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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

5/1/2023

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Genre: Mystery, Crime, Comedy, Satire
Rating: 12A
​Warnings: Racism Mention, Some Violence

Benoit Blanc is back with another ensemble cast for another murder mystery. This time he's less mysterious himself, with a few fun gay tropes (his sulk in the bathtub, his outstanding wardrobe, and his discomfort at Birdie flirting with him, among others) and a view of his home, boyfriend/husband and a few of his famous friends.

Likewise, the group he's investigating moves from the stilted, unfriendly family and their old-money ways to a carefree, close group of friends and their celebrity behaviour. While the pandemic setting does make for a very precise period piece, the characters feel both like stock characters and like personal parodies of certain individuals.
Daniel Craig seemed like he would be a sleek or hard-boiled detective, before bringing his Texan-accented fun Benoit Blanc to life. Edward Norton, notoriously difficult to work with, was the perfect self-aware choice for unlikeable Elon-a-like Miles. Janelle Monae is the multifaceted actual protagonist Andi, Dave Bautista as the dumb muscle streamer, Kathryn Hahn as the career woman politician; all of which they were brilliantly cast.

This snapshot moment that Glass Onion is set in, paired with the celebrity version of the closed room mystery, gives this film a much more satirical aspect. The humour and genre keep it light, but there's some razor sharp critique and well-deserved mockery of both certain famous people and their entire out-of-touch celebrity world. The ending, combining the murderer's comeuppance and some political justice, gives the audience a strong gleeful feeling of vengeance and schadenfreude.

However, this isn't just a good murder mystery and satire, it's a really good film. Full use is made of flashbacks, either revealing a more detailed or alternative view of a previous scene or giving you a chance to rewatch a moment with the perspective of new information. Blanc's talk through of the murder is shown, masterfully, with different characters as murderer in each shot. The changed scenes are especially brilliant, the time equivalent of a zoom in on something. Foreshadowing hangs deliberately and obviously in multiple places, keeping the tension high with a "but which of those is it?" for the observant. Things that don't quite seem right are revealed as deliberate clues and as red herrings.

A talented and worthy sequel to the first Knives Out, Glass Onion is an exciting and enjoyable caper. If a third Knives Out is made, and it's as good as this, it could be an iconic series.
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Kingsmen

29/6/2016

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Genre: Action, Comedy, Satire
Rating: 15
Warnings: Mild Violence

A James Bond parody; it looked okay. Turned out it parodies the urban 'yoof' crime films and all kinds of spy film tropes. It was a really entertaining film.

Don't let the poster fool you. It's a parody of the poster for the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Eggsy and Harry treat women a lot better than James could dream of, and the female characters are as well developed as the male ones.

The character who's legs frame the poster is a minor enemy, and a good portrayal of a disabled person. Her prosthetic legs are a defining trait, but more in the blades on them and her fighting style than in a trait of her not having feet. It's good and rare to see a disabled character that isn't a learning point.
There are fight scenes galore, so there is some violence. With a major character completely unable to cope with gore and a 15 rating, however, it isn't unbearable. The stunt coordinators and choreographers worked well, as the fight scenes are exciting and aesthetically pleasing. A huge multi-character battle, most likely included for the sheer enjoyment factor, is outstanding and makes the most of the way fights can be choreographed. Some great slow motion moments and prop use make it an ironically beautiful scene.

Back to the haemophobic character, Samuel L. Jackson's Valentine is a complex and interesting villain. Blood phobia, a lisp, and an understandable end-goal, he is far from the illogical and two dimensional villains of many spy and crime films. Eggsy is, likewise, a well rounded hero. His homelife troubles, distrust of the posh Harry and relationship arcs with other characters (including a very cute little dog) make him easy to identify with and like.

Of course, this is not a high brow or modern classic film, but it is a very good and enjoyable afternoon film. It might not become your favourite but it's definitely a good choice for an entertaining movie night. It could have been the lack of expectations I had, but I really think this is well worth the time to watch on an otherwise uneventful day.
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Dr. Strangelove

14/3/2016

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Genre: Comedy, Satire
Rating: PG (originally "A", children must be accompanied by an Adult)
Warning: Nuclear War References, Nazi references

This was not the film I was expecting at all. Major pop culture references are simply fleeting moments that aren't dwelled on. The titular Dr. Strangelove is not the central character and doesn't appear for much of the film. The humour is understated and knowing; this is less of a laugh out loud comedy and more of a subtle satire. 

Dr. Strangelove (or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb) came out in 1964; the age is notable in the black and white footage and the original "A" rating. Luckily, as the topic of nuclear war was sensitive in the US at the time, it is treated with care and criticised rather than mocked. For those in areas where nuclear issues are closer to home, this is no doubt appreciated.
The intelligence of this film and the way genuinely funny moments are treated as non-events by characters is what makes this such an outstanding film. In between amusement, I found myself pondering the serious possibilities the film presents. Could one person cause a war like that? What would happen if nuclear bombs were used again, now so many countries have them? How safe are the safety measures? The opening ensures us what follows is impossible, but it's certainly a scary 'what if'.

For a Kubrick film, it doesn't have his signifying absurdity and the plot is easy to follow. He is a master directer and the use of lighting, shapes and angles is masterful. The dramatic light in the war room and the large, round table add to the drama that unfolds there. The bright naturalistic light in other scenes contrasts with the utter darkness of the situation.

Of course, you may just be looking for the classic with the iconic bomb-riding rather than a clever piece of historical satire. Yes, someone says "You can't fight in here, this is the war room!"; yes, Dr. Strangelove fights with his arm as it moves on it's own; yes, the cowboy-hat wearing fighter plane Major goes down with the bomb. You'll see those and more outstanding iconic moments when you watch this iconic film. If you haven't seen it, you can tick it off of your to-watch list.
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