Movie Review: Knives Out (2019)

Good day to everyone!

I hope that you are all staying safe and healthy! Today I am going to review for you the latest movie that I saw in the theater, and that was back in January. I love mysteries and this one was a fun time. I hope that you enjoy this review!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. This is spoiler free!


Knives Out (2019):

"The guy practically lives in a Clue board."
The famous detective Benoit Blanc is hired by an anonymous person to further investigate the suicide of the 85 year old mystery writer Harlan Thrombey. He finds that Harlan's family aren't telling him everything and tension grows as Harlan's will is going to be read. He finds himself in a mystery equal to the ones the man used to write, but is there a solution?
"I keep waiting for the big reveal."

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Drama.
Length: approx. 131 minutes.
Costumes: 8, just usual clothing.
Script: 5, so there was a lot of swearing. There are quite a few arguments where people yell bad words. One insult that I thought was hilarious was "Weak sauce."
Crew:
Directed by: Rian Johnson.
Written by: Rian Johnson.
Starring:
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc.

Christopher Plummer as Harlan Thrombey. "You had to find a game to play with him."

Michael Shannon as Walt Thrombey.
Riki Lindhome as Donna Thrombey.
Jaeden Martell as Jacob Thrombey.

Toni Collette as Joni Thrombey.

Katherine Langford as Meg Thrombey.

Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda Drysdale.
Don Johnson as Richard Drysdale.
Chris Evans as Ransom Drysdale.
Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera.
Edi Patterson as Fran.
K Callan as Greatnana Wanetta.
Noah Segan as Trooper Wagner.
LaKeith Stanfield as Lieutenant Elliott.
Frank Oz as Alan Stevens.
Cinematography: 10, I'm going to give it a 10 because it was really cool to me. Most movies I think about the cinematography afterwards and say, "Eh, it was the normal." But it is rare that I find a movie where while watching it I think, "Wow! This is so neat!" Yep, those stick with me and this did exactly that. I love the aesthetic that goes with it and from the first it pulled me in.
Cinematography by: Steve Yedlin.

Music: 9, this music, like the cinematography, helped get me hooked! My first comment to my sister who went with me was "Creepy music!" (and that was a compliment). The score has a great amount of mystery, tension, and surprise, while being a little spooky at times.
Music by: Nathan Johnson.
"Physical evidence can tell a clear story with a forked tongue."
Quotes: 7, okay, so the reason that this has a lower rating is because of this one time where the dialogue was trying to sound really cool, but it didn't work and was hilarious to me.
It's when Jodi asks Benoit, "Do you suspect foul play?" There is a pause, then he replies, "I suspect foul play." She literally just asked you that, you could have just answered yes. Or, she could have asked, "Do you think something's wrong?" then he could have been all dramatic with the answer. Usually I'm not this picky, so I was surprised that I noticed this. Other than that, my sister and I quote this a lot, but I can't put most of them here because they are spoilers.
Oscars won: It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, and I thought it was going to win because to me it was more complicated than another mystery Gosford Park (2001) which won the award in 2001, but it didn't.
Content: 6, it is a mystery involving death and some violence, scary scenes, along with a lot of smoking. Another thing is that one character vomits a few times, so there are several disgusting times. There are also one or two suggestive and racist comments.

Source

Originality: 8, this was an epic mystery. The way it was told was so great, I can't recall seeing anything like it! But, one note is about a name. When my sisters and I were little my mom would sometimes read us Choose Your Own Adventure stories, and our favorite was Who Killed Harlowe Thrombey? - by Edward Packard. When we heard about this movie for the first time, we immediately thought of this book. This movie is a mystery about a man who has died named Harlan Thrombey. I don't think that you can get much closer than that! While it is pitched as an original story and I really liked it, I'm suspicious about the coincidence.

Good For: Mystery fans!
Age Range: It's rated PG-13 and I agree with that just because of what the language and content that I mentioned. As always, it depends on each person's comfort level.
Overall Score: 8!
"Close the book with a flourish."
Bonus thoughts:
I went to see this because of the great cast and director Rian Johnson (who directed one of my favorite STAR WARS movies, The Last Jedi (2017)), and came out really impressed. My older sister and I had talked about what we thought was going to happen but we weren't ready for this. Ah, it was so good! I mean, my only problem with it was all the bad words and smoking, but other than that it is one of my favorite mysteries because while it is a fun time and complicated, it also has a great message.
I'd never seen Daniel Craig in anything, but he did such a great job, I totally wasn't expecting it. And, he pulled off a southern accent!

I need to talk about Marta. She is now one of my favorite fictional characters! She is so sweet, kind, honest, and great. If nothing else that I have said has convinced you, you should all watch this for her.



Thanks for reading this far! Now I need to know if any of you have seen this! What are your thoughts? If you haven't, does this look interesting to you now? Stay safe everyone! And, Happy Mother's Day!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: STAR WARS VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

Hello!!!!
The time has come for me to do another STAR WARS review! And I only do these on very special occasions therefore today must be special! (I mean, every day is special, but STAR WARS related). Today, September 25th is Mark Hamill's birthday, and because he is the last jedi, that is exactly what I'll be reviewing.

I am very excited about this because A New Hope will always be my favorite because it is the original, but this one is a very close second! I also have visited two of the locations where they did a lot of the filming! Eeek!

Time for my necessary note: If you watch the STAR WARS movies you have to watch them in a certain order, or a lot of things will be spoiled. This series is awesome, and so please don't spoil it for yourself. Watch it in this order:
IV: A New Hope (1977), V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), I: The Phantom Menace (1999), II: Attack of the Clones (2002), III: Revenge of the Sith (2005), VII: The Force Awakens (2015), and VIII: The Last Jedi (2017).

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

STAR WARS VIII: The Last Jedi (2017):

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."
The Resistance has been found! With the First Order right on their heels, and running low on supplies, they don't know what they will do when time runs out. Finn, Poe Dameron, and Rose decide that desperate measures must be taken. They come up with a plan to hack into the First Order's security long enough for them to get away, but that involves finding a master code breaker. Meanwhile, Rey wants to become a jedi, but Luke Skywalker has given up. She wants him to be her master, but is he hiding the truth about the past?
"We are the spark that will light the fire the will burn down the First Order."

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy.

Length: approx. 152 minutes.

Costumes: 7, nothing amazing, and there is a scene where someone isn't wearing a shirt.

Script: 7, there are a few bad words (thank you, Finn and Poe).
"Hope is like the sun. If you only believe in it when you see it then you'll never make it through the night."

Crew:

Directed by: Rian Johnson.

Written by: Rian Johnson and George Lucas.

Starring:
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. "The galaxy may need a legend."

Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa.

Daisy Ridley as Rey. "Something inside of me has always been there and now it's awake."

Adam Driver as Kylo Ren.

John Boyega as Finn.

Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico.
Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron. "Happy beeps."

Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke.
Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo.
Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux.
Benicio del Toro as DJ.
Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca.
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. "Wipe that nervous expression off your face."
Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata.
Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma.
Veronica Ngo as Paige Tico.

Cinematography: 10, it is amazing. I know since I've been there. There is just one thing which looked really cool, but when I think about it it doesn't make a lot of sense. Oh well. In the storyline it helps the opposing side.
The animals are CGI, but they are so cute!

Cinematography by: Steve Yedlin.

Music: 10!! Forever and ever I'll give it a 10.

Music by: John Williams.

Quotes: 10! "That's how we're going to win this war, not fighting what we hate, but saving what we love." (This might be my favorite line of the whole franchise).

Storyline: 7, there is a lot of violence, torture, and shooting, then killing and death. There is also one suggestive line (thanks Maz) and a few gross things.
"There are things that you cannot solve by jumping into a cock pit and blowing something up."

Good For: STAR WARS fans!

Age Range: It is rated PG-13 because of the violence, but I think it just depends on what each person is comfortable with. I've known younger kids to watch more violent things and be fine.

Overall Score: 8.5!

Bonus thoughts:
Okay, I know that quite a few STAR WARS fans didn't like this one, but I love it! A lot happens in the 2 and a half hours and there is never a quiet moment. I really relate to Luke Skywalker, and Mark Hamill did such a great job playing him (as always)! I have watched this movie so many times but never get tired of it. This movie deals a lot with fear and selflessness. Ack, these characters are so amazing!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Hamill!

Thanks to all of you for reading! Have you seen this? If you have I would love to chat about it in the comments! Have a great day!

MovieCritic