There’s a reason my unequivocal answer to “What’s your favorite movie?” is Knives Out. Brilliantly funny, witty throughout, and subtle enough that amateur sleuths are still left guessing. Chris Evans playing the villain was an additional twist in an already loopy plot, being his first breakout villain role.
Wake Up Dead Man arrives as the third in the Knives Out series starring the eccentric detective Benoit Blanc (Played by Daniel Craig). Each movie punches viewers with star-studded casts, designed to shroud the mystery of which A-list actor could be the murdering villain. I confess that Glass Onion (the second movie) didn’t quite have the same complexity I admired from the first, though a highlight was seeing Leslie Odom Jr. with a beard. If you haven’t seen either of the first two films, no worries. Each one stands alone as its own mystery story, much like the Sherlock Holmes series.
Now that I mention it, the two share some charming qualities. Both have a defining accent— southern for Benoit Blanc and posh London for Sherlock —that only begins to describe their eccentricity. They’re distinct for sweeping personalities that absorb others in the thrill of a case. One can’t help but watch Benedict Cumberbatch (my Sherlock of choice) or Craig meticulously lay out the details of the mystery, as well as its many twists and turns. Sherlock and Blanc also share a knack for scrutinizing people, albeit with slightly different methods. In his BBC version, the British detective immediately concludes a number of details about Doctor James Watson from subtle chips in his phone and the way he walks. Blanc similarly analyzes blood spatters, but cautiously assesses suspects’ personalities to form a complete picture as well. I can think of some important details he kept hidden, in fact, that ultimately completed the whole story!
Tangent aside, If Knives Out was a 10/10 and Glass Onion was a 7/10, Wake Up Dead Man is a solid 8.5/10. Wake Up Dead Man navigates a fascinating commentary on the world today without passing explicit judgement. Each character seems fascinatingly real and relevant. With mentions to a storm of digital influence, complexities of familial relationships, and the advance of medicine, viewers are sure to see their own life reflected in the film.
Our story follows Jud Duplenticity, an aspiring young pastor and former boxer. His character seems like a cliche at first glance, but it becomes apparent that it’s sincere throughout the film. He’s tormented by the sin of murder in his former life, an unconventional priest. Jud is sent to an understaffed and dying church in the suburbs of Albany, where he meets “Monsignor Wicks”.
I quite appreciate the boldly dropped clues I thought I’d figured out, but ended up not quite being the truth. Maybe 20 minutes before the final plot twist, I had my suspicions, but the movie still managed to somewhat subvert my expectations. The scenes are shot strategically to leave viewers guessing. A bit of untrustworthy narration never hurts!
Although the Netflix 3-movie deal for the trilogy has concluded, we may be able to expect more unsuspecting detective movies from Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig. Both of them have expressed an interest in continuing to work together– so long as a movie studio takes up the offer. As Blanc and Sherlock would tell you, “The game is afoot”
