Glass Onion
Cast: Janelle Monae, Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline
Genre: Crime, Mystery Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Released: 23rd December 2022
Director: Rian Johnson
Mild spoilers ahead
Three years ago, Rian Johnson wrote and directed Knives Out (hereafter referred to as K.O.). A homage to who-done-it-type like Agatha Christie, and it was a breath of fresh air for the crime genre, a film that kept the audience guessing until the end. Topping a film that grossed over $300 million worldwide and is as enthralling as K.O., Johnson proves that such as task would be difficult but certainly is not impossible.
Six people receive a mysterious package from their mutual friend, eccentric billionaire Miles Byron. Inside the package is a puzzle box with an invitation to a weekend away on his secluded island for a murder mystery party. Famed detective Benoit Blanc invited alongside the group, sees that more than a glass onion is on the island, with murder and mystery served in abundance.
On the surface, Glass Onion is a whodunnit film. However, similar to its complex storyline, this film is more nuanced than it appears. Like its predecessor K.O., the film comprises various themes such as the entitlement of the rich, racism and misogyny. Andi, played excellently by Janelle Monae, deals with betrayal through an idea stolen by a white man who makes billions of her hard work. Friends also deceive Andi because they don’t want to miss out on the monetary benefits. This film remarkably deals with these themes in a way that portrays a reality for POC, who is betrayed by a society that places mediocre white men on a pedestal. Intriguingly though, these themes are not presented in a way that does not lecture the audience about the morality of it. The film becomes a journey of peeling back the layers of murder and mystery to the significant part, seeking justice at the centre of Glass Onion.
Where this film also succeeds in, is in its ensemble. Whilst K.O. boasted a stellar cast, actors like Chris Evans and Anna de Armas rising above the rest. Johnson improves upon it by bringing together a cast that feels like a true ensemble. With Daniel Craig (returning as Blanc) and Janelle Monae in the centre, the rest of the cast rotates around them with ease. Kathryn Hahn brings electric nervous energy as the politician Claire. Leslie Odom Jr imbues his scientist Lionel with a calm, level head despite the calamity of the plot. Kate Hudson and Jessica Henwick bring humorous banter to their dynamic interactions as Birdy, the problematic fashionista, and her minder assistant. Dave Bautista also adds comic shades to his toxic masculine twitch influencer Duke with Madelyn Clyne as his (more intelligent than she lets on) put-upon girlfriend, Whiskey. Norton rounds the ensemble with his best Elon Musk-imbued version in Miles. Craig brings the same witty version of Blanc. Still, he adds little touches that fill out his character, traits such as being bad at mystery games and glimpses into his home life.
Johnson brings together a cast that performs a superb job bringing to life their respective characters, each different and nuanced. Adding a gripping and intricate storyline flawlessly woven together with characters that are all guilty in one way or another. Glass Onion is intriguing in the level of details inserted into the film that eludes to the overall plot and its themes. It is a fascinating study of how a movie grabs your attention and holds onto it on various levels. It takes multiple viewings to spot them all. It is layered like an onion.
5 Stars