This case felt like a donut—a donut inside another donut's hole. ‘Knives Out’ surprised me in a positive way. It's a clever whodunit that manages to be funny and sophisticated, the sort of murder mystery that consistently entertains, appealing to both serious movie fans and general audiences. Everything feels perfectly balanced, as it should. The film essentially pays homage to Hitchcock. Rian Johnson is a talented director, though he sometimes has unusual ideas. However, when he’s working with strong material, I think he's an excellent director and writer. He’s undoubtedly intelligent, but never came across as irritating. The dialogue was so well-crafted that it seemed the actors genuinely enjoyed absorbing and delivering those lines. The cinematography was beautiful, often lingering on rooms within the house to help draw viewers into the setting. It boasts one of the best scripts this year, blending raw humor with a satisfying mystery and comedy. The acting is superb; Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans particularly stood out for me. I really enjoyed Daniel Craig’s Southern accent, which was unexpected but impressive—at times it reminded me of Frank Underwood from ‘House of Cards’. He plays detective Benoit Blanc, jokingly referred to as CSI: KFC. There's a moment where he delivers one of the film's funniest monologues, and Craig performed it brilliantly. He should consider more comedic roles. Does anyone recall Ana de Armas’s appearance in Eli Roth’s ‘Knock Knock’? Well, look at her now! She was absolutely fantastic in this movie. A recurring joke is that her character can't lie, and she vomits whenever she attempts to do so—a humorous irony I appreciated. Chris Evans portrays a spoiled child with a sly grin even during the most unpleasant situations; he’s the family’s privileged black sheep. This role is quite different for him, especially given his character’s dislike of dogs, which seems odd considering Evans loves dogs in real life. Also, the variety of sweaters he wears in each scene was excellent. The remaining cast members also shine individually within this crowded film. Although some occasionally felt like background decoration compared to others, that doesn't detract from what ‘Knives Out’ has to offer. Toni Collette does a convincing impression of Gwyneth Paltrow. Michael Shannon plays the weak son of crime writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Despite his limited screen time, Plummer remains charming as always. Jamie Lee Curtis and her character introduce dramatic elements into the story; she's uninterested in the humorous bickering during this somber situation, reminding everyone early on that her father has just died. Considering it as a whodunit mystery, the resolution is skillfully handled. The events leading up to the death are revealed relatively early, and instead of catching up with the audience, Johnson stays ahead. There's an underlying social commentary about privilege and those without it, along with a sense of bitterness throughout. It’s not groundbreaking or profound, but at least it attempts to say something rather than being superficial. Overall rating: My House. My Rules. My Coffee!!!

Source on TMDB