Glass Onion – A Knives Out Mystery Movie Review

Streaming on Netflix starting Dec. 23, 2022

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” is a close second-cousin to the movie “Knives Out”. They are related by blood, mainly the blood oozing from deadly flesh wounds. “Knives Out” concerned a suspected murder, and all of the mysterious events and cover-ups that occurred after. “Glass Onion” is also a whodunnit, in a sense. But when it becomes unclear exactly what has been done, then very next mystery is exactly who.

Being the only holdover from the “Knives Out” movie, experienced detective and private eye Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) is in a bit of a funk. But then, by mysterious means, he gets invited to a secluded Greek island. There is going to be ‘murder mystery’ party thrown by none other than billionaire Miles Bron (played by Edward Norton). He runs a super successful company called Alpha, and he runs it with co-founder Andi Brand (played by Janelle Monáe).

Once a year, Miles invites his closest friends to a party. This year it will be Andi Brand, along with these others: scientist Lionel Toussaint (played by Leslie Odom Jr.), politico Claire Debella (played by Kathryn Hahn), fashion designer Birdie Jay (played by Kate Hudson) and right-leaning social media streamer Duke Cody (played by Dave Bautista).  Birdie has an assistant named Peg (played by Jessica Henwick) and Duke’s girlfriend Whiskey (played by Madelyn Cline) who are also attending the party. But by some mysterious means, Benoit Blanc also shows up invited to the island.

Miles is worth billions because the value of his super successful company called Alpha. He is a legend in his own mind. He actually just finished a nasty court battle with Andi Brand, who attempted to prove that the idea for Alpha was hers all along. Andi could not prove the idea was hers, so Miles crushed her.

Miles is quite shocked to Andi show up, but he is also mystified as to how Benoit Blanc was also invited. You see, everyone that Miles invites is someone who he has known for a long time. And as Miles became richer, these others become needier and clung on more tightly.

Each and every one of his guests knows that Miles could flip a switch, or just he could say one word, and they would be ruined. All of these people’s efforts have all been built on the back of Miles Bron’s mountain of cash. If Miles would ever pull the plug on his money spigot, any one of them would dry up and blow away.

Lionel knows that what Miles wants to do, he will do. And he needs to sign off on it, even if there are scientific doubts. Claire also needs to get all of the projects that Miles wants approved. If not, he will never support another one of her campaigns for office.

Birdie has a fashion empire going strong, but it was all built using funds from Miles and his company. If he rejects her, her company will fail. And Duke goes on social media with rants about men’s rights and gun rights. But only with the blessing of Miles could he make the next step to a cable TV show.

So there are quite a few people there who might have a grudge or two against Miles. Miles, of course, has dreamed up a perfect phony ‘murder mystery’ scenario – but it is one that Benoit Blanc figures out in just a couple minutes. So, just as it turns out that Benoit seems to have spoiled the entire mystery, a terrible event occurs. One of the guests falls dead. But it must be natural causes, right? Soon, the lights go out and the whole group splits up.

And suddenly, a gunshot rings out in the night. A body falls to the ground. Benoit Blanc is confused at this point. There is already one person dead, and now another person — this time they were shot. There are so many suspects, and so many motives. But which of the guests could be accounted for at each time the incident occurred? But if they could not be accounted for, where were they at and what were they doing? And why is this other slacker dude named Derol (played by Noah Segan) living in Miles Bron’s mansion, which Miles calls “Glass Onion”.

But fear not – Benoit Blanc is busy researching every person, living or dead, and he will be able to come up with correct solution. But can he do it before another innocent life is lost? Just because ‘Glass Onion’ is something clear, it does not mean that when you peel back all the layers, what you see is the same as what you saw before. Sometimes, things take on a different perspective, and things can take on new meanings.

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” proves that Rian Johnson can make lightning strike twice. Or maybe three times, when the next “Knives Out Mystery” installment is created! The man has come up with a clever concept, and incredibly watchable characters, and simmered that stew of delicious goodness. Take one Southern-drawling private eye, and place that guy into various situations where he needs to puzzle out the answers.

It is difficult to isolate just one best performance in this ensemble.  They are all terrific in these roles. But best regards are for Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe for playing Benoit and Andi (and any others?). Also, you must give a shout out to Edward Norton for playing the most unusual billionaire. Some village somewhere is missing an idiot…

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” is a whodunit that is as sharp as they come, and you can cut into it over and over again – but it will never make you cry!