When he's invited to a tech billionaire's murder/mystery party on an isolated Greek island, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) finds himself a new case to solve. A mystery wrapped in a jumble of mysteries, starting with what this weekend getaway in the middle of Covid lockdown is really about. But to do it, the great detective will also have to deal with the Coven of Douchebaggery joining him on this little trip.
Just as Rian Johnson intended, his latest foray into the world of murder mysteries feels like a "new novel off the shelf". I agree with Johnson that adding "A Knives Out Mystery" to the title was a mistake. For even though this is an entirely new mystery - similar to that of Poirot or Murder She Wrote - there is a sense of familiarity to Glass Onion, thanks to the 'dial it up to 11' style that made Knives Out so much fun, and of course, the return of Benoit Blanc. Johnson's take on the great detective continues to be this fascinating, delightfully odd character, with the writer/director dropping little titbits about him, but never enough to shatter the enigma. Craig happily chews on the scenery with that perfect southern drawl, and it's a joy watching him do so, as he bimbles around the island, observing everything. The former 007 actor actually looks like a man trying to suss everything out. Fair to say; it's a role I would happily see him play for years to come, especially if Rian Johnson is the one concocting the mysteries.
As with many great detective stories, however, this may be Blanc's movie, but it isn't his story. That belongs to the gaggle of douchebags that surround him. As with Knives Out, Johnson has put together an impressive cast, all of whom play douchebag very well. In fact, rather thankfully, each one of these oddball characters are as irritating as they are entertaining. But it's Janelle Monáe who steals the show with a spellbinding performance, one featuring more mystery than the mystery itself. Which is where Glass Onion differs from its predecessor. Where Knives Out is a straight-up(ish) 'whodunnit', Glass Onion is more 'what the fuck is going on?' It truly is a mystery wrapped in mysteries. All of which Johnson is able to continually flip on its head, using a quagmire of twists and turns. So much so that even when you think you may have it figured out, the whole thing changes, much like the mystery boxes that set this whole thing in motion. Who knew it could be this much fun being so befuddled?
Rian Johnson delivers another tantalising mystery for the fantastic Benoit Blanc to peel apart. One that's as gripping as his first. Hopefully there will be many more mysteries for this great detective to solve!
9/10
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