Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor are a match made in heaven in Rian Johnson’s «Knives Out» sequel «Wake Up Dead Man.»
Although “Wake Up Dead Man” is the “Knives Out” movie that’s most preoccupied with existential questions surrounding death, writer/director Rian Johnson’s third film in the series is also the one that’s most full of life. Yes, it brings back a delightful Daniel Craig as the fast-talking detective Benoit Blanc, but he is not the one who unlocks this movie’s mysteries. No, in addition to Craig not saying a word for the film’s entire opening act, he is merely there to serve the outstanding Josh O’Connor.
Not only does the franchise newcomer give an excellent comedic performance, the “Challengers” and “God’s Own Country” actor also brings a genuine amount of grace to a film that ends up becoming precisely about that. It’s Johnson’s most elaborate murder mystery movie yet, but also his most emotional.
What that entails requires being vague so as not to rob the film of its fun (this is a “Knives Out” movie after all), but the greatest revelation comes in how effective Johnson is in his exploration of faith, community, anger and redemption. He never sacrifices entertainment in the pursuit of doing so, moving at a rapid pace with one killer joke after another, including a couple of sly shots that it takes against its streaming home Netflix and even Johnson’s former film series Star Wars.
But the film’s greatest strength comes in how it settles into something more thoughtful and reflective when you least expect it. In between extended jokes about masturbation, the film tackles the perilous rise of right-wing extremism and how religion can be a way to heal but also a convenient cover for hate.
