Knives Out
Knives Out is a 2019 American mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson. Daniel Craig leads an eleven-actor ensemble cast as Benoit Blanc, famed private detective summoned to investigate the death of bestselling author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Although police rule Harlan's case a suicide, Blanc suspects foul play and examines a host of clues and deceptive red herrings to ascertain his true manner of death. Johnson produced Knives Out with longtime collaborator Ram Bergman. Lionsgate managed the film's commercial distribution, and funding was sourced through MRC and a multimillion-dollar tax subsidy from the Massachusetts state government. Johnson conceived Knives Out in the mid-2000s. Seeking to modernize the whodunit films of the mid-twentieth century, the director was inspired by his interest in big-screen movie adaptations of Agatha Christie's stories. Johnson then shifted his attention to creation of his 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi, halting further progress on Knives Out. Development resumed the following year when Johnson wrote the screenplay in six or seven months. He devised a framework of tonal shifts to escalate tension between the characters, and informed elements of the story with his experience coping with intense culture war backlash to The Last Jedi. Principal photography began in October 2018 on a $40 million budget and wrapped that December. Shooting took place on location in suburban Boston. Nathan Johnson composed the film's classical score, which drew on an eclectic array of his and Rian's favorite symphonic movie scores. Knives Out has been read as work that investigates class warfare, wealth inequality, immigration, and race in contemporary American society. Knives Out premiered at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2019, and was distributed to American theaters on November 27 to major critical and commercial success. It was chosen as one of the year's top films by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute, and finished the theatrical run grossing $312.9 million at the global box office. Critics distinguished the film's plot and actors for praise, though some aspects of the writing and performance drew criticism. Knives Out was nominated for multiple awards, among them three Golden Globes, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Knives Out is the first entry of a franchise that includes two more films—Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) and Wake Up Dead Man, set for release in 2025.
Marta, I'm so sorry. I told them everything. I figured it was up. I'm sorry. Hey. It's all right, Ransom, I'm glad you did. Not exactly everything though. Is this about what Greatnana told you? She saw me that night. She mistook me for Ransom. We'll get to that. In the meanwhile, Mr. Hugh Ransom Drysdale, you might tell us all why you hired me.
Knives Out
Why I hired you? You're right, let's back it up... To the night of the party. Your argument with Harlan. What were the overheard words by the Nazi child masturbating in the bathroom? "My will," and "I'm warning you." You and Harlan were drama mamas, you shared a love of twisting the knife into one another. You see, I don't believe he would have slipped it in halfway, no, no, no.
Knives Out
I submit Harlan told you everything. You can't be serious! Not a red dime or word of my work to a single one of them, you included. Marta, remind me what Ransom said his conversation with Harlan ended with? Harlan told him that I could beat him at Go. And I asked myself, "Marta? "Why would the topic of the will "have steered around to Marta?"
Knives Out