Rian Johnson – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY – Review by Susan Granger

January 2, 2023January 8, 2023 Susan Granger Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Janelle Monae, kate hudson, netflix, Rian Johnson

It’s not exactly accurate that Rian Johnson’s follow-up Knives Out Mystery is called “-Glass Onion”- because the so-called ‘onion’ is actually a glass dome – with no layers and, essentially, hollow. Having relinquished his James Bond persona, Daniel Craig reprises the dapper Southern detective, Benoit Blanc, in this overly intricate Agatha Christie-like murder mystery set on a luxurious private island that’s populated by a motley assortment of colorful guests. Problem is: despite some intriguing cameos, none of the cast of characters in this whodunit is remotely likeable, so why should we care who murdered whom?

Reviews

GLASS ONION – Review by Martha K Baker

December 19, 2022March 5, 2023 Martha K. Baker Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, glass onion, Janelle Monae, kate hudson, knives out, netflix, Rian Johnson

Gone are the cardigans and libraries. Gone the bookish air of a British mystery. Gone the cozy. In their familiar places are technology, a pandemic, wizardry, and glass galore. Writer/director Rian Johnson created a blockbuster with Knives Out, appealing to British mystery fans. He’s now created a much noisier, more intricate, more boisterous mystery but, nonetheless, an intriguing one.

Festivals

Fifth Annual Film Fest 919 Wrap – Sarah Knight Adamson

October 31, 2022November 6, 2022 Sarah Knight Adamson Carol Marshall, Film Fest 919, Randi Emerman, Rian Johnson

Film Fest 919, with headquarters in Chapel Hill, NC, celebrated its 5th year with another high-caliber program of films. Beginning October 19, and running through October 23, it brought many of this year’s Oscar hopeful films to the festival. Most know a film festival is only as good as the programmers, and in this case, two seasoned film industry women founders are at the helm— Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall.

Reviews

KNIVES OUT – Review by Susan Granger

December 5, 2019 Susan Granger 0 Comments jamie lee curtis, knives out, Rian Johnson, Toni Collette

When acclaimed mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead – his throat slit – just after his 85th birthday celebration, it’s thought to be suicide. But everyone in his extended family has a reason for killing him…

Reviews

KNIVES OUT – Review by Brandy McDonnell

November 28, 2019November 30, 2019 Brandy McDonnell 0 Comments Daniel Craig, jamie lee curtis, knives out, Rian Johnson

This deliciously tart Thanksgiving treat mixes the twisty puzzles of Agatha Christie’s books, the sharp-edged humor of Mike Nichols’ films and Johnson’s own audacious storytelling style, which involves subtly seasoning the story with timely commentary on family affairs, class strife and immigration policy.

Reviews

KNIVES OUT – Review by Sharronda Williams

September 17, 2019December 29, 2019 Sharronda Williams 0 Comments ana de armas, Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, knives out, Rian Johnson, Toni Collette

In writer/director Rian Johnson’s comedy thriller, renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, and the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate and the plot twists wildly — and hilariously.

Reviews

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI — Review by Lauren Veneziani

December 19, 2017October 29, 2023 Lauren Veneziani 0 Comments Daisy Ridley, Episode Eight, Mark Hamill, Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Episode Eight, is one of the biggest movies of the year. The Force Awakens, Episode Seven, came out two years ago. This is a continuation of that story. Rey is back, played by Daily Ridley, and she is trying to get Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, back to the resistance to fight the first order Andkylo Ren. Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) is Luke’s sister and is hoping Rey will convince him to come back and fight together with them.
Rey has a lot of force awakenings within herself and is hoping to be a Jedi and is hoping Luke will train her. The story goes from there.