The mystique and glamor of old Hollywood were revived at the premiere of “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” at the Academy Museum earlier this month. The “Knives Out” series, a nostalgic nod to the era of murder mysteries and detective films of the past, boasts a star-studded cast and high-quality execution.
The newest big-budget Netflix film, which opened in theaters on November 23 for a limited run and is set to stream on December 23, attracted many prominent names in Hollywood for its premiere. Attendees included composer Nathan Johnson, producer Ram Bergman, Jamie Lee Curtis (star from the first “Knives Out” film), Barbara Palvin and the stars of the movie.
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in the La Brea neighborhood was the perfect venue to reflect the pristine aesthetic of the film industry. The tall glass windows and deep red carpets surrounding the entire museum were elegant. Attendees were dressed in beautiful long gowns and fancy suits, and they paraded along the halls prior to the screening.
Once the event started, Scott Stuber, the head of global film at Netflix, came out and gave a short message of thanks and gratitude for the film. Then, writer-director Rian Johnson came out and gave a brief statement, as well, and he introduced the cast up on stage. The cast and audience members alike recorded a “We love you, Daniel” message for Daniel Craig who was ill and unable to attend the festivities.
“Glass Onion,” created by writer and director Rian Johnson, is the sequel to the thrilling mystery movie “Knives Out.” Johnson had a high bar to meet following the massive success of “Knives Out.” Fans were left to wonder how Johnson could follow such a unique and intricate mystery as the first film in the franchise.
The movie stars Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Madelyn Cline, Jessica Henwick, Dave Bautista and Edward Norton. It also features cameos from the late Angela Lansbury and Stephen Sondheim, Jackie Hoffman, Serena Williams, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Natasha Lyonne and Hugh Grant, to name a few. The movie follows the same structure as the previous, featuring a complex mystery that seems to flip on itself midway through the movie and reveal a surprise twist to the initial mystery at hand.
Johnson did not disappoint fans, especially with the film’s production quality, as the movie did live up to expectations as per the standing ovation and cheering during the credits. The high quality is no surprise, given that the original and the sequel both utilized a $40 million budget, and neither is its acclaim, as the first film received awards and worldwide praise. Still, the film felt as if it was of a higher caliber than some of Netflix’s more recent original productions.
The film begins when each of the characters receives a mysterious box with a complex puzzle for them to solve in order to open it. Inside the large wooden box is a small, blue notecard indicating an invitation to a murder mystery party from their wealthy friend Miles Bron, played by Edward Norton, on his private island in Greece. His massive coastal mansion features a literal glass atrium in the circular shape of an onion where the party takes place.
Each character in the film portrays a different ditsy personality with an interesting career, but throughout the movie, you can see how they all contribute to the overall mystery of the film. Daniel Craig plays detective Benoit Blanc, the only recurring character from the previous “Knives Out” film, and continues using his cartoonish but phenomenal southern accent.
Actor Janelle Monáe, also known for her R&B music career, was also an incredible choice for the film, as her performance through her character Cassandra Brand revealed a great range in her acting skills to fans. Monáe and Craig share perfect chemistry through their on-screen friendship in the film as they both team up together to uncover the true motive behind the murder-mystery party.
The film’s title is apt considering its exploration of life’s complicated layers. A “Glass Onion” (yes, from the popular Beatles track off of the “White Album”) in itself is a dichotomy. As the popular movie “Shrek” says, “onions have layers.” What makes this movie complex is that it alludes to the false sense of the intricacy of life when in reality one can look past the layers and see it “crystal clear.”
The sequel acts as a slight social commentary on the pandemic as well, because it takes place during the early days of the lockdown in 2020. There are jokes made about masks and social distancing as well as a jab at the lockdown in general, as Miles throws an extravagant party with his friends during a time when no one could gather together in one place. There are also elements of the movie that comment on the privilege that comes with extreme wealth and the contrast between “rich” culture and “poor” culture.
The film was incredible because of the complex storyline. The movie forces the viewer to ask “why?” until about midway through when the motive for the elaborate “whodunit” is revealed. For instance, “Why does he invite all of his old friends to his private island?” “Why this ‘murder mystery’ party?” “Why invite these oddly specific party-goers?” “Why was Benoit Blanc in attendance as well?”
Uncovering each of the characters’ backstories as the murder mystery unraveled is thoroughly enjoyable in Johnson’s films. “Glass Onion” has more of a comedic tone than “Knives Out”– something that attendees seemed to enjoy at the screening with their chorus of laughs. After “Glass Onion” will likely receive massive success, fans are sure to clamor for another film in the “Knives Out” franchise, as they did in 2019 for the original.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” opens in theaters for a limited run on November 23. It will be released for streaming on Netflix on December 23.