Rapid Response: Knives Out (Patreon)

I've really been struggling to get to the cinema this year but I did want to see this one because it looked like old-fashioned Entertainment. And I'm glad to say, it is.
I'll keep this as spoiler free as possible, not least because Rian Johnson comes onscreen at the start to ask the audience not to spoil the ending, because this is, after all, a whodunnit. Speaking of Johnson, I was a big fan of his break-out film, Brick, and I also liked Looper. I was disappointed to see a director with a track record of originality succumbing to the lure of the big budget franchise (most Hard Corners will know that I have zero interest in the Star Wars reboots and have not seen his effort) but it's great that he's using that cache to make interesting films like this. Similarly, one of the best things about Knives Out is watching Daniel Craig enjoying his job. He's clearly having the time of his life in the role of detective Benoit Blanc, and it was good to be reminded that he is actually an actor and not a granite statue, as his Bond performance might occasionally lead you to think.
As a film, Knives Out is pretty much as advertised; a modern Agatha Christie style mystery that's smart and funny and very well cast. It's slow to start and occasionally too clever stylistically for its own good, but once it gets going it bears you along with it and does what every whodunnit should; keeps you guessing at the who and the how and the why.
My only real complaint is that the lead character is Ana de Armas's Marta who is billed third. I'll accept her being placed after Craig because he's playing the detective who is pivotal. But   there's no reason to bill her after Chris Evans except that he's a big star having his ego massaged. Irritating.