“Knives Out” tales: three mismatched gems

Imagine three siblings who seem to have nothing in common … yet, somehow, have everything in common that really matters.
Those are the “Knives Out” mysteries, the third of which just arrived on Netflix.
They seem like mismatched kin — one cute and perky, one sleek and high-tech, one gloomy and gothic. But they share one character (ace detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, right), the writer-director (Rian Johnson) and what counts:
Each is brilliantly crafted, with gifted actors playing compelling characters. Each has the twists, turns and surprises that a mystery requires. The films:
— “Knives Out” (2019), is light and bright. It focused on the victim’s cute nurse (Ana de Armas, then a newcomer) and his handsome grandson (Chris Evans), with Blanc sometimes seeming like an afterthought. The result was a box-office hit, made critics’ top-10 list and drew an Oscar nomination for Johnson’s script.
— “Glass Onion” (2022) has a sleek, tech-y feel. During the pandemic, an entrepreneur invites eccentric strangers to his futuristic island to play a mystery game … which, of course, becomes real and deadly. Netflix financed this one, but let it run briefly in theaters … landing Johnson another Oscar nomination for his script.
— And now “Wake Up Dead Man.” It ran for two weeks in theaters, drawing raves (including the National Board of Review’s top-10 for the year); if there is justice in the world, it will get more Oscar attention.
Try to catch all three — the first one on Amazon Prime, the next two on Netflix. Also, catch Johnson’s “Poker Face” series on Peacock … which, sadly, has canceled it after two great seasons.
“Wake Up Dead Man” is set in a small town, but not the charming sort where Englishmen kill each other. A deep gloom encases the people and the church.
Arriving is an idealistic priest, played by Josh O’Connor, left). His optimism is soon nipped by the brooding malevolence of the pastor (Josh Brolin) and by the somber townsfolk
This is an amazing cast — Emmy-winners (O’Conner for “The Crown,” Kerry Washington for “Scandal”), Oscar nominees (Jeremy Renner twice, Glenn Close eight times), plus others, including Brolin Andrew Scott and Mila Kunis — pretty people who have also become fine actors.
Each character could be the center of a terrific mystery. Soon, we do get a death and the arrival of Blanc, who’s delighted to find a classic mystery genre — a closed room, with no alternate way in or out.
Unlike his strong-and-silent days as James Bond, Craig has huge chunks of high-quality. dialog. I blanched at the vehemence of his anti-religion diatribe, but marveled at a counterbalancing scene: In the midst of a pivotal moment for the case, the young priest pauses for what religion does best — providing comfort and compassion for the afflicted.
The script is like that, whipsawing between extremes. There’s humor and despair. There are great monologs; some of the best show a young politician, willing to try anything to have people hate each other and vote for him.
And, of course, there’s a devilishly clever murder scheme … and intriguing ways if falls apart. Let’s hope Johnson keeps delivering more of these mismatched murder mysteries.