Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Director and writer Rian Johnson’s 2022 film, the Oscar-nominated “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” transports viewers into a story that is simultaneously complexly layered and infuriatingly obvious; the movie almost acts like a glass onion itself. While it is officially a sequel to Johnson’s 2019 film, “Knives Out,” the film is easily able to stand on its own. Set on an idyllic private island — dubbed the “Glass Onion” — renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigates a murder among the eccentric friend group of the even more eccentric billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton).
The story remains grounded in the present with references to the COVID-19 pandemic. These references are often tasteful; moments like Blanc playing “Among Us” in his bathtub help to keep the film lighthearted. On the other hand, details like the unexplained spray that eliminates the need for the characters’ masks on the island feel like a bit of lazy writing and risk dating the film.
Overall, the story is well-crafted. It builds a healthy amount of tension and cuts it with perfectly timed humorous moments, as seen in scenes where a freeloader on Miles’ island, pops in at unexpected moments. “Glass Onion” also cleverly omits parts of certain scenes, skewing the viewer’s interpretation of the plot before later revealing the full context. The film does utilize some trite plot devices to explain some of its deceptions, but the film doesn’t suffer greatly because of it.
At first, the cast of “Glass Onion” seems like an ensemble of caricatures, but each character grows more nuanced as the film goes on. In particular, the film doesn’t allow secondary characters to be sidelined: one character’s assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick), and another character’s girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) are both shown to be more intelligent than they originally seemed. The distinct personalities of each character are also amplified by the actors that play them. From Odom easily embodying the practical scientist to Janelle Monáe flawlessly carrying out the intricacies of her role, the cast was brimming with talent. The individuality of each character is further emphasized by wonderful costuming. Down to the masks they wear, every outfit was clearly carefully chosen.
“Glass Onion” often relies on clichés and the mystery is quite simplistic. However, the film maintains a level of depth as it explores the pitfalls of extreme wealth and balances that by being continually playful. Containing frequent twists and turns, “Glass Onion” is an ingeniously simple story that is as dramatic as it is fun.