by Nick Ferro, Contributing Writer
Ever since I was a kid, movies like Clue and books like Goosebumps have piqued my interest. Turns out, I enjoy a good mystery. They activate my brain in ways that makes them stand out among other genres of movie. But while I do enjoy them, I can be a bit like Anton Ego, in that if they don’t thrill me, I really detest them. Movies like Murder Mystery annoy me, because the incredibly generous use of the word “mystery” left me able to solve the murder myself pretty early on, and its runtime that left me bored and unengaged. But then you have movies like Now You See Me, which is super entertaining all the way through, but the ending ruins the movie for me, because it cheats with its reveal. The mysteries that really wow me are the ones that I can’t solve, yet the reveal at the end is both satisfying and possible. Which is why Rian Johnson’s Benoit Blanc series is by far my absolute favorite mystery franchise to date.
Knives Out was a genuine surprise and an absolute thrill that I saw multiple times in theaters due to how much fun I had. It was not only a great mystery with a gaggle of excellent characters, but it was also funny and darkly satirical. It’s one thing to write a mystery that’s fun, but to also shine a light on social issues while doing it is the kind of next level story telling that takes a great movie and makes it an all-timer. Glass Onion was an excellent followup in the continuing adventures of Blanc (Daniel Craig). While it suffered a little from having to live up to its predecessor, I personally loved how it relied more on comedy to achieve its farcical tone. However, to continue pumping out hit after hit is a difficult task, especially considering that perfect trilogies are few and far between. Would the next entry in this franchise be up to snuff? I was a little less concerned after watching the first season of Johnson’s show, Poker Face, which was 10 episodes of excellent storytelling that never let the mystery element suffer. But disappointment was still a possibility, especially after Netflix announced that they would be giving Wake Up Dead Man a much smaller, and even more limited, theatrical run.
Turns out, Netflix just hates making money, because I am not going to bury the lead, Wake Up Dead Man did not disappoint! Franchise Score: Three for three! NO NOTES!
Rating: Loved It
Okay, fine, do you want some notes? Here are some notes… To start out, Craig is once again outstanding. This is a perfect role for him that I hope he gets to keep playing for years. He is able to so perfectly be the quirky detective who is both brilliant and legendary, as well as a down-to-earth and a partner for the main character of each film. His chemistry with Josh O’Connor’s Father Jud as a protector and counterpoint in this entry is excellent. What is even more impressive is that Wake Up Dead Man doesn’t feel derivative of Knives Out or Glass Onion, neither in story nor the way Blanc interacts with the mystery itself. In each entry, he has a different relationship with the main character, he enters the film in different ways, and the manner in which the story is told is different. I can’t believe Johnson has been able to keep all three of these films feeling fresh and original.
I want to shine a light on what I feel are two of the best performances of the year. The first and possibly the best is Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix, the church secretary and resident religious zealot. She delivers one of the most intense performances of the year, showing why she is one of the greats of our time. She absolutely nails the stereotypical religious type, making the audience despise her for simply being so unflinching in her acceptance of anything outside of her understanding of the world. Despite this, she has such a nuanced role throughout the film, allowing the audience to sympathize with her as well. And the reason that both O’Connor and Close are able to be so sympathetic is because the movie gives us a fantastic villain in Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Wicks.
The second performance is O’Connor, who is our lead this time out. His character, Father Jud Duplenticy, is a former street kid-turned-boxer who, through some unfortunate circumstances in his life, found God and became a priest. We are introduced to him as he sucker punches a fellow clergyman and is immediately put under review, and yet his faith and his beliefs are strong and full of conviction that it immediately endears him to the audience as a sympathetic character. Throughout the movie, we watch as his convictions of what it means to be a man of God are challenged, shaken, and pushed to the edge, but he never waivers in his faith. Which, as a former Catholic now bouncing between agnostic and atheist, I found him to be so incredibly relatable. There is a moment in the middle where he starts to lose himself in the urgency of the situation, and a person on the phone asks for his prayers. In that moment he is able to reset himself and find his center in a way that made me feel a relief of tension that I hadn’t even been aware had been building. It’s a moment where he finds the light when things seem at their darkest, and O’Connor had me completely captivated the entire time.
My favorite element of Wake Up Dead Man, which I am not sure will play for everyone due to its tendency to be on the nose thematically, is the use of the sun through stained glass windows for lighting. Throughout the film, as characters talk, the lighting of the set will start to darken as though the sun itself is the sole light source. As the tone of the conversation turns from hopeful to dreadful or dour the sunlight coming through the windows will disappear as though darkened by clouds. Conversely, if a character who is lost finds their path, the scene might start dark allowing for the sunlight to return. This is often used in scenes where Father Jud is grappling with his conscience, or Blanc is discussing his own faith. But despite how often it is used, it is effective every time at driving home the message.
As for the rest of the cast, they are just as fun and memorable, similar to the previous two movies. If what I have heard is true and the academy will be recognizing casting directors at the Oscars this upcoming year, I would love to see Bret Howe and Mary Vernieu be recognized, not only for this movie but the entire franchise. Jeremy Renner, despite somehow having a profitable hot sauce business in universe, was fun to see back on the big screen after his accident a few years ago. He is so good at playing the role of “little weasel,” it’s strange he doesn’t get roles like that more often. Kerry Washington and Thomas Haden Church have smaller but interesting roles that add some humor and twists to the mystery. Both Andrew Scott and Daryl McCormack play funny, dopey, and egotistically oblivious characters who add to the comedy, as well as the social commentary. Mila Kunis is a welcome surprise as the town sheriff who works mainly with Blanc to solve the case, and Cailee Spaeny provides a more serious tone to the proceedings, with her character giving the story some much needed balance.
My one negative nitpick of the cast is that Jeffrey Wright is woefully underused, and yet despite only showing up at the beginning and end for one scene each, he is one of my favorite characters, because, let’s face it, he is amazing in everything!
Looking to the story, I love how Monsignor Wicks is a grade A sonofabitch, and Johnson uses this as the focal point for the central message of the movie. I can’t imagine that the last several years of the United States’ political climate wasn’t being considered while writing this story. It is one of influence and how those with the ability to do so can radicalize a small group of people to become more than just followers. The use of the religious elements to showcase that something meant to be good can be twisted to be a tool of evil is expertly woven into the notion that when someone has the right amount of charisma and power, they can use that to shape the world the way they want it, whether that world be an entire country, or simply a smalltown rural church.
I know at this point you’re probably doing your best Jeff Goldblum impression and asking me if there are any dinosaurs (murder mystery) in this dinosaur park (murder mystery story). And yes, when we are finally introduced to Blanc, about 30 minutes in, the movie, which is already firing on all cylinders, kicks into overdrive and does what this franchise does best: goes from good to great!
The murder mystery element of Wake Up Dead Man is top notch. But do not be fooled as I was — it is not as easily solved as it seems! I was actually feeling a little smug and disappointed simultaneously toward the end of the movie, because although I was having a great time, I felt the mystery was a bit too obvious and easily solved compared to the previous two entries. I was feeling this even more when Blanc himself, in his best Foghorn Leghorn drawl, says, “I say, I cannot solve this ah said, ah said, confounded puzzle!” (I may be paraphrasing). But boy, was I wrong! Did I have part of the puzzle? Yes, but not the whole thing. I feel confident in saying that this mystery is just as twisted as its predecessors, and is equally as satisfying when the entire picture is revealed. However, in addition to enjoying the final reveal, there is also a good deal of character catharsis, making this movie another home run.
Like its predecessors, Wake Up Dead Man’s satirical comedy fires on all cylinders. I love these new characters and their quirky issues, and how this franchise continues to deliver a level of hilarity that this it is known for. Going in, I didn’t know if Wake Up Dead Man was going to be as funny as the previous two based on the darker tone that the trailer and promotional marketing were taking. I’m glad that my fears were completely unfounded. Although not as funny as Glass Onion, this entry might be funnier than Knives Out. This bias, of course, could be a result of my past ties to religion, and my staunch belief that making fun of the politically far right are two of the more amusing topics for humor at the moment. However, I don’t think that this will end up dating the movie in the future. These themes are universal, and will still sadly ring true in the years to come. And don’t get me wrong, this movie is just as respectful to people who do believe in religion as it is to those who don’t, and there is never a moment where I felt that the movie had crossed a line. The characters are as they are: Some believe, some don’t. The movie never tries to take a stance that one way of belief is better than the other.
Overall, I cannot stress how much fun I had with Wake Up Dead Man, and I am very glad that I was able to catch its in theaters prior to its release on Netflix in a few weeks. There is something to be said for watching a comedy in room full of people. Rian Johnson clearly has a mind for mystery, and he has knocked it out of the park with every attempt.
Rating: Loved It
Wake Up Dead Man is currently playing in theaters
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