Movie Review: Glass Onion (2022)

Glass Onion (2022) written and directed by Rian Johnson

Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is invited to a weekend murder mystery at Miles Bron's (Edward Norton) private Greek island. Bron is fabulously wealthy from a highly successful app. He usually invites four friends once a year for a fun week off. But Bron did not send Blanc an invitation. Another uninvited guest is Andi Brand (Janelle Monae), Miles's former business partner who was cheated by Miles out of her half of the fortune when she left the company. The invited friends know her from their days when they all met at a bar called the Glass Onion. They were all up-and-comers back then. Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) wanted to be a fashion designer and influencer, which she has. Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom, Jr.) wanted to be an inventor and has become a key player at the app company, which has expanded out into other tech fields like bio-fuels. Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) is a body builder who wanted to be an internet influencer who has achieved a bit of online success. Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) is a soccer-mom type who has made it big in politics--she's currently running for senator. They are all being supported in one way or another by Miles in their endeavors...all but Andi. Now on the island, Miles introduces them to his home, an ornate building he calls "The Glass Onion," even having a large glass dome. It's a treasure trove of art and tech, with every luxury imaginable.

Not everything is so rosy on this trip. Miles's friends all want something from him and are nervous about Andi being there. Miles seems like he is going to withdraw his help or be problematic for each of them, making him a target for actual murder. The planned mystery is foiled at the opening dinner when Blanc reveals the means, motive, and opportunity of the fake killer before Miles is even fake-killed. Blanc then has a private meeting with Miles, warning him that he might actually be killed by any of his guests. The idea is brushed off until someone actually dies, beginning a much more difficult case for Benoit Blanc to unravel.

The movie is a mixed bag. The production values are gorgeous. The Greek island and the exotic, sprawling mansion are fun and eye-catching. The actors do a good job in their various roles and have a good time. Many plot moments are predictable and the mystery relies a little too much on unrevealed information. The middle of the movie has an extended flashback that explains what's really going on, but the sequence is awkwardly handled. At first, it seems like Blanc is explaining things to the other characters in the movie, but really it's a flashback only intended for the audience. The intent becomes obvious halfway through. The movie also bends over backwards to call the villain stupid while that person is actually moderately intelligent. And Johnson goes back to the "minority woman oppressed by rich white people" theme from the first Knives Out movie which is a minor part but handled ham-fistedly. The meticulous crafting of the mystery, which I did enjoy, is undercut by how it is delivered in the film. The more I think about what I saw, the less I find to like in it, which is not something you want in your murder mystery. The movie is entertaining and has some fun comic moments. A lot of stuff is way over the top (like the fact that Miles has acquired the Mona Lisa from the Louvre since they are in financial straits due to the pandemic), something that I like and fits with the exaggerated characters. It made up for the stuff I didn't like.

Slightly recommended.