Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – Netflix Review (4/5)

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY on Netflix is the sequel to the 2019 hit movie. Daniel Craig is back as Benoit Blanc, and the runtime is over two hours again. However, it doesn’t feel too long at all. Read our Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery movie review here!

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is on Netflix and this sequel might actually be even better than the 2019 original hit movie. Most importantly, Daniel Craig is back as the Southern detective Benoit Blanc. He seems to be having a blast with this character and it just makes everything work.

Well, that and the awesome cast and fun mystery at the heart of the story.

The first movie had an official runtime of two hours and 10 minutes. This one clocks in at two hours and 19 minutes, but it absolutely works. I was never bored or felt like there was a lull in the story. I just had a blast with it! Also, it’s actually “only” 2 hours and 11 minutes without credits.

Continue reading our Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery movie review below. Find it on Netflix from December 23, 2022.

Daniel Craig shines as Benoit Blanc

Look, I love Daniel Craig as James Bond just as much as the next person. Actually, I found him to be a brilliant James Bond. And yet, I am also loving him as this amazing Southern detective Benoit Blanc. His over-the-top accent and charming deductions just work perfectly for me.

In Glass Onion (or simply Knives Out 2 as some refer to it), Benoit Blanc returns to solve yet another case. And not one second too late. Benoit Blanc has been going quite stir-crazy!

This new whodunit case finds him at a lavish private estate located on a Greek island. The place belongs to the billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and finding similarities between him and real-life billionaires is very easy. For me, he’s mostly an Elon Musk, but there are bits and pieces of other powerful billionaires in the mix as well.

The how and why of Benoit Blanc being at the Greek island for an otherwise small and private yearly reunion of Miles Bron’s closest friends, is for us all to find out. And, of course, this is just one part of the puzzle. How and why he comes to be there is only the first of many puzzles.

Another amazing ensemble cast

Just like with Knives Out, this sequel has a stellar cast which makes this an intensely strong character-driven ensemble movie. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is confronted with a very diverse group of friends who seem to have nothing much in common. Well, except for relying on the support of Miles Bron (Edward Norton).

Among the friends on this guest list, we find Miles’ former business partner Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe
in a very strong performance). Also, there’s the current Connecticut governor Claire Debella (the always brilliant Kathryn Hahn) who is clearly good friends with the cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.).

As polar opposites to the politician and scientist, we see the fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay (an amazing Kate Hudson) and her conscientious assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick). Finally, the Incel influencer Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline).

As with any whodunnit, each character has a secret that could easily be motivation for a murder. Despite the yearly reunion revolving around a “Clue”-inspired murder mystery, someone does actually turn up dead. This immediately makes everyone a suspect. Of course, Benoit Blanc is already many steps ahead of everyone involved!

Watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix!

Once again, the Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rian Johnson writes and directs. As he originated this franchise, it only makes sense that he would return to make Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. And yes, Knives Out 3 has already been greenlit and is set for release in 2024.

Also, make sure you watch out for the Hugh Grant cameo in Glass Onion. Could Hugh Grant be playing a character who is the boyfriend or husband of Benoit Blanc? It is entirely possible (in fact, it’s the most logical explanation), and I am absolutely here for it!

You’ll also be seeing a few other amazing cameos in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. These include Angela Lansbury, Stephen Sondheim, Natasha Lyonne, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Serena Williams. All playing themselves! However fun and amazing the cast is I would still also recommend watching this for the whodunit mystery alone.

Considering this amazing cast, that’s quite the compliment to the story!

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is released globally on Netflix on December 23, 2022.

Details

Writer & Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig alongside Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista