If Knives Out wasn’t enough to convince you, Glass Onion should serve as further proof that Rian Johnson is a true master when it comes to whodunits.
Overall Score: 10/10
Image: Netflix
Oh boy, oh boy! Glass Onion, after three long years of endless anticipation, is finally here! But before we begin, I’d just like to remind you that if you still haven’t seen it, stop everything you’re doing and go and watch it right now! I won’t be revealing any spoiler-filled plot details in this review, but trust me, you’ll be doing yourself a BIG favor.
“How on earth is Rian Johnson going to top Knives Out?” That was one of my biggest questions going into Glass Onion. See, the writer-director’s first film in his whodunit series isn’t just great, it’s a damn masterpiece, which automatically raises the question: How does one go about making a sequel that’s not only just as good but even better?
Johnson’s answer? Go bigger. And so as a result, Glass Onion is grander, more complex, and much more ambitious. In other words, where Knives Out is an extremely polished and well-executed whodunit that adheres more closely to some of the more traditional conventions of the genre, Glass Onion feels like Johnson breaking all the rules and unleashing his full potential.
So, what’s the basic premise of Glass Onion? Things kick off with billionaire and Alpha co-founder Miles Bron (Edward Norton) inviting his friends to his private island. This group consists of Claire (Kathryn Hahn), Lionel (Leslie Odom Jr.), Birdie (Kate Hudson), Duke (Dave Bautista), and Andi (Janelle Monáe). Joining them are Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), Birdie's assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick), and Duke's girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline). What are all of these people gathered for? To take part in a simple murder mystery game set up by Bron, of course. But alas, things aren’t quite that simple, for this is a whodunit, so someone inevitably winds up dead and it’s up to Blanc to figure out who the killer is and save the day.
This is what almost the entire first half of Glass Onion consists of, which is essentially where it and Knives Out structurally differ from one another. With the latter, we arrive immediately at the scene of the crime, and from there, we, along with the characters, go about looking for clues and trying to solve the mystery. Glass Onion, on the other hand, deliberately spends a big chunk of its runtime carefully setting everything up, and it really doesn’t kick into gear until it gets to its second half — which is when you start to piece everything together. It’s a nice change in the usual formula associated with whodunits, and it’s one that I think greatly pays off by the end of the film.
Now, I can’t say much about the second half of Glass Onion without giving anything major away, but I will say that it’s a lot of fun. The many different twists and big reveals are all wild and extremely shocking, and it’s almost certain that you won’t see any of them coming. I highly suggest watching this movie — especially this portion — with a large group of people because, from experience, everyone’s collective gasping, laughter, and clapping will add a lot to the overall viewing experience.
Also, this film’s ensemble cast is terrific. Of course, there’s no question of just how awesome Daniel Craig is as Blanc (he’s as good as he was in Knives Out), and everyone else does a good job of matching the fun and at times cartoonish energy he exudes. However, all — yes, even Craig — must bow down to Janelle Monáe: the real standout of Glass Onion. Throughout the movie, Monáe wows with her acting, showing off her significant range and delivering line after line with highly believable fury and great emotional intensity. The buzz and awards speculation surrounding her performance is truly deserved, and I honestly think that it’s one of this year’s most satisfying and entertaining offerings.
Other than that, there’s really not that much else I can say about Glass Onion. It’s an incredibly sharp, well-made, outrageously funny, and highly memorable whodunit. And again, if you still somehow haven’t gotten around to watching it, I’d advise that you find the time to do so as soon as possible (because you’re going to want to avoid spoilers). I guarantee that this is one of the best cinematic experiences of all time.
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