Director Rian Johnson
and
actor Michael Shannon
describe how they
helped make one
of the year’s most
entertaining films
Every member of the press covering the Chicago premiere of Knives Out loved the film. They praised it with all kinds of genuine enthusiasm and not one hint of persuasion.
In light of the risky premise and enormous cast — as well as the cynical tendencies of unsolicited reviews — this is an exceptional recommendation.
Knives Out is an ensemble mystery-murder with a lot of everything: wealthy patriarch, gothic mansion, eccentric family, and Daniel Craig as a detective who speaks in a compelling southern accent. All of it is combined into a story inspired great Agatha Christie novels and vintage suspense comedies.
In other words, there’s a lot that could go wrong.
But by all accounts, director Rian Johnson handled it perfectly. He put in the perfect amount of everything and created what rogerebert.com reviewer Brian Tallerico describes as, “one of the most purely entertaining films in years.”
Chatting with Reel Chicago before the screening of the film’s Windy City premiere at AMC River East, the director showed a fond familiarity for the task that he, as writer, had set out for himself. He also displayed a warm dose of modesty for the success it is on track to achieve.
Joining Johnson was one of Chicago’s favorite actors, Michael Shannon, who plays the patriarch’s son, Walt Thrombey. The natural born scene-stealer lived up to his reputation by wielding a contagious reserve.
CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ON THE RED CARPET WITH RIAN JOHNSON
CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ON THE RED CARPET WITH MICHAEL SHANNON
Send your red carpet news to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reelchicago.com.
