Knives Out: The craft beyond the surprise

[@azkon7975]

My favorite part of the movie was just how *smart* Marta is. Yeah, she's a bleeding heart character who can't lie without barfing...but she's just so smart, capable, empathetic, and likable. Her character traits are both her strength and her shackle. Like, she has the intelligence and capability to get away with murder but she does not have the ruthlessness. However, though it was quite the coincidence, it was her kindness that ultimately saved her.

[@queenning28]

She is a good person who eventually gets rewarded for CHOOSING to be good (despite being smart enough to get away with villainy). The core of this story is so painfully optimistic and I LOVE every second of it.

[@DeathnoteBB]

It’s not a coincidence at all, that’s the emotional core of the film.

[@tskmaster3837]

I understand the movie, I don't understand the audience. "She can't lie without barfing" Yes, she can not TELL a lie. But omitting the truth isn't the same as telling a lie. I love the movie. The audience that just accepts the mystery as given pisses me off to no end.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@tskmaster3837 I mean, yeah, it is? Lying by omission is a thing.

[@clash79]

Intelligence leads to empathy. Is bleeding heart supposed to be a bad thing?

[@punkrckr6889]

One of the most genius little nuances in this film was Harlan's ridiculously corny coffee cup that says "My house, my rules, my coffee." You see it in several different scenes and then in the very LAST shot of the movie, Marta takes a sip from the cup and all the words are covered by her hand except "My house." I know that's probably the most obvious little detail, but I was absolutely SENT when I saw it.

[@davidmckesey7119]

This part was mishap in filming Rian johnson said. He saw it when editing and he kept it in

[@alecwhatshisname5170]

Best shot I've seen this year. I'm so glad this review forced me to watch it to finish.

[@blokey8]

@@davidmckesey7119 I've got a lot of time for a director who's willing to say that some things in their film were happy accidents, something an actor came up with, etc.

[@kalamarimuguruza3656]

Alec Ferris cool...

[@hannahrose7776]

It’s also says something about both Marta and Harlan! No one in the rest of the family would ever use such a “tacky” inexpensive mug, but they both like it!

[@eowynsalvador]

"When I think about Knives Out, what comes to mind is not that Randsom did it. It's that any one of Harlan's family could've committed these crimes if they'd been the one to find out." Dam

[@travelingnome87]

I mean I don't think the granddaughter meg would have murdered to keep the inheritance. Or the grandma. But the siblings? Absolutely.

[@eowynsalvador]

@@travelingnome87 Yeah definitely not Meg. The interesting thing about her character is that I hear a lot of broskees talk about her like she's the sjw who's really just as bad as the rest. The truth is while she does make some morally questionable choices, she is relatively way more sympathetic than the rest of the family. She even shows remorse at the end.

[@АлёшаИнкогнитов]

@@eowynsalvador LOL. The key to a Meg character is how she hung up the phone. She can shows whatever she want, only actions are matter.

[@Brand_Fish]

I mean, the Nazi kid wouldn't but he would tell his parents who then might do something.

[@eowynsalvador]

@@Brand_Fish HAHA That kid is unpredictable

[@logey-lynnloge9532]

The number of times Blanc looks at her shoes throughout the movie... you don't notice it on your first viewing

[@deanderthal]

I also think he was checking to see if she had noticed the blood, and done something about it. If she had, he might have grown suspicious - but because he keeps seeing the same stain in the same place for so long a time, even when she is literally running for her life and trying to clear her name...it reinforces her character/innocence to him.

[@samanthaho7713]

The number of times he says “something is afoot” too lol

[@princessjello]

@Lauren Mcdaniel carotid artery cuts spray hella far

[@blameowls5561]

@Lauren Mcdaniel Arterial spray is no joke. A droplet that size could have easily cleared the distance.

[@tskmaster3837]

The blood on her shoe being red is the part that doesn't make sense. It should have been brown. If it was real, if we can trust Marta as a narrator. If she isn't lying to us through omission. Come on, I solved this movie, you can too.

[@lizzyol]

honestly, my favourite thing about this film was how rewarding it was to watch a proper murder mystery for the first time again, with no prior knowledge of the characters or the plot. It led up to every twist perfectly, showing us all of the clues we needed to solve the puzzle ourselves. The pacing was perfect so that the audience would get there first enough times to feel that satisfaction and to reward us for paying very close attention. But our "clever detective" still appears to be super smart as he stays one step ahead of the game the whole time. It has always annoyed me when detectives are made out to be "smart" when all they're doing is solving puzzles we could never have possibly solved because we purposefully weren't given all the pieces *cough* Sherlock *cough*

[@taylovesfun]

When I saw it in theaters, most of my guesses throughout the movie were wrong and it was lovely. Sometimes I was so caught up in the story that I forgot to try to figure the mystery out myself

[@homestuck_official]

a fellow hbomberguy conossieur I see

[@lizzyol]

@@homestuck_official that video is art. I now feel justified in my resentment of BBC Sherlock

[@krishshautriya5170]

Even the Sherlock Holmes stories were mostly not whodunits. The whole charm of that character is watching him figure it out.

[@kahkah1986]

@@krishshautriya5170 yup, the original ACD stories were more like howdunnits, without a big enough cast of characters for it to really be a whodunnit

[@blakethompson-dodd9874]

You didn't even bring up the massive shift from who-dunnit to cat-and-mouse, only to shift back again with the 'wait someone did do it!?'

[@jasonblalock4429]

Well, he kind of talked around it, but yeah... I LOVE the way it keeps flipping between genres.

[@heartpng]

Just Write did a video focusing on that aspect

[@sonicbelmont300]

Because you're references the video that already broke down that genre switch ad nauseam

[@DJAvren]

Reminds me of that time CinemaWins asked Kerry Frances what her official title was in this movie, and Rian Johnson himself answered with 'Queen of lawstuff'.

[@kerryfrances]

well of course! Rian handles all of my PR and sometimes even speaks for me in person, it's a full service experience. (thank you for remembering that and writing this comment, I got so excited when I saw it!)

[@raeje]

And also that time you got a reply from the actual Queen of Lawstuff herself!

[@prisonerofcapitalism]

OMG! I was thinking about that, too!!!

[@kerryfrances]

@@raeje and also also that time YOU got a reply from the queen of lawstuff!! ;) thank you for the love!

[@kerryfrances]

@@prisonerofcapitalism YOU GUYS! seriously. you are all the best. thank you for remembering/thinking about this, Nicholas!! love, QOL

[@psionickender]

My favorite layer is the fact that Harlon and Marta play Go. When we first meet Ransom, he sits next to a chess board....

[@prisonerofcapitalism]

I love that when Harlon asks Marta how she always beats him, she says, "Because I'm not playing to beat you. I'm trying to make a beautiful pattern." And when revealing what really happened, Blanc says, "If Marta had not once again outplayed you... by having a kind heart. Even though it meant her going to prison and losing her inheritance, she did not play your game!"

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@prisonerofcapitalism And Harlon told Ransom that Marta has beaten Harlon more times than Ransom has. Ransom assumed she was that good, never realizing she was just that kind.

[@tskmaster3837]

@@DeathnoteBB "Because I'm not playing to beat you. I'm trying to make a beautiful pattern." Marta can not tell a lie so what is she really saying here? Come on, I believe in you guys, you seem kind of sharp. Then again, a real knife looks just like a prop knife. See the tip is sharp [Uses knife to cut throat] So knife is real. Right? Come on, tip, blade, think, that's all I ask.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@tskmaster3837 You good?

[@tskmaster3837]

@@DeathnoteBB I'm just really frustrated by the people who watch this mystery movie and don't try to solve it themselves. "Isn't that detective Blanc a genius? Look at him, he's a genius." I don't know if he solves it or not, I just know he hands out a "let's leave it at that" solution that ignores some facts. Consider the knife. We're shown the tip is real but that's just a basic trick any magician would use as the knife is used for its blade as Harlan uses the blade... according to Marta. That blood gets on Marta's shoe and remains red through out the movie. Fake red would stay red, real blood turns brown.

[@BugsyFoga]

So Knives Out is like an onion , IT HAS LAYERS !!!

[@filmjoy]

we've come full circle

[@chrisbark582]

@@filmjoy Jesus Mikey. We've come full onion.

[@grobles1974]

Shreck would be proud

[@weirdTedE91]

@@grobles1974 he almost killed the batman you know

[@Chasmodius]

Cut too deep into it and you'll start crying, as well.

[@orilliavail1380]

My favourite little detail in the film is that we never find out were Marta’s family is from. Everyone who try’s to tell us says a different country and Marta never say’s. The way they say it also tells you something about their character as well. It’s dismissive and rude or meant to show off how benevolent they are to this woman they see as lesser. And the fact that they keep saying different country’s just highlights there own ignorance. It’s like the joker telling everyone different origin story’s, but racist.

[@spoonlamp]

An excellent way to point out that it doesn't matter where you "come from". Or it shouldn't matter.

[@mguin2104]

Yes, right up there with how everyone in the family says they wanted Marta at the funeral but they were *overruled* but clearly it was just them excluding her

[@moto2442]

I think benoit blanc says Brazilian but that may have been mocking the family. As I though she was from a Spanish speaking nation.

[@ariannewingard1660]

@@moto2442 I think it was Ransom who said that .

[@sydssolanumsamsys]

@@ariannewingard1660 i think so too, idk

[@Palmieres]

Chris Evans delivered the performance of a lifetime in this movie, when he pretended he didn't like dogs. But seriously, I didn't think a movie like this could be made anymore. It's just so nuanced, so clever, so well-paced, well-acted, well filmed. And so fun! Fun movies of this quality are so rare nowadays.

[@SummitSummit]

Disney will buy the rights and remake it in 2022.

[@tsawy6]

...it was literally made last year? What does this comment meannnnn

[@crizznik2312]

@@tsawy6 Read it again, they said they didn't think a movie could be made like this again, but it was.

[@TheAspiringLawgiver]

To think this movie was made by one of the people who ruined Star Wars, RIP.

[@Brickoliciousness]

SilverAssassin13 ruined how, and who?

[@BillytheEntertainer]

It's cool that Daniel Craig, who expressed public discomfort with playing another chauvinistic character ala James Bond, gets a role to eskews the more troublesome trope of the hard ass detective in this movie

[@gideongrace1977]

I also deeply, deeply love that in this movie, Daniel Craig gets to be regular human shaped, rather than having to be a ridiculous level of fit. I think it's obvious from his performance that he likes this better and I just love that.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

@@gideongrace1977 You can tell that he's having fun in every scene he's in.

[@WaltMoon]

It's eschew, not "eskew". If you're going to try to use big words "no" how to spell them.

[@BillytheEntertainer]

@@WaltMoon eschew is only six letters dawg, that aint a big word, i just got dumbo brain haha

[@josephhawkins7974]

I also really loved Craig in Logan Lucky!! That one was much better than I expected it to be!

[@junipershaw5270]

Spoilers: My theory is that Harlan actually did figure it out. When Marta described the symptoms he should be experiencing, he looked at his totally steady hand for a moment before a flash of realization came across his face. Marta was too panicked too notice but he was calm, I think it's because he pieced together exactly what had happened and who had done it. A line early in the movie stated that his mystery plots just came into his mind fully formed, and I think that's what happened there, not only what Random had tried to do but how to beat him. He was in the middle of saying that he wasn't afraid of death, but that he wanted his death to fix things, and killing himself at the point was his one chance to do just that. Some people have disagreed with me on the grounds that Harlan would have to be really cruel to put Marta through all of that, but the movie clearly established that he was more comfortable communicating through games and puzzles than directly, even with people he cared about. His instructions to Marta and behavior in that scene made way more sense from the perspective that he knew and planned the whole thing, even counting on Ransom to hire Blanc, and knowing Marta would outplay Ransom as long as she kept her heart.

[@paulklee5790]

Dillon Shaw ...totaly credible theory that, you just can’t have a genius fictional detective without a genius author to see it all in the proverbial flash....

[@samantha.redacted]

I’m glad somebody else noticed how little of the symptoms he was showcasing!!

[@АлёшаИнкогнитов]

That's make sence. I mean, i don't believe in anything you wrote after, but Harlan clearly was aware he's not dying. So sad i didn't make this step by myself, even after noticing this. But commiting suicide KNOWING somebody of his family do it, and possibly can try it again at any time is enough reason to kill yourself. And my believes this act is a "shame concede" (HS game term, forfeit, then you understood how big your mistake was). I mean, he was ready to die, he realised how wrong all goes with his family... but not SO wrong. So I think what was really in his mind was to hide the truth. Including from Martha. And at the same time, to secure her inheritance. What you wrote would not only be a terrible scenario (as in all these evil plans), but also relied on the kindness of the investigators. After all, Martha was forced to lie to them.

[@KindredBrujah]

That's a good take, I like it.

[@Popsjoernalist]

Let's not forget that there is even a direct line between Harlan and Blanc, given how Benoit's father was a police detective who was known to Harlan.

[@RicardoMoralesMassin]

I watched Knives Out. Then watched it again. Then watched parts of it during lunch and ended watching the rest. Then watched specific scenes. Then watched from some scenes until the end. Then watched the end so many, many times. I haven't even watched this video I just wanted to say I really love Knives Out.

[@sparksbet]

This is the only movie I've watched that I can remember where immediately after watching it I wanted to watch it again. I watched it twice more within the next three days. I can't get enough of it.

[@kerryfrances]

comments like this blow my mind and make my day. maybe it's bc it's my first movie but I had no idea how much people would love it. i'm so happy you love it so much!

[@RicardoMoralesMassin]

@@kerryfrances That is you. You are from the movie. Good job, Kerry!

[@kerryfrances]

@@RicardoMoralesMassin it is me, yes! thank you!!

[@MultiversePatroller1]

@@kerryfrances I just want to say that I appreciate so much the craft you put into your scenes. You and this entire cast obviously did the work of acting gods on this film, but you stole the show from Frank Oz and Jamie Lee Curtis and you deserve every kudo that can fit through the tubes of the world wide web.

[@o...o4144]

It absolutely BLOWS my mind that this film wasn't nominated for best movie and its actors were not nominated for acting categories. I mean, I still prefer a movie like Parasite over Knives Out, but I prefer Knives Out over a movie like, Ford V Ferrari you know

[@MadHermit95]

The actors were having fun so clearly this movie wasn't high arts. /s

[@blissclair9743]

Yes

[@Avajou_]

Ay I mean I don't disagree, but don't do my boi Ford v Ferrari like that. That movie was pretty good too.

[@Gazmus]

Hey....chill out on Ford vs Ferrari...that was genuinely a sick film. I love this more than generic action film with hordes of cgi baddies or giant sky beams number 43...

[@davidv4018]

It is a weird phenomenon that actually good movies get nominated to oscars. So, i wouldn't mine.

[@mortifiedpenguin9986]

It's so refreshing that Benoit Blanc isn't a dick. If you've watched any of the Granada sherlock series which is perhaps one of the *strightest* (ehem) adaptions of the short stories the same vein runs through that as well, sometime sherlock will even help the "criminal" if he things it's the right thing to do and to see that in a modern day detective (although not sherlock) was so good!

[@MultiversePatroller1]

Fellow Granada Sherlock Holmes fan here!!!!! (god it feels like we are so few, i jump when i see it mentioned) I absolutely agree with you. Yes, sometimes Holmes shows his entire ass, in both the source material and in most of the adaptations that came from it, but Jeremy Brett had a way of making him realize it in hindsight, acknowledge it with a self-deprecating smirk, and work on making things right for the parties involved. Seeing Benoit Blanc emulate that same determination not to see himself *right,* but to see the *right thing done,* was so rewarding and so refreshing. I wish there were more of it on the screen.

[@mattpaxton3528]

@@MultiversePatroller1 You are so spot on! *Patrick Wilems Chef Kiss*

[@TheAwetist802]

@@MultiversePatroller1 ~ YES, on SO many levels!!

[@MikeDolanFliss]

Three cheers for Jeremy Brett, still my favorite Holmes.

[@alexcrouch5245]

Always happy to find another Granada Sherlock fan! IMO Craig and Brett have similar characteristics in their performances of their detectives.

[@elendil004]

I love that you deep dived on the layers and never even had to touch on the genre-swaps mid-movie.

[@jessrl8025]

YES! Everyone else hops on the whole genre-swap angle (don't get me wrong, it is something worth getting excited about), but I love that Mikey spends time explaining the cinematography worked and the insane attention to detail that uses the fact that movies are a visual medium and those details help to tell that story. You could almost watch this movie on mute and still understand just because of the details.

[@quinnarmstrong5090]

So many people threw this in the bucket of "It's a fun movie" and I have just never understood why. Granted it went up against some big hitters, but this was the one for me.

[@Chasmodius]

Did you grow up watching _Mystery!_ on PBS? This was right in my nostalgiafeels wheelhouse.

[@rkhound247]

This was the first movie I saw in theaters with my husband after giving birth to my 1st child in May. It was so good that I didn't feel bad about leaving the baby with my mom. THAT...IS...HUGE

[@kerryfrances]

that is seriously a big deal! i'm so happy to be a tiny part of giving you that happy experience! congrats on your kiddo and shout out may babies (although careful, they may become actors!)

[@spaheedaAT]

Knives Out and Bad Times at the El Royale were a complete surprise for me! Absolutely loved them

[@jessrl8025]

I wish more people talked about how amazing Bad Times at the El Royale was. Such a surprising movie that is a master class in acting as well.

[@crizznik2312]

@@jessrl8025 Polar opposite too, this movie has such a happy ending, that movie had such a bittersweet ending.

[@Butterflier00]

and both feature a Marvel Chris.

[@Kaipyro67ALT]

YES. More people need to talk about that film! Bad Times at the El Royale was such a shockingly fun film that was a period piece, a whodunnit, a spy thriller, and a heist film all at the same time. Also, the cast was phenomenal. Cynthia Erivo killed it as the lead and Jeff Bridges played such a complex character that I found myself scared of him and scared FOR him at so many different times. Spoiler: (Also watching Jon Hamm get blown away so early into the film was such a delightful and surprising twist of expectations)

[@nrpbrown]

This was such a freakin great movie. One thing i always thought was funny is that Harlem WRITES DOWN HIS OWN DEATH. If anyone had bothered to read his notebook, that might have complicated things. Maybe. Depending on what he wrote i suppose but its still funny to me

[@Duiker36]

Yeah, but other than Ransom, no one was remotely interested in _writing_ stories. His idea book isn't useful to them.

[@Chasmodius]

@@Duiker36 you'd still think the detectives at least might have taken a glance... but maybe he wrote in a personal shorthand or code?

[@dewayner5388]

Chasmodius He also had a very obvious death cause: the big hole in his throat

[@tajedi]

Layer 8: sweaters. For real, I hope it was cold on set, because those sweaters look really hot.

[@kerryfrances]

can confirm: it was freeeezing

[@Alexagrigorieff]

I guess that's the drawback of using a digital camera, which doesn't require an assload of lighting, and consequentially, no waste heat from that. In the old times, they even used arc lights, which are very nasty.

[@TSDTalks22]

@@kerryfrances Were you a part of the production? If so I'd really like to hear your story because I just love hearing everything about this film

[@stacmaster3000]

Got the sweaters in just under the wire. Phew!

[@liamgibbons5266]

The donut hole in the donut hole’s hole was the sweaters all along!

[@colinlove4659]

Gotta draw upon the Legacy of Scandinavian Who dunnits

[@EmonEconomist]

@@liamgibbons5266 The doughnut hole in the doughnut hole's hole was the sweaters we made along the way...

[@ceilinh6004]

Well, Ransom's sweater was full of holes...

[@danielforinton7629]

I finally watched this a few weeks back BECAUSE you'd announced you were doing this video. And it was totally worth it. What an utter delight of a movie it is. So thank you for getting me to watch something that I didn't think I was going to enjoy anywhere near as much as I actually did.

[@filmjoy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Zaznayka74]

Same experience! This video announced made me realise there was no more way of delaying this! Loved it so much

[@elainaswanson4364]

Delight is the exact word I would use

[@ChuckD008]

I also love the whole subtle iphone-reveal of the bad guy. All the suspects have iphones while the perp doesn't cuz Apple won't allow antagonists to have iphones onscreen.

[@amyhannon3034]

I NEVER REALIZED - HOLY SHIT

[@b1g_m00n]

why did you do this to me

[@ChuckD008]

@@b1g_m00n @Sinister Sister an extra layer of detail that Rian Johnson laid on to an already highly-detailed film.

[@grayonthewater]

Lol you saw that scene breakdown video with the director talking about this movie and the iPhone thing too

[@ChuckD008]

@@grayonthewater You wouldn't even think twice about the phone unless someone pointed it out. how brilliant is that

[@taakotuesday]

I've rewatched this movie at least a dozen times now, and one of the biggest things that I picked up on after a few viewings is just how smart Blanc is without showing it. He truly does follow gravity's rainbow: he knows Marta had something to do with it as soon as he sees her, but he also understands that she is really the only person who truly loved Harlan and had no reason to kill him. So rather than call her out, he keeps an eye on her to try to figure out what he's missing. There are tons of little details to pick up on, like when he finds out the video recording has been scrambled, his expression is one of dissapointment -- he knows Marta did it, and is dissapointed in her for trying to cover it up from him.

[@CalebJaqua]

Stunning movie with a great analysis. Why didnt you go into the importance of the game Go? It's a great stand in for the murder mystery of the movie. Harlan cant beat Marta at Go, no because she is better but because she plays the game her way. Ransom beats Harlan sometimes because he is better. Ransom would have beaten Harlan's decision with the will. But then he has to beat Marta, who he cannot beat because she isnt playing his game. The way Marta wins at Go and how she proves her innocence is to play the game her way. This is why when she comes clean to Ransom he says "huh. I always thought I was the only one who could beat him."

[@jennyraylen8410]

Yes! Also, Harlan asks why he can't beat her, and she says something along the lines that she's not playing to beat him, but to make something beautiful. Marta isn't playing to beat out everyone else for the money like Ransom (or even Harlan)--she's playing to protect her family, aka, out of kindness, and her kindness makes things beautiful.

[@newcoffee5645]

Can I just say, it is a small triumph that the conflict of this film hinges on Naloxone and Johnson quite deftly tricks viewers into learning how to stop an opiate overdose in real life. Cool stuff. [Muffled Harm Reduction Catawampus]

[@hogpsking33]

You covered so much, and you didn't even get it all. I thought for sure you'd talk about the combination dolly to handheld shot after they found out marta was getting the inheritance. That gives me goosebumps every time.

[@samwroblewski748]

Noticed that on my second viewing and loved the hand off so much. The music hits that cue as well

[@tonybaker1268]

2019 was such a good year for film (Knives Out, the Lighthouse, Parasite, etc) that 2020 had to be a break year 😂

[@godofthunder4242]

Is 2020 the price we pay for movie excellence? It seems we need to banish all the good movie directors then. It's a shame but some things come at too high a cost. :p

[@lupinisthinking]

(Avengers Endgame, if you’d consider that for your list too, although it’s a big blockbuster its effect is immense)

[@bkofford]

Watch. This. Movie. (before the spoilers)

[@trewhite7903]

That Patrick Wilems edit was *chef's kiss*

[@blokey8]

Aha, that was Patrick!

[@DinerLingo]

Seriously, one of the most endlessly re-watchable films ever.

[@jamesodwyer4181]

Having rewatched this movie in the lead up to Glass Onion, it was nice to come back to this analysis again. Still a brilliant video.

[@Brodysseus]

"Metric assboat" is the way I'm gonna say it now. Also, FUN FACT: "Assboat" was originally what the fish where gonna call the boat in Finding Nemo, but Disney wanted a G rating instead of PG, so they changed it to "butt."

[@MissXHiem]

hi mikey, two years ago i watched this video and left a comment, i came back to leave another to say how much i love your channel so much, i KNOW you care about movies bc you can see how you craft a youtube video with the same elegance as an award winning masterpiece like knives out or any other movie you enjoy

[@ShardReaper]

Damn, this movie owned last year. Between this and Last Jedi (if you don’t like it, cool, please don’t be a jagoff), I’m in on whatever he does next.

[@Liam-rn1qb]

The Last Jedi is the only one of the sequels with any kind of thematic cohesiveness, honestly the only Disney Star Wars worth watching. I think its most common criticisms kinda boil down to "this movie called out my obsession with legacy characters and shit on my headcannnon and I don't like it

[@chrisbark582]

The fact that his filmmaking ability can shine through that dumpster fire of meddling producers is proof he is a gangster director.

[@jasonblalock4429]

@@Liam-rn1qb Seriously. I was genuinely baffled that so many people were surprised - much less angry - that Luke died. Did they not watch the other films? Being an older mentor is a death sentence in a Star Wars movie. But they were somehow so wrapped up in themselves that they managed to believe that Ep 8 would be about Luke, while ignoring the whole part where this is a new generation with new heroes. . (And to be clear, I'm a "gen 1" Star Wars fan. I'm not throwing shade on *all* the older fans, 'coz I are one. But I am very very disappointed in many members of my theoretical peer group for being self-centered dicks who can't let younger fans have their own heroes.)

[@TheKazragore]

@@Liam-rn1qb TLJ was at the same time the best and worst film in the sequels. Best because it was, hands down, the best made film of the 3. It looks absolutely stunning, it has thematic consistency throughout, it has a pretty clear message, the acting was out of this world. On the other hand, having all three films to look at you can definitely see throughlines from TFA to RoSW that feel like they were interrupted by TLJ before being picked up again. They definitely needed to sit down before they made any of these films and figure out what the overarching arc was going to be...but they didn't. So when TLJ upended the apple cart, it threw everyone into a tizzy (as you said, it shat on the headcanons of so many people). But I love TLJ, and no-one will convince me otherwise. Could it maybe have done some things better? Sure. But it was still great.

[@Liam-rn1qb]

@@TheKazragore oh it definitely interrupted the flow of the trilogy, I also recognize its not even close to a perfect movie. But I personally wasn't a fan of tfa and the direction I saw the new trilogy taking, so tlj shaking things up was fantastic for me, and it made me long for what could have been had someone like Johnson tackled the entire trilogy

[@thepardimoose]

I remember going out with my friends to watch Frozen 2 (for the meme), but it was sold out and watched Knives out instead. Probably one of the best experiences I've had with plans going wrong.

[@itgms]

Brick made me seek out Rian Johnson films. TLJ did nothing to change this, Knives Out is just another grand slam.

[@katherinealvarez9216]

Graeme Shaw I like TLJ, even though I don’t think it’s his best movie. It is his more ambitious movie. It’s basically him coming to the playground and announcing “I’m here to play!” If that makes any sense.

[@crizznik2312]

@@katherinealvarez9216 I think it's among the best Star Wars films. I was so hoping it meant Star Wars was finally going in a more interesting direction... then Rise of Skywalker happened.

[@katherinealvarez9216]

Crizznik I know. Finn is force sensitive and no one thought to make sure it’s always a thing!? And there’s was things to look forward to: Kylo & Hux engaging in office politics and constant backstabbing; Finn leading a stormtrooper rebellion! Rose & Rey bonding over ships! Rey being her own force user! Luke as a force ghost! Poe as a leader! Instead, they made him Han Solo-lite, and Finn being the moderator between him & Rey, and Palpatine was boring. Just, they made him boring. And the fandom...dear god the fandom. They actually had a reason to be upset and call out Disney on their bs, but somehow it’s all Johnson’s fault and they decided that it’s okay to go after teenage girls.

[@jasonblalock4429]

@@katherinealvarez9216 I genuinely hope the lesson Disney and\or Hollywood at large take away from the whole debacle is "Don't pay too much attention to the online haters." If they'd just stuck to their guns, the Trevorrow Ep 9 would have at least been pretty good. Instead they panicked, attempted to course-correct, and ended up with a mess of a movie that did nothing to appease the haters, while disappointing everyone who'd enjoyed 7 and 8. . I don't truly hate Ep 9, but it's mind-blowing to me how they managed to go straight from one of the best films in the franchise, to one of the worst, just due to terrible decisions at the executive level.

[@gateauxq4604]

AMEN!

[@ChrisHarperBooks]

Did I save this video for 2 years because I knew someday I'd get around to watching this movie? Yes, yes I did.

[@sherman128]

Loved this movie but as an addict my knowledge of Opiates kinda gives up the game really early on. Caught the Morphine stuff immediately. You inject someone with that much morphine they'd be absolutely off their tits immediately. If not straight up dead straight away. When he was spending 5 minutes talking calmly to her I couldn't decide if it was just an oversight (Because most people aren't opiate addicts so wouldn't be able to tell anyway) Or if it were on purpose. The amazing thing Is based on where the movie went It was probably on purpose. Great film.

[@joelbfant]

My wife is a nurse and caught that, too. I chalk it up to "an extra clue to what really happened" for watchers that know that about morphine.

[@sherman128]

@@joelbfant Yeah I like to think that It's there on purpose as opposed to them just not knowing how opiates work.

[@amyhannon3034]

I know, right? I don't know much about morphine, but I did have the thought "why didn't they include a line from Harlan about 'don't worry, it's not going to hurt, I feel numb already'?" Turns out my brain already picked up on a clue! Although I am a little annoyed that neither Harlan nor Marta realized that the symptoms that were supposed to show up at the 5-minute mark didn't manifest either :/ I guess they were both stressed

[@NatoriousGamePlay]

@@amyhannon3034 I read somewhere that Marta was experiencing the symptoms and emotions that Harlan was supposed to be. I don't know if that's true or not, but if so, that's pretty cool

[@amyhannon3034]

@@NatoriousGamePlay ok I super dig that, and if it's not true then I immediately adopt that as headcanon. Also Ana de Armas did an AMAZING job crying in that scene... It's beautiful.

[@8stringedbandit]

Coming back to this years later and realising it's named "The many layers of Knives Out" and the sequel has Onion in the name 🤔

[@michaelbizley]

will never forget the ridiculous grin that stuck to my face when i saw the final shot and realised how the film was ending. one of my fave cinema moments even tho i went to see it on my own

[@bordergoly]

Coming back to this after Glass Onion and the layer theme it makes this video even better

[@LobsterSpecial]

This was the last film I saw in the theater, back in February in the Before Time. I sure wish Hollywood would give us more films like Knives Out

[@ankydamz]

really loved the script and your perspective on the genre! hope you people decide to do a video on glass onion soon! ps i loved the structure of the video (parts and layers) being a metaphor for donuts inside of donuts! this video put me in a great moof! :)

[@bettyreads222]

'Bougie diaper commanders' what a brilliant descriptor. Gah this movie is so good, so happy you delved in deep! Also totally didn't notice some of the details you point out here.

[@Owesomasaurus]

My mother died when I was young and left behind a large collection of Agatha Christie paperbacks. I buried myself in those books for years. I couldn't think of a finer Christie tribute than Knives Out.

[@KBTibbs]

"Film Boy Michael" is one of a favorite youtubers.

[@kynan1232]

Knives out is possibly my favorite movie and only the second I’ve gone back to the theatre to see again

[@TomCantDance]

I watched this movie earlier in the year and it blew me away. I was annoyed that I’d watched it alone and had no one to excitedly talk to about it

[@soulflaya2271]

Literally the worst feeling

[@saileshmishra5255]

rewatching this today. R.I.P Mr Plummer

[@rafaelnahafahik7781]

I *literally* just got the knives out 4k disc in the mail, and then this video pops up

[@TheScientist408]

Benoit Blanc is already the greatest fictional detective in history. There’s so much thought put into this movie, and, as you said: there’s something new discover every time you watch it. There is so much set up and payoff with this movie - right down to the smallest detail. Another thing I really appreciate about this movie is Johnson’s desire to create interesting shapes within his frames. The blocking in this movie is so precise.

[@oskari7121]

This has literally become one of my favourite movies of the last few years.

[@nischalprajapati6157]

did i watch knives out just so i could watch this video? why, yes. is my heart still pounding from the roller coaster that movie was? absolutely yes.

[@20thCenturyPox]

Paused at 7.26 because I have to go watch it. Then I have to watch parts 2 and 3. Then I'll probably have to watch the film again. Hey, it passes the time.

[@breawycker]

In a world where studios care more about spoilers than rewatchablility this is one of the most rewatchable films ever

[@scribejay]

6:35 Well, I'd say the other yarn too. This movie has great knits just across the board. 19:25 Damn. Covered that too. You are a genius, Neumann.

[@stephaniejane306]

If you have watched the film enough times as I have (I have lost count at this point), I have realised that Harlan from the moment the Naxolone wasn't found knew something sus was going down, figured out it was one of the family and started putting a plan in place to catch them. He also knew he was more than likely fine because it was like what 5 minutes after injection, he should be feeling the affects by now. It doesn't matter if he dies, he wants them caught. It's another one of his games, his mysteries and he's going to put a twist in by slitting his throat. Like Linda says you have to find a game to play with Harlan.

[@Lomky]

This movie has great Clue energy

[@Chasmodius]

Not enough running back and forth while the rest of the cast follows bewildered. :D

[@doll_dress_swap12]

Chasmodius lol

[@MattMcIrvin]

I heard that Johnson specifically emphasized to the cast that he *wasn't* making "Clue": not a parody of a Christie-style whodunit, but a new instance of the thing. But the humor and lightness are there, even though it's dealing with heavy subjects.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

It needs a singing telegram... ... bang.

[@megahostlanceboyle]

The first few minutes of this review made me go watch the movie immediately, and I'm real glad it did. One thing i really loved was the whole homage to the "big narrated reveal of the whole plot" that Harlan does when explaining what he wants Marta to do. It definitely felt like the end of a Poirot where he'd go through the whole thing with a voice-over... but so early. I grew up watching Mystery on PBS and this really sucked me into that mood and later, slowly, brilliantly subverted it. While still staying true to it.

[@MrPooleish]

Margaret, burn my schedule. Mikey is looking at another movie and I MUST watch it. Probably eleven times. No Margaret, YOU'RE being ridiculous.

[@sweatyskeleton7390]

Knives Out is one of my favorite movies to both put on in the background, and just go through and notice stuff. Same with Scott Pilgrim, but that's a different kind of thing. This movie just feels like a thick sweater and some soup on a chilly night, and I love it

[@herecomemacOnTT]

Went to see this opening weekend with 10 other people and the GASPS in the audience were SO GOOD with the twists and turns UGH ❤

[@THEShoky]

This review singlehandedly got me to watch the movie.

[@kerryfrances]

Thank you again for including me in this! it makes my day every time I watch it. You're the best, Mikey! And thanks everyone else for loving the movie so much, it's a joy to be in

[@ps1mrlee]

All hail the Queen (Of lawstuff)!!!

[@kerryfrances]

@@ps1mrlee hahaha the queen thanks you!!

[@DJAvren]

Yass Queen!

[@teenygozer]

By leaving everything to Marta, Harlan has essentially hired her to look after his family after he's died. He knows she's a good person, she won't leave them swinging in the breeze. In fact she's going to do a better job than Harlan ever did.

[@AnitaSleap1080z]

Other than rewatching Knives Out over and over again, I love watching video essays about Knives Out. I freaking love Knives Out. Do away with the asshole detectives!!!!

[@joaotoniato]

Love this channel, but I was surprised at the things not mentioned in this video. The Go game is used to summarise the entire story: Ransom can beat Harlan, but Marta is the only one who can beat Harlan more than Ransom. And she's not playing to beat Harlan, in her own words, she's "playing to build a beautiful pattern". The central point however is the questions that raises: how much did Marta "play the game", how far did she go to influence the "beautiful patterns" around her that culminate with her inheriting Harlan's fortune? Because that same central scene of the movie (Harlan and Marta playing Go) has so much more: - It starts with Marta saying she cannot play because she had a glass of champagne, but we then learn through other flashbacks that when Fran offered Marta champagne earlier that night Marta refused and said "I can't, technically I'm working". So she apparently just lied about having champagne, and did not vomit. To what extent then is the vomiting every time she lies true or to what extent did Marta create this myth to use to her advantage. - Harlan goes through the reasons why he's disappointed with his family and why he feels he needs to fix things (presumably by cutting them off the inheritance and forcing them to fend for themselves) and at the end of each sentence about each family member he says to Marta "as you told me". She clearly hasn't been a passive observer of Harlan's problems with his family but instead has made her own ideas about it known to Harlan and they have had an influence on him. - Also Marta can tell the drugs apart without even looking. After realising she injected him with the one with the morphine label she looks a lot at both bottles. Could she not see something was odd with them? How sure was she that she had just given him a "metric assboat" of morphine? - It all ends with Marta briefly opening the door and seeing Harlan cutting his throat. She is very far away and in future scenes when we see Harlan's body there is no spatter of blood across the room going all the way to the door. How did that one drop alone fall on Marta's shoes? And her expression as she recomposes herself outside the door. Is that the expression of a lost, completely innocent person who believes she just murdered someone due to her own incompetence? I'd argue not, there is a lot more in that expression. To what extent then was she "playing the game by creating beautiful patterns" in all of that? On top of that, the scene when Benoit waits outside the house for Marta provides more ammunition. He uses the book Gravity's Rainbow while admitting he never even read the book. One of the interpretations of that title has to do with the fact that a rainbow is circular and not the semi-circle we see. Does Benoit then really always arrive at truth? Or is he just going around in circles? The movie paints him as a bit of a buffoon in many scenes. I mean, Marta herself calls him a bad detective!! All of that to me makes it clear that Rian Johnson wanted to leave that in the air. The question of how far did Marta play all of them and got them lost in her beautiful patterns is not answered in the film, we do know she has at least to some extent, but not how much. That ambiguity to me was one of the most interesting layers of the film and I was really looking forward to get your take on it Mikey!

[@ImKr15t3n]

Very happy to see the genius of Steve Yedlin recognized, he is out of this world. Great video as always!

[@TheDarkroomDude]

Quick note on Halation, it's not about the temperature of the light it's about the intensity. It's so intense it pushes through the film and bounces off the back of the camera to expose the rear part of the film. That's what makes halation red, since most film exposed on the wrong side creates red images.

[@MatthewJBD]

One of my favourites, Rian Johnson is a genius. Can't wait for the sequel.

[@MissXHiem]

dear mikey, i love your videos so so SO much- your editing, your writing, your delivery !!!! everything is so wonderful ok knives out is just my fav of 2019 next to midsommar; ive watched it so many times with so many friends and the reactions are always priceless , but even more , i get something new out of every single rewatch; every little detail gets brighter and brighter on every rewatch, its truly an excellently crafted movie that keeps things fresh, exciting and, relevant

[@kevinhoctor62]

This movie made me so happy. And Mikey’s breakdown of the layers of this movie was so good. Therefore, Mikey made me layers of happy.

[@thehopeofeden597]

Seeing Mikey say he was going to do this on Twitter has been the light in the tunnel for me for like _months._

[@scribejay]

Ah, what the heck. Good a place as any to toss out my silly idea. So amongst the criticism and general state of ennui towards the DC movies' direction squarely toward dark gritty violence, I read a proposed idea to bring in the other side of Batman, “The World’s Greatest Detective” part of the Caped Crusader. This got me thinking of a delightfully absurd expression of that: Knives Out but the only difference is that instead of a Southern gentleman, Daniel Craig is playing Batman. Everything else exactly the same except he’s Batman and he’s unexpectedly driving the Batmobile during the car chase.

[@chibisven]

The font choices in this video were on point.

[@LoverboyMedia]

We are all honestly so lucky to have you doing what you do. This was amazing, as always

[@patgriffith9176]

I've seen this movie 4 times, twice in the theater. You're vidoe helped me know I must own it.

[@templefox]

We are not going to talk about how she has this weird super power of not being able to lie?

[@ananyasampathkumar3832]

i think its used to show that she’s an incredibly pure and good person, compared to the rest of the family

[@Zizou19989]

The love and care that went behind this movie makes me so happy especially in comparison to all these corporate made cash grabs movies that get released these days. The fact that so many people love to talk about and dissect this movie is what cinema is all about.

[@Lukz243]

lf Knives out were a photoshop document, the PC would crash :O. SO.MANY.LAYERS.

[@goncaloferreira6713]

love your videos man , it really helped me through today

[@roaninfisher14]

God I was so excited to see you had posted this, one of the best movies I've seen in a long while!

[@gabrielmendez4161]

This movie feels like the perfect thing to watch on thanksgiving

[@rbgg2010]

Sweaters are an important part of layering

[@Cookie12670]

Mikey, you are one of the best at describing the total feel of film. I love the appreciation you have for all types of media and the hard work that many people contributed to them. I always look forward to your commentary whether I watched the film or not, watched the tv show or not or played the game or not. Thank you for your perspective. It’s really appreciated by many.

[@thejohnsanger]

“Im not eating one iota of shit” is one of my favorites lines of any movie that came out last year

[@breawycker]

That line was ad-libbed too lol

[@floraposteschild4184]

Layer 8: sweaters. Anna's sweaters have straight lines, and most of the Thrombys' sweaters have twisty cables, and Ransom's has the most twists of all. Walt's sweater has nothing, mirroring his indecisive character.

[@hishandchips]

Hi Mikey, thank you for this valuable service. Just checking in to say I appreciate how you've advanced the format of the show, and to acknowledge the miracle that creative things are still being made in this world today. Happy Friday; Today I saw a dog when I went outside, and there is a new episode of MwM. No better way to start the weekend.

[@filmjoy]

Thanks we appreciate that! We hope you have a great weekend!

[@Limxuv]

When I first saw the trailers for Knives Out I wasn't really feeling it, but I was pleasantly surprised by this film when I finally decided to check it out.

[@theunwelcome]

I distinctly remember watching this in the theater and about halfway through I knew this movie would be on my dvd rack ASAP so glad I found your channel, my bro; ever since Last Jedi, watching any movie commentary on youtube has been a nightmare except for a few channels, and yours is definitely one of the good ones

[@TheforeverPigeonKing]

I love how they put so much effort into making the digital movie look like it was caught on film

[@damianandfilms]

Rian Johnson the best filmmaker working in Hollywood today???? Yes.

[@johnbeckman2698]

I have to believe that disney must have at least somewhat butchered the last jedi in editing cause its so hard to believe that the same director made both that and this masterpiece

[@damianandfilms]

John Beckman The Last Jedi is his best one though

[@Cynicayke]

@@johnbeckman2698 I mean, just watch Mikey's analysis of TLJ. Or the one by CinemaWins. They show just how clever and thoughtful the movie is.

[@johnbeckman2698]

Damian and Films you are more than free to think that

[@sefalimahanti9848]

I'd say he's a tie in my book ,along with Bong Joon Ho, Denis Villeneuve, and Patty Jenkins

[@kalyarn]

I think the movie gets a ton of mileage out of Chris Evans as Captain America. This is likely most people's first exposure to him as something other than a boy scout, and so when he seems to be a good guy, the audience wants to believe it. If it was another actor, I think most genre savvy watchers would quickly be suspicious of his seemingly sudden niceness. But we want Chris to be that nice guy, we've come to expect of it him, so that extraneous knowledge gives the movie some extra cover, which is another reason why casting is so vital to such pictures.

[@parkermillican]

Im rewatching this tonight

[@arnoclaesen8105]

Hercule poirot also made moral choices during his investigation. He let the murderers get away with it during the orient express

[@darmansbar7900]

Rian did nothing wrong with TLJ and he did everything perfect in Knives Out

[@leonardopires9344]

Darman's Bar fucken agreed mate. TLJ was the best ST movie imo

[@blokey8]

I admittedly came to TLJ as a Rian Johnson fan first and a nervous newish Star Wars fan second, but yeah, I agree. I think a truly underrated quality of TLJ is that it, unlike... any other new Star Wars film? ...it pulled up a chair for the new fans and said "this setting can be for you too."

[@FlyYooFools]

It was such an amazing film to watch. One of my favorite movies now.