Wake Up, Dead Man
Wake Up, Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
When KNIVES OUT was first released in 2019, Daniel Craig was still in the middle of his James Bond journey. Though he had been in several other films and embodied a wide array of characters up until that point, his turn as 007 was easily his most recognizable.
Rian Johnson’s murder mystery featured a star-studded ensemble cast and introduced audiences to Benoit Blanc, and an entirely different side of Craig. As the highly intelligent, smooth-talking, southern-drawled private detective, he projected an air of civilized coolness that was completely different than Bond’s deadly sleekness. The result was a performance and film that ranked amongst the best of the year, and a franchise was born.
The KNIVES OUT sequel, THE GLASS ONION, featured an entirely new set of characters, with the exception of Blanc. He was once again tasked with solving the seemingly perfect murder. Much like the first film, it was filled with twists, humor, and excellent performances, particularly by Craig.
With WAKE UP, DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, Rian Johnson proves once again that storytelling, beautiful visuals, and great performances can keep any series relevant and engaging. Though Craig’s Blanc is still the star of the show, this time around, he is not exactly the main attraction.
Pastor Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) wasn’t always a man of God. Early in his life he was a boxer. When his fury led him to kill a man in the ring, his life changed dramatically. He discovered the church and devoted his life to helping others. This doesn’t mean he always made excellent choices, and when he assaults a fellow clergyman (much to the delight of his peers) he is sent to a failing parish in Upstate New York. The flock is led by the fiery Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) who drives folks away with his terrifying and insulting sermons. Though there is a small group of regulars (Glenn Close, Kerry Washingon, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Thomas Haden Church, Daryl McCormack, and Cailee Spaeny) the church is in serious trouble.
When Wicks is murdered during one of his services, Blanc shows up to get to the truth. Duplenticy is immediately targeted as the main suspect, but there are plenty of others with motives to kill. As was the case with previous KNIVES OUT films, everyone has a reason, and anyone could be the killer.
WAKE UP, DEAD MAN revolves around religion and tackles it in a way that is rarely seen on film. Duplenticy is a man of God, truly believing that he has a higher calling that cannot otherwise be explained. Benoit, on the other hand, is a complete non-believer, convinced that the tales told in church are no different than fairy tales. Johnson explores their beliefs with sensitivity and deftness, never once judging his characters or his audience on where their opinions fall.
As has been the case from the beginning, Johnson has brought together an incredibly talented cast who work cohesively together. Everyone is superb as individuals, but it’s their ability to play off one another that is the key to the film’s success. Craig’s Blanc is as clever, eloquent, and hilarious as ever, but this KNIVES OUT tale belongs to O’Connor. He is the driving force behind the story and serves as the emotional core of the entire production. Many will recognize him as Prince Charles from THE CROWN (and from the film CHALLENGERS) but this is a mainstream star-making turn that proves that the franchise is much more than the Benoit Blanc show.
WAKE UP, DEAD MAN:
A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
GRADE: A-
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 2h 24min
GENRE: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
STARRING: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close
DIRECTOR: Rian Johnson
WRITERS: Rian Johnson
Now playing in select theaters and streaming on Netflix.
