Glass Onion - A 'Knives Out' Mystery', 'Agatha Christie's Seven Dials'.
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