In this episode, we break down Knives Out and why it’s one of the smartest mystery movies in recent years. We dig into how Rian Johnson brilliantly subverts the classic whodunnit formula, hides the plot twist in plain sight, and uses structure to shift audience expectations. We also highlight the layers in the writing, the standout performances, and how Johnson’s script turns a familiar genre on its head without ever losing its suspense or charm.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro Convo: Why this movie is so good
00:14:26 "It's what you do with the truth" is key to this story
00:17:13 Perfectly depicting the family as bad people but real
00:22:50 The opening scene is writing masterclass
00:25:43 Rian Johnson's biggest change right before filming
00:26:59 Back to: Why the opening scene is perfect
00:30:46 Stories of why the characters were perfectly cast
00:34:24 Returning to why the opening scene is perfect again
00:38:27 What is was like on set filming with big stars for Rian Johnson
00:39:34 What makes the script so phenomenal
00:42:06 Benoit Blanc piano key explained
00:44:46 What makes Benoit Blanc such a great character
00:47:00 Chris Evans going back to his acting roots
00:48:08 The beautiful details in this movie
00:52:35 The theme of playing games
00:55:40 How they made this movie look so beautiful
00:58:18 Our official rating of Knives Out
01:04:36 Final thoughts
01:05:41 Cue the music
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