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Knives Out (2019)
42 Plays3 months ago
Hazardous Opinions will be doing another deep dive with Ashlee and Hunter discussing Knives Out (2019)!
As always, please reach out and let us know your thoughts on Instagram, TikTok, or by email at hazardousopinionspod@gmail.com and chat with us on Discord! If you love movies, add us on Letterboxd! Andy - Eric - Hunter - Ashlee.
Please send us your movie recommendations or suggestions for discussion topics. Our next episode will be 10 Underrated Holiday Movies! Thank you so much everyone!
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Transcript
Introduction & Listener Engagement
00:00:20
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Next episode will be 10 underrated holiday movies. A big way you guys can help us is by following us and giving us five stars wherever you get your podcasts. Also, reach out to us with anything movies at hazardousopinionspod at gmail dot.com.
00:00:50
Speaker
or on socials like TikTok and Instagram, at hazardousopinionspod, and chat with us on Discord. We really appreciate all of you and your
Knives Out: Director and Cinematography
00:01:00
Speaker
support. Now we'll be diving deep into Knives Out from 2019.
00:01:07
Speaker
This was written and directed by Ryan Johnson. He also worked on the sequel to This Glass Onion, Star Wars Last Jedi, Looper, and Brick where he really came onto the scene. It's supposed to be a neo-noir movie featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
00:01:25
Speaker
I need to see it still. And he also did the Brothers Bloom, which I haven't seen either. The cinematographer for this was Steve Yedlin, best known for collaborating with Rian Johnson on all of his films. And he seems to match the tone of Johnson's movies really well with the color palette that he uses.
00:01:46
Speaker
and knives out is bursting with fall and you feel implanted in the northeast part of the country. It's a cozy feeling and glass onion was so warm and tropical. And Last Jedi was beautiful to look at.
00:02:05
Speaker
The plot of Knives Out?
Plot Overview: Harlan Thrombey's Death
00:02:07
Speaker
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thromby is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.
00:02:23
Speaker
From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death. The letter boxed rating for Knives Out is 4 out of 5 stars. Ashley, do you have the IMDB?
Personal Ratings and Murder Mystery Appeal
00:02:46
Speaker
Yes, the IMDB rating is 7.9 out of 10.
00:02:50
Speaker
Perfect. Okay. Okay. So yeah, it seems close to the four out of five. That letterbox is kind of showing there. um Ashley, I wanted to ask, what's your history with knives out? When's the first time you watch it?
00:03:04
Speaker
Um, so I'm pretty sure I just watched it when it first came out on Netflix. I wasn't able to make it. Hold on. I wasn't able to make it to owners and theaters, but, um, I remember when I watched it, it was so unlike another movie I seen. Especially in like a long time, you know, like I love a good who done it, but it was like so well done and had like just an all-star cast. Oh yeah. Um, stacked.
00:03:26
Speaker
Yeah, and yeah, it was just a lot different than any of the movies that were coming out in like a long time that I have seen. So what did you think of it when you first saw it? One of my favorite storytelling sub genres is whodunit murder mysteries with Agatha Christie flair. ah Ryan Johnson managed to make knives out.
00:03:50
Speaker
an instant classic because it's so well crafted. It fills this void of that subgenre in movies as of late for me. I'm more of a movie person obviously and I don't read so I feel like I don't get my fill of these usually.
00:04:10
Speaker
Johnson managed to also take like so many moving parts and talent and use them to his full advantage without like missing a step, I feel.
00:04:21
Speaker
but Like you said, the stacked cast, right? What I love about Knives Out is that it takes the classic template of murder mysteries and it flips it on its head. I feel with adding more twists and turns that are warranted and really changes the stakes and relationships between characters. Just as Blanc says, a twisted web. And I love untangling it every time I rewatch this.
00:04:53
Speaker
On top of the mystery, you have the unreal family drama and comedy which adds to it being special. Our main character Marta is involved with the crime in a unique way. Ryan Johnson tells a phenomenal story in this. It's it's why it sticks out to me and it's still one of my favorites to this day.
00:05:16
Speaker
And I suppose like we could give our personal readings now and that we said what we feel about the movie, um personally. So, I'm gonna do it. This is my first five out of five. Whoa. The Sarah movie. Yeah, it's it's one of my favorites. It is. it's ah Whenever I think of movies, I think Knives Out kind of floats around my head.
00:05:45
Speaker
It's nuts. I don't know. It's just instant classic for me. It is very you coded. Very me coded. Yeah. Yeah. And how do you feel? oh Well, why is that? Well, oh we were hearing you say what you thought about it really made me wish that I wrote what I thought of it instead of being put on the spot. But I should I should have did that. um Ashley I'm sorry. Hey, you know this about me when I get anxious and put on the spot like I put on you goddamn I'm the villain Micro sevens in this spoiler. Hey spoiler talk This movie has been out since 2019 if he needs but But yeah, I I had to write it all down like it's
00:06:37
Speaker
It's so important and I didn't want to mess up my feelings. If that makes sense. No, it does. Yeah. Also, so it's such a stupid thing, but I just you need to put it into words somehow. And I tried to there. I don't think I fully got it.
00:06:55
Speaker
I thought you captured that really well. I think you worded that really well. Thank you. But um but I do know you love a good whodunit. Obviously Scream is like one of your favorite movies of all time. Oh, you know it. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and hey, scream is also you love whodunit. So I figured this would be a really good like both of us in the same vein type of movie. What's your rating? I'm going to do eight point six out of ten on IMDB rating. Eight point six out of ten. Yep. And a four point five.
00:07:25
Speaker
ooh on letterbox yes that's good okay you better log that shit i know i will yeah yeah everyone andy eric and i all went up when we saw ashley's log of re-watching bullet train and putting a five star on that bitch like it it was it was beautiful to see we were very proud we were like proud parents honestly she needs to get in the letterbox tell her letterbox is superior to imdb and just go on with that i'll get to it you're better i will and i've been saying that so let's meet our characters we have Ana de Armas as Marta
00:08:13
Speaker
who was made famous because of Eli Roth, even though Hunter's in denial about that. But anyways, I believe it, but she also was acting before that in Chile. she Yes. And she is from Cuba. Oh, my God. Am I the thrombie family?
00:08:35
Speaker
Making her sound like she's from a different country every every time someone talks about her. ah Yeah. Yeah. Look at you. We can cut that. Did you actually mean Chilly? That's where Eli found her. When he went to Chile. That's not where he got her though. Okay. But she was in Chile. Okay. No, I'm seriously like asking. Yeah. He was in Chile and found her and brought her over to the US s to do knock knock.
00:09:04
Speaker
I love how you brought the thrombie thing up. Good. I love that. Ashley, I do. I believe you. All right. Like I. Yeah. ah Just because of what I think of Eli Roth, his some of his movies and his work. That's why. and But well, at least you're thinking of him constantly. Same.
Star-Studded Cast and Character Dynamics
00:09:33
Speaker
We have, we also have Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, Chris Evans as Ransom, Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda, Michael Shannon as Walt, Don Johnson as Richard, Tony Klett as Joni, Lakeith Stanfield as Lieutenant Elliot, Christopher Plummer as Harlan Thromby, and so much more.
00:10:01
Speaker
What a stacked freaking cast. I love that Lakeith is in here. Oh my god. I love that you love Lakeith as well. Oh, thank god. Okay. I actually didn't. We have never talked about him, I don't think.
00:10:15
Speaker
No, I love him from like Atlanta, mostly. Oh my God. He's in a lot of stuff. Okay, Atlanta. ah the First time I saw him was actually Death Note that Adam Wingard made. And he was the, he was the investigator. I've never seen Death Note. Sorry. He had a, he had a letter as a name, like Q. Oh, he's on uncut gems. Sorry to bother you. Knew that. L. Okay, it is L. why How did I know that?
00:10:46
Speaker
Anyways, OK, so now that we got like the names kind of out there, we we will play around with this a little bit, guys, like the character ah section of the pod. ah Ashley brought it up and it's a really good like, let's meet our characters first. We're still learning. So thank you for being patient. we'll We'll figure and tighten it up a little more. Let's get in the story.
00:11:12
Speaker
We open with this gorgeous shot of the thromby estate during a foggy morning with the doggos running. Love in the fall embrace this movie gives already.
00:11:24
Speaker
i I really do love the opening scene though it's just like it's honestly there's a lot of good shots in the scene but there's the slow motion dogs running in the fog is like so was so cool and like instantly you just like I know you want to watch kind of just the the looming shot of the the mansion art yeah you know like kind of getting us set up for what's about to happen We're following a housekeeper in the morning. Routine, it seems. The housekeeper stumbles on Harlan dead in his study instead of in his bed waking up. This intro gets right to the point. And right before the title card, comedy is already leaking through and it's an unusual but awesome cut while the housekeeper is being stunned and dropping all of her shit. it Just kind of fumbling with everything that she's got in her arms.
00:12:14
Speaker
Cuts one week after Harlan's death and we are then blessed with the most angelic, radiant actress being on screen. My woman, Ana de Armas. My wife is going to get really upset at me for that intro. It's a pretty quiet setting with Marta's family right before us as an audience and any characters that is not a thrombie.
00:12:44
Speaker
the show that her sister is watching. Talking about the guy with getting his throat slit was voiced by Joseph Gordon Levitt. That was his voice. No way. Yeah. Oh my God. Because he's in a lot of Ryan Johnson movies. Yeah. he ah He was in Looper. Brick.
00:13:02
Speaker
brick He's the main character in Brick. Right. And, uh, Ryan Johnson also had him pop up as a cameo in The Last Jedi. You know how I feel about Star Wars. Well, yeah, okay, get out of here, non-nerd.
00:13:16
Speaker
um
00:13:19
Speaker
rewatching maybe even on a first watch. I did really get the sense Marta is different from all the other characters in this movie, even her immediate family. She's so different from already like her sister watching that show like you mentioned,
00:13:36
Speaker
and her mom yelling at the sister and Martz is just sitting there, not not saying anything like, oh, it's okay. Or like yelling at them back or like she just stays complacent and quiet there.
00:13:53
Speaker
And then she gets a call. Who calls it? Walt? Yeah. And she gets a call from Walt, Harlan's son, obviously, yeah know um to go to the house because the police had more questions. And then that's when we're introduced to Lakeith.
00:14:09
Speaker
look And was that the guy? actually this uh oh i forgot his uh detective's name elliot no nope that's lakeith um detective trooper wagner there we go um he that actor i didn't write down his name but he's also in looper another one of ryan johnson's movies that i absolutely love amazing um like original story featuring futuristic and hitman plot devices it's amazing
00:14:45
Speaker
So after getting the call from Walt, Marta, she definitely you immediately get the sense she's the most hurt by Harlan's death out of all the family members, even like the ones closest to him.
00:15:02
Speaker
Every moment in this movie doesn't feel wasted. I really appreciate the pacing, especially when each family member is questioned the way Ryan Johnson used the interviewing to tell the story of what happened.
00:15:16
Speaker
that night was so clear and well done. I can track everything that is happening and and also the changes in the little lies to the story that each individual is telling is really clear as well and it adds to the comedy mystery of it all, doesn't it?
00:15:34
Speaker
It does. Yeah. And I really like that too, because sometimes when there's a lot going on in a storyline, it can get confusing. Yup. And you forget a lot of stuff, but it's is really clear which someone like me, sometimes I can struggle with that. But this one was like very, very easy to follow.
00:15:50
Speaker
exactly like the the overlapping yeah of them telling the stories and you can also pick out those discrepancies once they show you what actually took place yeah it was really fun how ryan johnson shot those scenes from different perspectives too Like it just, you could see how that person is seeing it play out. And you're like, all right, take another look. Right? Yeah. Yeah. As we meet the characters, each individual performer, the dialogue action to follow each one seems their own person. You have these little things that Johnson puts in like Richard asking Marta. So how you doing, kiddo?
00:16:35
Speaker
while staring at his phone and he doesn't give a single shit. As the interviews go on, you also really get into the motivations of characters and the whole family unravels like a map of their own undoing.
Family Motives & Dynamics
00:16:50
Speaker
Richard, the fucking blabber, mouth so bad. it And Linda, just the way she kind of bounces around saying what she wants to say exactly. But also she is quick to the point when she wants to be too. I just feel like that's Jamie Lee in most things. Honestly, she just yeah kills it like that. Yeah, I feel like this this role was really good for her to show off like a little more. I really liked Joni.
00:17:25
Speaker
Oh, yep. Yeah. And Tony clit. Yeah. I like how her name's J O N I and Tony's T O N I in her life. Yeah. That's actually, Hey, good catch. Yeah. I didn't really realize that either. Yeah. Uh,
00:17:40
Speaker
I related to her most right away just based on the interview because she has a skincare company and she was kind of ditzy. Hey, welcome to Ashley's. right No, no, I get you like and she is also she's an in-law. So she's outside of the family. Yeah, you know, definitely not totally ingrained in this sense of depravity and just all these horrible people.
00:18:07
Speaker
But also she is a byproduct of it. You've come to find out. Yeah. As well. Like she just kind of ah feel like she's a leech. Definitely. Yeah. Like the others are vultures, but she's a leech on one of the vultures. And then we meet Walt as well. Michael Shannon. Yes. Oh, what do you think of Michael Shannon? I love Michael Shannon. He's one of my faves. Yeah. Have you seen him in like other things like one of our faves, nocturnal animals. I was about to mention that one. That is one of my favorite roles from him. And he's in one of my fav movies, The White Death in Bullet Train. Oh, my God. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. He was a surprising addition to that movie, actually. I know. Right. phil Yeah. It was awesome to see him. Not a spoiler, but and oh, and in Premium Rush, also with Joseph Gordon Levitt.
00:19:02
Speaker
haven't seen Premium Rush. Oh, you'd love that one. That's okay. I should add that one. yeah But no, I do. I really love Michael Shannon a lot. Awesome. Yeah. Yeah. Nocturnal Animals. I was going to mention um also ah The Shape of Water. He was very good in and also Man of Steel. He plays a very good, intimidating villain all the time.
00:19:25
Speaker
And I really liked how he was such a weak man in this movie. It was really nice. Even though when he confronts Marta later on, and I do have it in my notes, like I kind of just wanted to touch on it here. He seems very weak, but wow, Michael Shannon is very good at seeming intimidating. And he was very intimidating to her. The whole family is so surface level.
00:19:55
Speaker
basically has lost all humanity really because of nature or nurture. the shit talking and learning about how everyone is connected. And even though it's not a crazy party, it's so engaging. And picking up these breadcrumbs laid out is just also adding to the engagement. Blanc being in the background, looming over everyone. And hitting the piano key was a really nice touch before actually introducing the character.
00:20:27
Speaker
um I read that he was hitting the piano key each time he wanted to signal to the detectives to ask whoever they're whatever family member they were talking to um where they were at the time of what ah Harlan's death. Ooh, okay. okay that was That would make a lot of sense. Yeah, yeah.
00:20:48
Speaker
I thought it was a signal kind of just to get on with it or something like that. But I like that. I like that a lot. The reactions the suspects have to Blanc are a nice finish on the lead up to. So who the fuck is that?
00:21:06
Speaker
Richard's lines get me quite a bit. what Whatever Richard says, he's just very how he translates everything. It's so easy. Like he's an open book almost except with his little thing that he's had. Big thing. But yeah, he's like the conservative family member that argues you at dinner. It seems like. Yep. Yeah. Like he's too open.
00:21:34
Speaker
Oh, yeah yeah, you know, yeah, not saying you can't be open, but I mean, but he is. He is. He is a loud mouth and he just does not hold anything back ever.
00:21:45
Speaker
No. Oh, my God. As you get into it, like what he says at the party when he has a couple drinks in it yeah or something like that, like it's just he he is too too outspoken. There we go. The dialogue, including Blanc's other escapades, introduce him as a character really well that like the family members are kind of saying, oh, like I read about you in that article there. I read that tweet.
00:22:11
Speaker
Yep. Yep. That like, you know, Joni says, and ah to top it all off, we get off or we get one of the most unique detectives in cinema history with him simply just speak in that Cajun accent. Holy fuck. Already in love. And for the tone of of this murder mystery and what Johnson, Ryan Johnson is going for. It's a match made in heaven. I feel just a very, it's a very fun, more light murder mystery compared to most. And you have such a fascinating detective. And my notes here i have instantly he's so suave and a bad bitch.
00:22:54
Speaker
Oh, yeah I know. He really is. Oh my God. ah Jesus Christ. I, you know, honestly, one of the reasons why I want to go down to Louisiana is just hear some of those Cajun speak.
00:23:07
Speaker
honestly, but it is one of like my most wanted visit, like to visit places. Dang it. Yeah, I love that he's British, but he does this Cajun accent so well. Daniel Craig like it. This role shows off his range so well. And I mean, kind of since we're since we're on the point of Daniel Craig, I did have a question for you.
00:23:34
Speaker
What do you think of his performance in this whole movie, even though we haven't gotten through the story? I just wanted to ask you, I was going to I was going to ask you halfway through. um I I know you gave me the James Bond movies while we go to watch and I did not watch them. I was the first to shame on you. I know. Sorry. But I it was really nice to see him and not an action role.
00:24:01
Speaker
And you can really see him acting, not like his normal roles that he has. um And I really loved his performance a lot. And I just loved every single time he was on the screen. It was just fun. It was. I do love him in layer cake though, which is what got him the James Bond role. But anyways.
00:24:19
Speaker
Oh, do we need to watch that? Actually still. Okay. And I need to watch Logan lucky too. I feel like he flaunts his acting chops in that one too is what I hear. but Um, she just. It's fun to watch. And I wish she was in more regular movies. Hopefully he is now he's going to be in knives, not three, obviously, but yes. Uh, he's going to be in.
00:24:41
Speaker
He's gonna be in queer, actually. He's playing a gay man. I haven't heard of that one, but I'm instantly intrigued. Yeah, it's ah it's with the actor um that plays Wraith on Outer Banks, and the actor's also in Hellraiser. Can't remember his name, but I'm actually really excited for queer. Yeah, same. I didn't know that was a thing, but I am excited.
00:25:04
Speaker
Yeah. Can you guys tell how much Ashley values my opinion when she said she didn't even watch most of the Bond movies when I gave them to her? Or Mission Impossible. Or Mission... You know how I feel about Tom Cruise? I can't.
00:25:22
Speaker
Guys, it's really tough. It's really tough having a co-host like this. Um, somebody want to fill in any, anyone, anyone that like likes Tom Cruise, one of the best, uh, you guys can do your own episode on mission impossible. Hell yeah.
00:25:36
Speaker
Oh man. I will go through fallout so hard. Honestly, I will. Oh, you want to talk about follow up this series. I can do that. i mean Still need to see that actually. and People should get on me for that. I know. No, it is on my list guys. It like, that is a series I will be watching already. You get to know how Benoit Blanc investigates.
00:26:01
Speaker
seems to have his wits about him. He knows how to poke the family members and he gets them to let out more about each other and turn on each other like they were never ever banded together in the first place. Lieutenant Elliot and Walt then bring up the obvious and we learn the crime is not completely solved and could be either murder or suicide. The plot then thickens.
00:26:32
Speaker
seems like when he's interviewing the family though none of them have the real good reason to kill Harlan at first at first so yeah I there there's kind of those because they all benefit something from him so no they wouldn't want him dead At first glance, like I said, at first glance. Yeah. Yeah. and And then you kind of get to see, OK, like the finances kind of do play into it like the will and whatever when we get there. um And also they they have very.
00:27:08
Speaker
generic, I would say, motives, but that's not I'm not faulting those motives in the story. It's like, you get Richard, you have the cheating, you have Joni being broke and being cut off. Walt, he wants to take the publishing away from Walt.
00:27:30
Speaker
Yep. Walt being fired from his position. Just so many basic motives that are coming up and it's, it's really piling up. And then you're like, Oh my God. All right. It could maybe be any one of these guys, right? Everyone is so defensive, but honestly, I could see all of them as callous murderers. Just not good ones at least.
00:28:00
Speaker
We find out Walt gets let go by Harlan as the head of the publishing house. Like we said, basically fires his ass. My mind's made up. This is what Harlan says. The discrepancies in the family statements to the police are already quickly highlighted and fun to really pick
Ransom's Motives and Tension
00:28:20
Speaker
out with Walt lying about being let go by Harlan and Richard lying about Harlan confronting him about the cheating.
00:28:30
Speaker
Two big motivations that are carried throughout this film, by the way. And each family member has motive for murder, which are tangible. And like I said, and I enjoy, it really throws you for a couple of loops. Unlike other films, like quite a bit of these red herrings piling up instead of like one here, one there, you know, it's, it's really hard hard to decipher throughout all of these.
00:28:59
Speaker
Basically, all of these family members are horrible people and they can definitely lead you astray. Especially after we find out Joni was cut off. All of them really came up with lies quickly and I really can't believe any one of them at least partly told a little truth.
00:29:20
Speaker
And we find out, uh, Joni has been double dipping and has taken $101,000 a year from Harlan. Fucking big amount. Yeah, seriously. For her, hold on, ignore.
00:29:37
Speaker
Oh, I read a fun fact about Joni that's not in the movie. Yeah. awesome That her skincare company, uh, she got canceled. Flim. Right. Flam. Flam. Yeah. Um, I guess she got canceled and she mentions in the movie, deleting her Twitter account.
00:30:00
Speaker
And it's not in the movie, but she deleted her account because she made so many people so mad that her old fans and clientele were just like tearing her apart on Twitter and like trying to cancel her so she just deactivated her Twitter. No way. Isn't that funny? Oh, that's amazing. I love that. Yeah. Oh, we didn't even talk about her daughter, Meg, who's Hannah Baker from 13 Reasons Why. Yes. Yeah. And Harlan was paying for her schooling.
00:30:30
Speaker
Yes, and she was majoring in. How's your SAW scholarship? What did Ransom say? Roasting her in some way. I didn't know what that meant though. Yeah, gosh. I can't remember what she was majoring in, but yeah, Ransom touches on it. And I think ah Jacob Tremblaze. Wait, not Jacob. Not Jacob.
00:31:00
Speaker
Fuck. It's a kid from it that played. His name is Jacob. The movie. I think is actually defending Jacob. Oh, that's the series. Oh, my God. Damn it. Jayden Martell. Yeah, and Jayden Martell's character touches on. I can't remember. Shoot me. Yeah, we'll leave it. Yeah.
00:31:29
Speaker
Richard being adamant about covering up Harlan's letter is suspicious. It keeps the mystery going when he rushes to that office, like right after the questioning, tries to find the letter, tosses the baseball out the window. We'll get back to that. Yes. And I love that. I love it. God. Ryan Johnson. What a genius.
00:31:56
Speaker
Marta finally reenters the story by being questioned and it's an awesome character quirk with her throwing up if she lies. How did you feel about that aspect of it? and I actually really enjoyed it. It's it's a physical reaction. It's not like a little tick or anything like, oh, I just saw you blink twice or say like, you know what I'm saying? yeah It's more. I don't think that's a real thing, though, that exists in real life.
00:32:27
Speaker
Maybe it's not a real thing. But yeah, in a murder though in a murder mystery that is unique and fun and goofy like this one and has just tinges of dark.
00:32:40
Speaker
I'd say like that that's okay for a character quirk. I like it because it does come into the story. I like it too. I was just seeing what you thought of that. No, no, yeah, no, i I wasn't trying to defend it at all. It was just yeah, like I haven't seen anybody really bad mouth that part of it. And I hope nobody does because just I don't know.
00:33:06
Speaker
This murder mystery doesn't feel totally based in real life. Like it's it's is it's escapism, just like a lot of movies. And like like I said, this character Quirk, it's used as a device throughout the story pretty well. It actually comes up in vital moments. You can tell Benoit Blanc is very perceptive with people. He's actually very competent.
00:33:34
Speaker
not a fraud when he straight up asks Marta about Richard's affair. The difference with this murder mystery compared to others I feel is all the motives being combed through with the family members. Then Blanc reveals he doesn't know who hired him for the case like he said.
00:33:57
Speaker
Then also Blanc noticed there isn't something right with this case and there's something missing. The piece that our main character Marta is holding the whole time, the totally unsuspected person in the story. And something is still not right about that. Makes no damn sense because compels me though. Oh my God.
00:34:24
Speaker
I got a lot of flam when I was. It's flam. i
00:34:33
Speaker
I'll do that better. Makes no damn sense. Compels me though. Daniel Craig is he serves so many great lines throughout this movie. It only elevate. He only elevates them with his performance.
00:34:50
Speaker
The stairs, fire of the night is added as well as the love thud. Things become a little more peculiar with this. Joni wakes up. Linda wakes up. Then Walt sees Marta leave, which is crucial. Walt sees Harling come down the stairs. Also crucial. Also crucial. Honestly, looking back, Elliot investigated professionally and well,
00:35:19
Speaker
The reveals of the story, they show us how tough of a case it actually was. what What would you think going into this? have Have you seen a lot of complicated crime mysteries like this? Yes, I have. And I think we've mentioned this on the pod before, maybe not. But you know that when I watch mysteries and I watch like whodunnits and stuff like that. You try not to think ahead. I don't. And I'm usually wrong, so I just don't even bother.
00:35:50
Speaker
I just like watch it play out just from like I just don't try to figure anything on this watch if you're what it is. And I'm usually always surprised like not like I'm easily surprised because I'm I can't pick up on I know there's lots of foreshadowing and I mean on like a second third watch obviously you can pick up the foreshadowing, but like I'm just not going to pick you a foreshadowing. Ryan really is. He'll see like one little thing. make That's him. I'm like, God.
00:36:18
Speaker
I know. Oh man. I mean, so ah same with my wife now. Like she just, she tries. And even if I haven't seen the movie, I'll have her asking me questions. I'll look at her like seriously, like no.
00:36:33
Speaker
I haven't seen this. How am I supposed? like I'm like you. I kind of I don't try and think too far ahead. I kind of just like live in the moment of the movie. Yeah. And with Ryan, he'll be he'll like say something or ask me something. I'm like, you probably just fucking spoiled it for me. Like, I didn't even think about that. but Maybe. Yeah. And he usually. Yeah. Yeah. But no, I get. Yeah. No matter how many.
00:36:57
Speaker
mysteries or mass slasher movies i see like i just don't pick up on who it could be i just watch yeah hell yeah I love it. Blanc and the two detectives again find Marta at the end of their discussions.
Marta's Relationship with Harlan
00:37:13
Speaker
They interview Marta another time and we get the reveal of what took place, but not even fully, which I love to death because there is still that juice there carrying us through the plot until the end. Like what all took place.
00:37:33
Speaker
I love when they do the flashbacks of Harlan and Marta. Um, cause they're so sweet together and Harlan is just like such a completely different person with Marta. He's like funny and goofy and you they're them together is just like so adorable. And whenever it plays out what happens, it's like a really heartbreaking scene.
00:37:55
Speaker
I know, i like Christopher Plummer and Ana de Armas, they act the hell out of this quiet scene between a caretaker and the person she's taken care of. And it's really genuine, like it seems like they've known each other for so long. Playing a nightly game of Go. Yeah, yeah, I know. ah We get their banter and their whole relationship just in this, like you said.
00:38:19
Speaker
Uh, the realization of how much Harlan meant to Marta and also Marta to Harlan is super prevalent. They're so close and it's so sweet. It reminds me of my relationship with my grandparents as of late now that I'm getting even older and maybe be wiser. Probably not. Probably not wiser. Thanks for the little shaking. Yeah. Okay. Ashley told me not, no.
00:38:46
Speaker
but yeah it's it's just really nice like her being an adult um and having her family, I'm sure she doesn't talk to her family about these things. And you have Harlan, that's such a renowned murder mystery writer that's probably been all over the world, has had all these life experiences and Marta gets to learn from him. Like that's ah that's amazing. And a person like that, that has been around everything,
00:39:20
Speaker
and knows how a lot of people are, it's very interesting that he let his family get to the point they did and like him, like I said, the nature versus nurture. It was a lot of nurture on Harlan's part. It was it was his doing, right? I mean, partly and the children, they go on to be the people they they want to be. Ultimately, they're, they're people that make their own choices. But yeah, it was a lot of the bringing up in that environment, right? And it's just it's so surprising, since Harlan such an awesome accomplished person to Marta and just with his family, there's just that disconnect. It sucks.
00:40:08
Speaker
An important part about this interaction is that Harlan self-reflex, like I said, his doing in the creation of these horrible family members, babied basically all of them. That highlights how great of a guy he is because he cares, but it's unfortunate. That's kind of how I wanted to sum it up. And so it's so heavy that he telegraphs this stuff to another human the night he dies, you know? And he's so like,
00:40:38
Speaker
calm, thinking that he wasn't going to die, thinking she had the whatever drug that was that would have stopped the morphine overdose. and Then the realization that she doesn't have it in her bag. oh It was so hard to watch.
00:40:55
Speaker
If I was Marta taking care of an 85 year old man, I would love it to be a respectful and wise man like Harlan. Like I said, they're basically like best friends. Harlan is like my grandpa. He's also badass like him. My grandpa also, I just had lunch with him the other day. Yep. Just me and him and it was so nice.
00:41:21
Speaker
It's so like pure and wonderful yeah just watching this play out on screen. So now that you're getting to the mix up of the meds. We need to go through that. I'll group in the part when she also sees ah Harlan kill himself with a knife with this. yeah We can just talk about all of that. This whole sequence, it feels rushed through, but in a good way, there's urgency, there's panic. So interesting how Harlan is going through some ideas for a new novel.
00:41:57
Speaker
with this situation and then he fully focuses on what's going on. We then realize Harlan totally focuses on Marta and her wellbeing while he thinks he's dying. Just so unfortunate it adds to the heart of this film. So in this moment, after describing those things, we find out that Marta believes that she injected Harlan with a lethal dose of morphine instead of his regular pain meds.
00:42:28
Speaker
in doing that she then tries to scramble and find the the morphine antidote the the dose of medicine that is a morphine antidote yes yep uh she can't find it in the bag and it's just it's so defeating it's so interesting to me how harlan walks through march's actions with her to protect herself I love it and it's so tangible in the story because Harlan is like Agatha Christie. He has all these things in his head. It's it's just it's awesome hearing from this like storytelling mind and it being brought into this plot, helping Marta cover up. but it's just It's so interesting. You don't really see that. you know He's just like, hey, it's okay. I'm just gonna help you.
00:43:21
Speaker
Even though I'm gonna die like it. It's just nuts. It's But it doesn't it make sense? that Yeah, I feel like it does it was just kind of hard to because Like you said he hardly reminds you your grandpa, you know, and he reminded me of mine, too And it was just so sad because I he would do that for me, too.
00:43:42
Speaker
Mine would too. you know so And that's that's exactly why it feels real to me. I will not. That's why it's so sad to see. That's why, yeah, it's it's crushing and adds to the heart of this film in a good way. You know, it's a tragic thing. Anna, what a performance.
00:44:04
Speaker
all the way through, devastating, especially watching their friendship throughout. it what did What did you think of Ana de Armas' performance like in a leading role, especially in a part like this, where it's very highlighted?
00:44:20
Speaker
I think it's the role that really put her on the map for sure. And she did a lot of crying in the movie, which is really hard to do on the spot. It is. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I will bring up the point because my wife is one of those people that ah bad, bad mouths on sometimes. So I will bring it up.
00:44:42
Speaker
She did a really good job though in this and she was really fun to watch. She did. I don't know who carried, obviously she's carried the movie, but I think, uh, Benoit also.
00:44:53
Speaker
Oh, Daniel Craig for sure. yeah And you know what is amazing to me is that Daniel Craig and Chris Evans have both worked with Anna in multiple projects. Daniel Craig brought Anna to No Time to Die because of this movie, because he enjoyed working with her.
00:45:13
Speaker
And Chris Evans, he's worked with her on Ghosted, which wasn't an amazing movie, but it was a good rom-com to me with them, because probably because of them. And then also Gray Man, which also is an amazing movie. I hope she picks better projects because also I feel like a lot of people got off on the wrong foot with her when they tuned into Blonde.
00:45:41
Speaker
Blonde is a very complicated, not good movie. Performance wise from Ana though, very good. And I don't know why we are critiquing the performer and not the writer, director of it all.
00:46:00
Speaker
Yeah, honestly that makes me anxious to see Ballerina coming out ah next summer. I can't wait. Well, did you hear that eye camera? Who's directing it? But it did so terribly in test screenings that Chad Slitsky had to come on and help him direct it and rewrite and reshoot a bunch of the movie. And that's why it got pushed back so far when it was supposed to come out this year.
00:46:24
Speaker
Not on is doing. I exactly. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, no, it. See, that's the thing. It just it sucks. She is such a good performer. It's I've been really angry with people saying that she's just another beautiful face. How come now hates her? um Sometimes I feel like now does refer to her as that. And I honest, not the love of my life now is
00:46:52
Speaker
The scenes of the family discussions during Harlan's birthday are hilarious to me because it shows how rich people can be so sheltered as well as other people when it comes to politics and social issues as well, just the topics they're talking about. They seem so far removed from that stuff. Like, oh, you definitely know what you're talking about. You kind of think, oh man, that's probably how a lot of Conversations go between powerful people, unfortunately. Yeah. The details in the story, the deets in a whodunit, I feel are so crucial and Johnson takes great care with them. Ransom, are you back already?
00:47:39
Speaker
And the Hallmark movie that Fran talks about, plenty of details, but they were distributed so well. One detail comedy bit that I enjoyed was everyone saying the wrong country that Martz is from. Here we go back.
00:47:57
Speaker
And also the manner of how Richard actually asked Martha to come over and talk to them at the birthday party instead of nicely asking her to join them and have a regular conversation.
Political Dynamics and Investigation
00:48:10
Speaker
No, he had to put her on the spot about where she's from and about immigrants coming into the country and working. It's just so uncomfortable. And then he hands her his empty plate.
00:48:22
Speaker
Yes, like she's a fucking servant. yeah Guess what? you She's Harlan's caretaker. That's her only job, dude. One thing about that is I mentioned earlier that this movie released on Thanksgiving Day in 2019. Right. And then in that scene, I knew that before going to the movie and that scene of them having that conversation, it was kind of like problematic family members getting together on Thanksgiving.
00:48:49
Speaker
It really is. you know and that's like I definitely picked this movie because it feels like around the holidays. exactly it It's up in that northeast region of the US and it's very chilly and cold and the leaves are falling.
00:49:08
Speaker
like we said the foggy morning and stuff like that in the cozy clothes and like I really felt in my element when I was rewatching this because I was I had my fireplace on I had the heat on on it I had the hue lights going I had the Christmas tree going it just wrapped up in blankets I was cozy as shit that sounds really cozy oh man that's the way to watch this movie, isn't it? yeah Like it's a very cozy movie. I feel like it was a really good watch at the time of this year. Another thing that added to the coziness for me was just like the set design. Yes. And like all they paid such close attention to all the details and like all the the weird figures and statues and like it wasn't cluttery. It was just busy, which makes you feel
00:49:56
Speaker
It was busy and cluttery, but didn't everything seem to go together somehow? Yeah. So they did whoever ever worked on the set design. Yes. A plus. Yep. A plus. Yeah, I agree. The for all the production design like all.
00:50:15
Speaker
Okay, so before we go on, I kind of wanted to go over Harlan's plan to get Marta out of the predicament that they're in. Harlan tells Marta to leave and make note of the time, so when she leaves and walks past Walt, she's like, oh, I can't believe it's Paul already, drives, turns off, runs back into the house, and the dogs know her, so they wouldn't market her.
00:50:41
Speaker
Well, she climbs up the side of the house and there's a really cool shot of her coming in through a secret like hidden window in the house. It's so characteristic to like a murder mystery like Clue and Agatha Christie. Like, I love that. I love that addition. Yeah. And like the painting on the fake wall hiding the window is of a little boy climbing through the window and then she also pushes it open and she's just recreating that herself. yeah I really like that a lot. It's really cool. But yeah, and then she goes up the stairs or no, she comes in, goes into Harlan's room, puts on Harlan's clothes
00:51:21
Speaker
And then it comes down, makes sure someone sees her and Harlan's clothes, and Walt sends him back up, and that puts Marta not at the house at all during Harlan's time of death, so. So she's not even a suspect. But yeah, then Marta, after all that, she comes down the house again, and then we see Harlan's mom, and what does Harlan's mom say? Ransom? Be back again?
00:51:51
Speaker
Yes. And then, ah hunt that was so good. But um then we cut back to Benoit talking to Marta and. Yes. Yeah. And then that's where the immigrant when they're at the birthday party. Yeah. And when the flashback comes up. Yeah. I talked about um honestly, this this movie, like going back to those flashbacks, it's really good at communicating POV from different characters and how situations look to one person or another, for sure.
00:52:26
Speaker
Um, the way it was shot, I have a fun fact. Uh, Jamie Lee Curtis, this character, obviously has the big glasses. Yeah. Um, yes, Linda. And we're obviously on like a set like a movie set. That's like lit up with lights. There's going to be reflections. So all the lights on set were disguised to look like windows. So in the reflection of her glasses, they look like windows and not lights for filming purposes. Isn't that clever?
00:52:55
Speaker
I'm finally grateful to have you as my co-host now. Finally, yay! You're let back into the circle. Really good fact. Did you ever believe the family members when they said they wanted Marta at the funeral and were outvoted? There were a couple that mentioned that. I was confused. Linda? Yeah, so Marta was not at? Nope. So who was voting no?
00:53:23
Speaker
probably most of them and they were just lying straight to her face. I would say that Linda said it. Oh, Meg. Meg probably did not vote no. She seemed like she really liked Marta. Yeah. Yeah. Even though she had her faults too. I do feel like she was actually on Marta's side in the family. Yeah.
00:53:48
Speaker
And then I think Walt also mentioned something yeah and Richard. every Almost everybody, geez. Now we get such an interesting perspective in the story with Blanc asking Marta to investigate with him and help basically be his Watson to his Sherlock. The blood spatter on Marta's white shoes.
00:54:15
Speaker
the one single drop. Did you think that one single drop would come back? Had to. Nothing's in the movie for no reason. And that's exactly why I love this movie. Yeah. ah Yeah, I will touch ah on that again.
00:54:28
Speaker
Marta is now with Blanc investigating and they head to the security tape house. Michael Emmett Walsh, the actor, running it as the security guard or whoever he is. It's amazing. He's super old. Unfortunately, he did pass away, but he was in so many things that I enjoyed with my wife, like Christmas with the cranks, especially. Oh, yeah. ah He was the shitty neighbor across the street.
00:54:56
Speaker
You want to know what his name was in Christmas with the Cranks? What was it again? Walt. Oh, yeah. Yeah, which which is pretty cool, actually. I fucking love Christmas with the Cranks. We just re-watched. Hey, be on the lookout for it, guys. Wink, wink. And Marta ruins the tape, thankfully, because she messed up the turn with her car that night.
00:55:18
Speaker
Um, that reminds me of one of my favorite movies that Ryan showed me called Be Kind Rewind. And it has Jack Black from 2008. And he, Jack Black falls into like ah a vat of some sort. And he becomes magnetized, like with radiation, like it becomes like magnetized. And his friend is like manning a video store for his boss.
00:55:46
Speaker
Is this a superhero origin or what's going on? Okay. And he goes in, so he's basically a big magnet and he goes into a video server with all VHS tapes and destroys all the VHS tapes.
00:55:59
Speaker
Oh, fuck that guy. Because he's a big magnet. and And so before their boss comes back, him and his friend that ah is manning the store, I cannot pronounce his name in real life, but but um they just like take these movies like there's like Rush Hour, Ghostbusters, like just random movies and they like shiddily recreate them and rerecord them and put them back on the shelf. And it is such a good movie. And it's so like heartfelt and amazing. And everyone needs to go watch should Be Kind Rewind from 2008. Ashley, why did you give me yet another freaking movie that I'm probably going to do? I hate you so much. So good. But yeah, when Mario takes the magnet from that guy's fridge and messes up the tape, that is exactly what I thought of. Oh, amazing. And also a detective or no trooper Wagner Wagner. When they were playing the tape and he was like,
00:56:54
Speaker
Looks like a Japanese horror film. Are we all going to die in seven days? I know the ring. yeah When he mentions his lines, I that character can feel forced in a lot of different movies. This one, his lines were very well placed, I felt. i thought he was hilarious i threw out yes yeah like it would just come very randomly when you needed it most i felt and like that yeah that's the correct way to use a character like that instead of forcing it so hard
00:57:26
Speaker
Oh, she's lying! Oh, does that mean she's lying? His commentary was just great. Yeah, it was just in um him being a big fan of Harlan's work and also a big fan of Benoit Blanc's work. like He was just such a little fan boy as well. He was. He was like, you and I, if we were on a movie set and trying to act professional while trying to pod and get the word out to everybody? No, we'd be just shitting ourselves. Yeah, yeah. Okay, literally. Right, right. We're normal guys. To make things all the better. Marta kills it with Blanc and the detectives on the trail, finding the piece of siding and playing it very cool that she accidentally like knocked off when she was climbing. She's the best.
00:58:19
Speaker
Ransom. Chris Evans finally shows up. Do you have a previous relationship with Chris Evans? Um, yes, actually. He's in one of the most hilarious movies, his acting debut and not another teen movie.
00:58:34
Speaker
ahha I think that's his first movie. He went from that to everything else he yeah in America. Yeah. Well, yeah, I've never seen. um Oh, you should. Scott Pilgrim. I think you'd fall in love with him. But that my my auntie, Vernetta, that is like her guy crush for life. Oh, my God. None of the two of those.
00:58:54
Speaker
Well, I mean, it's not it's not my favorite like comedy like that, but I can watch it. I enjoy it for what it is. I I think I I probably missed it. Like I grew up watching scary the scary movies. Yeah, I grew up watching epic movie. Those are my like spoof movies. Yeah. Did you ever watch a state movie with them?
00:59:19
Speaker
Date movie. Oh, that was mixed in. I feel like I only watched it once, though, since you love rom coms. That's the one that that makes fun of. And the main storyline is Meet the Parents. Perfect. Yeah. Oh, my God. OK, I should get now on that then, too, because she showed me the Meet the Parents trilogy. So. Oh, my God. That's amazing. And if you guys couldn't tell, both Ashley and I are still dealing with colds. so We might sound a little sinus. We've been sick for like a while. Yeah, we've been.
00:59:49
Speaker
That is exactly why we haven't gotten a lot of content out. Like this part of the year hits us hard, it seems. So yeah, really apologize if our voices don't sound up to par. My previous relationship with Chris Evans is obviously, actually first time I saw him was Fantastic Four. I was going to mention that as Human Torch, but I watched out of the movie more. So that's my.
01:00:14
Speaker
so that's why obviously a person like me or anybody else that has that previous previous relationship with chris evans blew up at deadpool and wolverine yes spoilers sorry guys it's been all over the internet already but um yeah no it was it was amazing that meant a lot to me nostalgia definitely took place guys i won't why but also chris evans yes very familiar with him being captain america he really embodied that character so well he took that so seriously and The path he's taking now after that, that's what makes me respect him more as an actor. He's picking very good projects. He's showing more of his range. Even as Captain America, I could see him kind of wavering away from just playing the plain old Jane, follow the rules type of dude.
01:01:12
Speaker
It was a really nice arc in the MCU compared to other characters. I know I'm sounding a bit nerdy with that, but honestly, one of the best characters I've seen. But yeah, and like, I just love the guy. Walt's son points some blame towards ransom with him yelling at Harlan, I'm warning you. And it might be cutting him out of the will. Did you think that is what took place?
01:01:39
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. um Cool. I have it in my... and It's ransom out of will. Yup. Me too. Eat shit. Eat shit. You can all eat shit. I will not be eating one iota of shit. ah Chris Evans, like, he kills it in this part. He is such an asshole. He's so good. Michael Shannon, add li that line. Really? Yeah. Oh, that's amazing. Yeah. Oh my God.
01:02:04
Speaker
The thrill of Marta being so near the investigation and right by Blanc's side is the compelling part in this murder mystery, I'd say. One of them. Okay. So, um, next we get to the will reading and that's where we find out that Harlan left Marta everything. The family seemed to like love Marta and like be on her good side. But as soon as they find that out, they all very quickly turn on her.
01:02:34
Speaker
All their characteristics were yeah pointing towards this moment, honestly. Even Meg kind of ah is very sad. Yeah. Yeah. Even Meg, her closest companion in that family, her confidant, you could say. is not in the same Yeah. So all their true colors showed and they really just like. This is still our house. The family is a flock of vultures, my God. And then like it just it pauses.
01:03:05
Speaker
Oh, and the estate belongs to Marta Cabrera. Yeah. Oh, I love that touch on it. Um, so, and also some of the lines like Jamie Lee's really come out in this part. Were you blinking my father? Like it's stuff like that. Like it was just so great. Like, of course you're going to jump to kind of that thought or something like that. Like you're kind of, yeah.
01:03:32
Speaker
but just so good and the camera angle for Marta leaving the house after the announcement. It's pure chaos like the cameras just right up in her face and moving and you see all these family members on the sides of her just talking at her. Marta escapes with ransom.
01:03:51
Speaker
Ransom becomes such a charming character because it's Chris Evans, of course, and how he's standing up to these vicious people and, you know, kind of making the comments of like what we're all kind of thinking. He seems like a dick, but in an OK way, and he rescues Marta. Meg ends up calling Marta about renouncing the will.
01:04:14
Speaker
Then after Marta and Ransom's meal together and them going over everything, there are a couple of really good quotes and like the performances between.
01:04:26
Speaker
Anna and Chris are very good in there. Blonk sit down with the grandmother. It's very sweet of him to think of consoling her when no one else has most likely. That was her son that passed. Yeah. And she's just kind of left off to the wayside. And that's also like us as people also really have to keep that in mind that That might happen a lot in family gatherings, unfortunately, like not even just when a family member passes away, but like in get togethers, the older people might just be sitting off to the side and like lonely. And so that's really sad. Yeah, fucking go talk to them if you still have them. I talk to my great grandma all the time. Like I love her. Yeah. Yeah. Even now and I like, Oh my gosh. Just some of the, the gossip she has about the others in the nursing home guys. I am going to say a super embarrassing thing since we're on the subject, but me as a
01:05:29
Speaker
human being, knowing my vocabulary and knowing the meaning of things, I accidentally have told people that nursing homes are funeral homes. I've referred to them as funeral homes instead of nursing homes. Well, I mean, I feel terrible. You're not wrong. I i've felt like an idiot. You've definitely said dumber things. You're so freaking nice.
01:05:59
Speaker
So now we get to another big part, the crime lab is burnt down, which adds even more danger along with Marta being sent blackmail. This being connected and all adds more mystery to what happened with Harlan's death and Marta being involved. Really nice addition to an already compelling story.
01:06:21
Speaker
After being noticed at the crime lab by the detectives, one of the worst car chases occurs with Martin Ransom. Lakeith says, dumbest car chase he's ever seen. That is where I highlight Lakeith. You highlighted him before I did, but like, yeah, I wanted to touch on him, of course. I love that man. Oh, especially from get out as well. I totally forgot. Yeah. That is where I was like, who is this guy?
01:06:52
Speaker
After death, no, I was really compelled with him there. And then I was like, okay. Yeah. Who is this guy? I love him. I totally forgot he was even in this. So, and I'm, and he's in the whole thing throughout. Oh, he is. so Which is amazing. It's just such a stacked cast in this and they're all used well. And then, uh, Ransom calls her baby driver.
01:07:13
Speaker
Yeah, oh my god. Oh, one of my favorites. Hell yeah. So, Marta is being blackmailed by an anonymous letter found in her mail after Walt tries to intimidate her. Like I said earlier, ah Shannon's very good at being intimidating, even though Walt is a fucking loser. This leads to Marta finding Fran, um, leads to Marta finding Fran at the laundromat, um, which Ransom told her that she would be meeting someone there. And that's, and what is she, she's ODing, right? and Yes. So like Marta finds a vial of morphine.
01:07:58
Speaker
Morphine um and yeah, she's been injected with a dangerous amount and There is a fun aspect to this murder mystery like clue But this with Fran shows the danger or dark little things to knives out a little bit So yeah, really really fun thing to add into this mystery like ah another dark thing Marta stumbling on Fran Marta's undoing with Blanc and the investigation finally catching up is all because she was a good person trying to save Fran, knowing the consequences she'd face with the detective's eyes on Marta now.
01:08:40
Speaker
fuck that like that sucks she tried saving this person's life even though she knew what would happen that's that's a good person right there and then you're kind of wondering in the story like okay what's gonna happen now that Blanc found her out basically and it's all like ah yeah like killed him you know. um Marta telling Blanc everything is such human thing to do and it really cements her as one of the greatest protagonists I've seen on screen. The lousy detective and the lousy suspect are now left to pick up the remaining pieces together.
01:09:20
Speaker
when they arrive back at the Thrombey estate with Marta, about to hand over the and inheritance back to the family due to the Slayer rule right before she does. Blanc stops her in incredible fashion and sticks it to the Thrombies after seeing the toxicology report results. Did you ever think Marta was going to renounce the inheritance in front of the family? Um, no.
01:09:48
Speaker
Well, yeah, just because she's a good person. Yes. But for movie's sake, I knew it wasn't going to happen. Right. Like what else can happen in this? Yeah. To carry us through this ending. Right. Yeah. No. So that was so nice of um Blanc to come save her before she did that.
01:10:07
Speaker
Oh my god, yeah, right at the right time. The donut hole within the donut hole. It's a very nice metaphor for like how this mystery plays out with the final missing piece being ransom. The hole within a hole. I was thinking of donut hole ah or the donut on everything a girl owns.
01:10:29
Speaker
Oh my God. Yep. Yeah. I don't know. I think like the donut thing all started with Knives Out. Knives Out has it before everything ever all at once. I think The Simpsons does. But um oh, damn, I never watched The Simpsons. Me neither at all. I played Simpson's hand around. That was it. Fake fan. OK. And not even a fan. Fair. Guys, I can't even hit her with it.
01:10:59
Speaker
um um But yeah, then we get to ah Blanc sitting in front of the knives, which is an alternate poster of the cover art. So yeah, I already did like, basically say that ransom is revealed shit. No, we can go from there. Okay, good. Okay, okay. What I love about the reveal of ransom being behind switching the vials of meds and Harlan suicide, meaning Marta actually did her job and gave him the correct meds. Is that it wasn't all Blanc's doing? Unveiling him? But Marta's lie about Fran still being alive sealed it all.
Conclusion: Marta's Triumph and Future Speculations
01:11:41
Speaker
Marta still had a part to play in that unveiling. Cherry on top. Marta yakking all over his face. Though disgustingly realistic.
01:11:53
Speaker
That was gross, gross throw up. Yeah, it was. Yeah. It was like too real for my liking. Um, like fruit loops in there or some shit. Sorry for making you think about that.
01:12:06
Speaker
but
01:12:09
Speaker
Reveals when done the right way and well executed, they just, they scratch my brain in my heart. Does that make sense? Yes. I know exactly what you mean. What scratches your brain. Oh shit, guys. I just put her on the spot again.
01:12:23
Speaker
Wait, you need you to clarify. Because I know what you mean. A very satisfying thing happening. Whether it's seeing it, sound, anything. Does that make sense? In movie? Yeah, let's stick with me. No, anything. We're talking about ourselves. Anything. Ah, you put me on the spot. Let me give you a second. Sorry, that's why I'm saying anything. Give me a second to think. Fuck. Say anything.
01:12:51
Speaker
No, you're good. Because there there's so many things that does. I know. I actually did. I like I just thought it'd be fun to ask you. A weird thing that I like is when ah movies don't have happy endings, because they're rare. I like bleak endings that always scratches my brain. So you're a depressive person? No, no.
01:13:17
Speaker
It's just so different from trauma you're nihilistic. Yes, sometimes. Yeah, that was just the first thing that I could think of. That's satisfying. God dang. No, actually, like, that connects with me a little bit, even though I'm a super positive person, I do enjoy when stories don't end happily because With movies, you want to escape realism. So in real life, you're hoping for a happy ending all the time and you strive for it, right? When it's just not possible, it really hits you and I love to feel things. yeah So that makes you feel quite a bit, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's one of the most powerful feelings, an ending.
01:14:06
Speaker
So when it doesn't end well, it hits you. I'm going to go home and watch Killing Ground. Just kidding. Guys, I just watched that the other day and that is one of it's an awesome movie. Really good. It's ah it's another movie from Damien Power. It ah features Michael Fassbender, one of my favorite actors. But it's a very personal type of survival thriller.
01:14:35
Speaker
yeah except the door
01:14:40
Speaker
And Damien power has a way of making it seem like a very intense actual situation. And you don't know where it's going to go in each one of his movies killing ground. And if you guys are familiar with no exit on Hulu, very good winter, little cozy, claustrophobic thriller where people are stuck together. That's all I'll say.
01:15:10
Speaker
But yeah, um Ashley's gonna go to bed depressed. What's new? Just kidding. Just kidding. Same girl. ah This is the start. Oh, my God. Well, you answered what scratch your brain. I didn't even even answer. um One thing that scratches my brain, like I have just witnessed with the movie Wicked.
01:15:37
Speaker
catchy notes and songs really scratch my brain. And there is one popular song in Wicked that really scratches my brain for some reason.
01:15:49
Speaker
the ending song No, it's not defying gravity. And hey, you wicked fans, maybe you'll be able to pick it up. This is the start of me taking Chris Evans seriously as a villainous person. This guy has range and shocked the hell out of me with this turn after viewing him as Captain America and Johnny Storm for so long. I'm so happy he's popping up in the right places like Knives Out.
01:16:16
Speaker
must be the Boston in him that unleashes this assholishness because he is from that area. And he does have that accent. And it really comes out of him sometimes. It's interesting. Patrick Dempsey. Listen to some interviews. Actually, he's very yep. The similarities between those two movies is kind of crazy. i know that we're talking about It's really cool. Yeah, yeah, that we're following this up after Thanksgiving. Yeah, it's really nice.
01:16:44
Speaker
Fran's alive. So sinister. Like what a sinister line for yeah the way he delivers it. And I do see his little ticks and um kind of his emotions and his facial expressions, if I can say, as Captain America as well. Like I kind of see Steve Rogers in him. So when I see like this villainous turn, it's like it's in such a good way that it's like bothering me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
01:17:14
Speaker
Benoit Blanc's line, and how Craig delivers, you knew because you are a good nurse. And Ana's reaction with tears welling, it hits me every time, it gives me chills.
01:17:29
Speaker
and I actually did tear up last night watching. I did too. Right? Like it's just, you're highlighting how good of a character this is and how good of a human they are. And we all strive to be that, right? You know, so it's, well, you're lost, but, so yeah, especially with how,
01:17:50
Speaker
our world is right now and how people are to each other. It's really refreshing seeing a genuine person being plopped in a big movie like this, right? I'm also thankful to Knives Out and Ryan Johnson for propelling Ana up there. I'm seriously rooting for her and crushing on her daily. I'm really sorry to my wife there.
01:18:16
Speaker
You made the help call you Hugh. Cause you're an asshole. Oh man. So hilarious. Delivered from Martha right there. And very sexy how she says it in her Cuban accent. Gotta say.
01:18:30
Speaker
The way that Ransom attempted stabbing Marta, like how it's filmed, so stunning. The way the sequence plays out, slow motion, camera angles, music, the character reactions, it's all on point.
01:18:49
Speaker
And that was foreshadowed earlier when Harlan was talking to Marta and they were talking about Ransom and he was saying Ransom likes to live life like a game with no consequences to the point where they can't even tell a prop knife from a real knife. I am a sucker for foreshadowing.
01:19:09
Speaker
and you just itch my brain right there by saying that like I had no idea. Actually, after rewatching it, jeez, this was probably my eighth time, maybe. And you know, I'm not good at picking up foreshadowing, but I was like the one thing that I can pick up. That's amazing though. Yeah, like we were talking about the details in the script, like Ryan Johnson was very good at writing this. I really appreciate a writer director. Same, same, same, same. It it feels like they have more complete control yeah over it, the story and how it's presented to us. This story, it makes sense and it's so entertaining with the twists and turns, especially throwing in Fran blackmailing Ransom. It throws you for a loop. Then we learn Blanc is one of the best and had Marta in mind the whole time, knowing she played a huge part and wasn't even the murderer.
01:20:07
Speaker
First time seeing her, seeing the spot of blood, like so happy that comes back around and it's not forgotten about. I think a lesser movie maybe would have left that.
01:20:20
Speaker
I think there's and zero loose ends in this movie. I don't think so at all. Everything was tied up so nicely. Like it. This story scratches my brain. Seriously, actually, like it's amazing. Saddest thing about this all. Harlan could have lived. And he actually killed himself.
01:20:44
Speaker
That's crushing. It's really sad. Especially when Marta realizes it too. She did all she could. And how long did she go on believing an untrue thing that like she was the cause of his death? Jesus Christ. A week and a half. Still, and that's also how would that eat you? I think I would go a week and a half without No sleep. Yeah, literally. yeah like And she's so nice like that probably like was destroying her. We could tell by the way she looked in the beginning. I love my girl. I love her. Put her more stuff please.
01:21:26
Speaker
But yeah, so then we cut to, it's kind of going around the family and what they're doing. And another thing that's tied together is Linda, Jamie Lee Curtis' character, goes into Harlan's study to put the baseball back that Richard grabbed earlier.
01:21:43
Speaker
put it back and seize the letter that Harlan left her and that their way of communicating with invisible ink. And so in a way, since Richard grabbed the baseball in the first place and threw it, he ah kind of like, what's the word? Like caused his own demise. Ironically. Yeah. Like inadvert inadvertently,
01:22:10
Speaker
Yes. is that how Yeah. That's the good word. Since he's the one that like the baseball was because of him and she put it back and saw the letter and if it wasn't for him moving the baseball in the first place, she probably went to found the letter. I love how she was looking at it in one scene too, before this. Like it's just, like we were talking about, no loose ends. And in the story too, like Ryan didn't need to add that little personal family thing, like how they communicated with each other, the invisible ink and stuff. But what a nice detail for that to come back around.
01:22:49
Speaker
Yeah, everything. Everything. Starting from Blanc uncovering the mystery and going through the motions right up until the end of the film. It's perfection end shot of Marta with the coffee mug looking down on the thrombies. And then the only words that are showing on her cup is my house.
01:23:13
Speaker
Yep. It was my house, my rules, my coffee. Yeah. Loves. What an awesome shot. it's It's just such a simple one too. It doesn't linger. And that mug was the second shot of the movie in the beginning. Yep. It ends with it. I love that.
01:23:30
Speaker
Yeah, it's just really nice when um bad characters get their comeuppance and and ah the good character gets a happy ending. Even though one of the good characters did not, unfortunately. but Well, Fran was good too. Yeah, yeah, she was good. Unfortunately, she took the wrong route by trying to blackmail Ransom instead of just going right to the police. But true.
01:23:59
Speaker
Yes. You're right, she deserved to die. Holy, okay, we're not jumping to that shit. Well, Ashley's going to bed depressed and ah being glad Fran's dead. Oh my god. What location are you hoping the third knives out wake up dead man will be set now that we've had the northeastern countryside in the fall and a summer vacation in Greece and glass onion. The mountains.
01:24:30
Speaker
Fuck you took my answer. Well, I should answer it first then. Why do I ask you questions? Because we have the same answers.
01:24:40
Speaker
Guys should have seen the look she gave me. on Sure. Yeah. No. ah Okay. What's your secondary one? I'm a whore for the mountains though. um God, like a nice little lake.
01:24:54
Speaker
Ooh, ooh, ooh, a nice, rich cabin, like a huge cabin, a nice cabin in the middle of the woods or something. And like, you got like a lake nearby that you can do lake activities. and so Oh, i mean I'm already thinking. Okay. Okay. Um, that's a really good question because like, you can kind of think of, uh,
01:25:18
Speaker
Look, I think of locations for this franchise. Like I think of ah for the White Lotus a little bit. I was going to bring that kind of destinations to go to. So I'm trying to think of something very different in the Philippines.
01:25:37
Speaker
Well, unfortunately, that's where White Lotus is going. They're going to Thailand, yeah I think, for this next adventure. God, I can't wait for that. I cannot wait for another season of White Lotus. ah Space. Please, no.
01:25:52
Speaker
Benoit Blanc goes to space. The unfortunate thing about the Knives Out franchise as well that I was going to add to like since you mentioned space, I think about like just big franchises that the studios have taken over. Fast and Furious. Frick, frick that franchise. Sorry. I go i've never really liked it. i I will like I'm not trying. I'm not being a hater right now, guys. I just do not. Yeah. I like the first three.
01:26:20
Speaker
Uh, yeah, yeah. Okay. First one. And I, and I used to rewatch too fast, too furious a lot because it was one of the only movies on my iPod classic that I could watch. But, uh, one of the unfortunate things about the knives out franchise is that.
01:26:35
Speaker
Ryan made a deal with Netflix and glass onion went to Netflix instead of just strictly theaters like knives out. So that makes me kind of sad. And I'm kind of nervous for the future of it because of that, but just hopefully same scale, um, shot. Well, like please Ryan have most control over it.
01:27:00
Speaker
Yeah, I was gonna say if it's on par with this one in glass onion, they can he can make as many. Oh, I know. I love this. Keep it going. This is a better franchise than the death on the Nile franchise that is trying to also adapt Agatha Christie. But yeah, ah maybe maybe more of an Arctic.
01:27:22
Speaker
That would be cool. More, uh, more snow. It doesn't need to be up in the, up in Antarctica or anything. Just like maybe do it like Northern Canada, something like that. Yeah. That's what I was kind of thinking like a ski lodge is where I got mountains. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So we can kind of fit that in with snow. There we go. Let's do that. Okay. Hey, Ryan Johnson, if you're listening, do you have anything else on knives out?
01:27:47
Speaker
Um, no, not that I can think of. I thought that glass onion was funnier, funnier. Yeah. And a lot more humor. I felt like the story of knives out was better, but a lot to like about glass onion. It's just, I don't know. ah Thankfully, it didn't feel like a such a retread. Yeah, they are their own characters. So it really depends on what you like more.
01:28:14
Speaker
Did you see the cast for the third knives? I wake up dead. Oh, I saw a couple. And that's why I said I'm hoping like that. It's a huge stack. Can you see who the top build is right now? Who's that? Kaylee Spaney. Fuck yes. There's so the cast list for that. Alien Romulus. Civil War. It's really Spain time, guys. Let's go. The cast list for the third one is insane.
01:28:44
Speaker
Oh, I can't wait. I almost wish I didn't. I'm not going to look at the cast list again until it comes out. So I'm going to be pleasantly surprised. by all Yeah, I'll do that, too. Yeah, I'm not going to look it up. Yeah, no, I don't care. It's kind of like how we don't watch trailers anymore. Yeah, super excited for the third one. And Ryan Johnson, like I'm just happy with what he's doing.
Murder Mystery Genre & Franchise Comparisons
01:29:05
Speaker
we need We need more ah classic murder mystery types because I feel like they' it's just reverted to slashers now and others. We don't have those classic murder mysteries or you have those procedural investigation like law and order stuff like that. You know, if we get an ensemble cast, like high up there, like a really good cast every couple of years and a good whodunit,
01:29:33
Speaker
Why not? I'd be thrilled. yeah Exactly. There's how many like Agatha Christie books? Yes, and just take your time and care with them. Yeah, she's such a good author. Why do you think people gravitate towards her stories? Just do it. Well, like death on the Nile was so disappointing to me. I like Murder on the Orient Express. I did too. I didn't watch Death on the Nile though. Um, do you have a problem with effects? I'm not watching it. Scenery? Anything?
01:30:03
Speaker
just by the way you're asking I'm not gonna watch it seriously looks like they filmed it all in a dome it doesn't look like they're in Egypt at all whatsoever um yeah all I can say is some of the performances were good le twist at the end that was decent too but no everything else but yeah Yeah. I just, I want more of this same. And this is such a staple for me. And I was really happy to do this. Like when it was tis the season, I felt for us at least. I don't know you guys in California or any warm areas are not going to feel it at all. But yeah, it just, it felt really close to home right now.
01:30:52
Speaker
It was really nice. This feels like a general holiday movie, wanted to put it out there. um It's a very important movie to me and that's probably why, yeah, it's like talked a lot about it and hopefully I got some points off my chest that I could. I don't think I have anything else to add. I don't think so either. Yeah, I got everything. Should we move on to Remindsmeo? Yes, I think we just kind of talked about a couple of them though.
01:31:17
Speaker
We did, yeah. And I only have one because we we did talk about the story a lot. And this is kind of like, it's it's tough to nail down to another movie, you know, because it is a fun murder mystery. Like, and it's very Ryan Johnson. Yeah. You can't really replicate his personality, right? So I would say Clue from 1985.
01:31:43
Speaker
I've only seen it once. I need to rewatch it, but I do remember just really enjoying it. And my grandparents showed it to me as a kid after we played it for a game night. And they thought it'd be so fun to show my sister and I like, Oh, what were what were we playing? You know, and yeah, just so fun. And the plot, the characters, the motives, the relationships,
01:32:10
Speaker
everything in it. It just they do feel almost one to one with this and it's a goofy tone and lively characters just very individualized. So I I think Clue really resembles this. They should remake Clue with the new cast.
01:32:30
Speaker
They probably could. Well, that's the thing, like this feels like a new clue. That's why I put it down. You know? Well, I want a new clue.
Availability & Listener Engagement
01:32:41
Speaker
Give Ashley a new clue. Listen, Hollywood. Get a clue with Lindsay Lohan. She's coming back. I know. She's on a comeback, guys. Netflix. Netflix holiday movies specifically. Right.
01:32:55
Speaker
And Freaky Friday too, just coming out. Ooh, yeah, yeah. Actually, I'm looking forward to that. Me too. I'm looking forward to that. But anyways, anyways. Any other reminds you of? Not really. Not like this kind of like... Yeah. We kind of touched on some throughout. I would say bodies, bodies, bodies, but that's not the type of who done it that this is. Oh man. No, like, oh, I have a double feature in my head for... You know what it is too. Bodies, bodies, bodies. It's what's inside.
01:33:26
Speaker
Oh, du easy. Yeah, easy. double god Those are so fun. Which is better. It's what's inside. Thank you. For sure. I agree. All right. So yeah, um that's all for reminds me of ah sorry, we don't have a lot for you guys. But we kind of touched on it throughout. it It came up naturally. And so now we'll move on to where to watch.
01:33:50
Speaker
This is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and etc. Or you should go buy the 4K. which that's how I watch. Same. Yeah. So sorry guys. This is not on streamer. It's actually surprising because I'm pretty sure it was on Netflix for a long ass time. And of course when we finally pick it, it goes off a streamer. Typical. Rent it though guys. It's worth it. Lastly, make sure to follow us on socials on TikTok and Instagram at hazardous opinions pod. Join us on discord and follow our individual accounts on letter boxed.
01:34:27
Speaker
All of the links will be in the episode description for you guys. If you want to reach out to us, you can email us at hazardousopinionspod at gmail dot.com. Also, if we could have you guys follow and rate us wherever you get your listening today. It helps out a ton. We appreciate your support and thank you so much for listening, everybody. Bye. Bye.