AUTHOR’S NOTE: Additional contributions from Esperanza Cervantes.
PG-13/Crime/Mystery/Comedy/140 Mins
Written & Directed by: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glen Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church and Mila Kunis
Review: You will say “WHAT?!” about four times during “Wake Up Dead Man”. Each “WHAT?!” bigger than the last. Well, this is the third “Knives Out” installment. So, you should already know by now, this is not just going to be another murder-mystery…it’s a Rian Johnson murder-mystery.
“Wake Up Dead Man” does follow Benoit Blanc as he attempts to solve an unexplainable (at first) crime, but that is not where the story starts. In the beginning, we follow a good-natured, imperfect priest named Reverend Jud. Formerly a boxer who then found God, still has violent tendencies, which land him in hot water. As punishment, he is sent to a small town to assist the charismatic (and malicious) Monsignor Wicks. Quickly, Jud starts to notice how dangerous Wicks treats his congregation. Radicalizing the small town folks with his controversial views, Jud sees that he’s not preaching to them about the Holy Father, but about his own power and ego. Father Jud, does not like that one bit. And where there is conflict, there’s also a chance of MURDER— DUN-DUN-DUNNN!
Now, don’t be so quick to point fingers…
It is not only Father Jud (who is the prime suspect) that is accused of this crime, there are other suspects. The colorful cast of characters who form the church’s devout congregation.
Leading the flock is Josh Brolin as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. The owner/head priest of the church is so atrocious, brash and vulgar, Brolin played him masterfully. Very charismatic but oh so dangerous. Glenn Close is Martha Delacroix, Wick’s secretary. The most layered player in the bunch, Close walks that line between sweet and sinister exquisitely. Kerry Washington is a lawyer named Vera Draven. She is a standout among the others and makes an impact with a fierce and passionate performance. We wish she was included more prominently throughout the narrative. Daryl McCormack is Cy Draven, an aspiring politician. Johnson uses this character as a figure that mirrors today’s issues and there’s a lot of playful commentary on the state of politics and radicalized religion. Jeremy Renner gets upgraded from being a hot sauce brand (watch “Glass Onion” for reference) to playing Dr. Nat Sharp. A seemingly nice man going through a divorce and has found convenience at the bottom of a bottle. Makes you wonder what other dark secrets are beneath the nice guy persona. Andrew Scott is a failed sci-fi writer Lee Ross. Once having a promising career, he is now searching for his next novel at this church. What would he do to reclaim fame? Scott plays pathetic perfectly. Cailee Spaeny is Simone Vivane, a former concert cellist suffering from chronic pain that leaves her bound in a wheelchair. Another character that is interesting and vengeful against her disability that you wish was given a bit more to do within the ensemble. Rounding out the church-goers is the simple and kind groundskeeper, Samson Holt portrayed by Thomas Haden Church. Small role, huge impact on the forthcoming events.
No surprise that once again Rian Johnson has put together a fantastic ensemble of unique personalities. Each has their moment to shine and pairs actors you never expected to see work together and their chemistry is immaculate.
However, this film belongs to only one. Daniel Craig as the unconventional private detective Benoit Blanc is pitch perfect as usual, once again bringing his uniqueness to these films. Yet, he’s the supporting role here. The absolute star is Josh O’Connor as Rev. Jud Duplenticy. He steals every scene he is a part of. Jud is complex and flawed but he wears his heart on his sleeve (or collar). He comes across as a man you can trust but in a mystery film, everything is not what it seems and it’ll keep you guessing his true intentions to the very end. I also commend the chemistry between Jud and Blanc, both trying to prove Jud’s innocence, they work together on this twisty journey and it gives me Coen Brothers slapstick vibes.
Now the mystery at the center of this donut (watch “Knives Out” for reference). We won’t divulge into spoilers, the person(s?) murdered, or anything other than someone was killed on Good Friday. It goes much deeper than you can imagine. This is the darkest and most complex Benoit Blanc mystery yet. It’s a tangled web full of lies, deception and religion. At times, it can feel like there’s too much tangles in this web where it can almost feel convoluted. Nevertheless, these are all important pieces to a puzzle that has a very satisfying resolution by the time the case is closed.
“Wake Up Dead Man” is the most visually stunning “Knives Out” out of the three. Taking place at a church, there’s a lot of interesting light design that uses the stained glass windows, lamps, and candles to enhance the picture. The way it is used as a storytelling device is also masterful. Once scene in particular, is when Blanc gives his cynical view on religion and the sun behind the windows make the cathedral dark. Contrasting from his ideas, Jud gives his optimistic views on God and the sun shines through giving the picture a warm light. The location surrounding the church is also beautiful. Taking place in the outskirts of upstate New York, there’s a lot of greens and trees, giving it a gothic feeling. This film feels smaller in scale compared to the lush and lavish locations of “Glass Onion” but there’s a meatier story at hand that make this film more grand.
I can watch fifty more Benoit Blanc mysteries and this series just feels like it’s getting started. Each film is unique in its tone, the narrative structure is never the same and every mystery feels fresh with something we haven’t seen before. This film will be on Netflix at the end of the year but will also play in theaters in November for a limited engagement. Watching this with a crowd was an exhilarating experience and you just can’t get that on a TV in the living room. “Wake Up Dead Man” is one of the most fun theater experiences you’ll have this year. And the sooner you watch it in theaters, it’s less likely to have this great mystery spoiled. It doesn’t take a detective to figure that out…
Score: 9.5/10
“Wake Up Dead Man” is in theaters November 26th. Streaming on Netflix, December 12th.
