Source: Radio New Zealand
TV murder mysteries like Hercule Poirot, Morse, Midsommer Murders and our own Brokenwood Mysteries have been a regular fixture everywhere for years – everywhere but the United States, it appears.
Their best-known whodunits were long ago – shows like Columbo , Murder She Wrote and of course Scooby Doo .
So, when Rian Johnson introduced his detective Benoit Blanc – Daniel Craig with a faintly ridiculous New Orleans accent – solving murders in wealthy people’s mansions, it was more of a novelty at home than it was, say, here.
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Now, even the biggest fans of the traditional whodunit have to admit that the unveiling of the murderer is the least interesting bit. One of the glamorous suspects is revealed to be the culprit. He, she or they admit it. The end.
And let’s face it, it could be any of them. I remember once it was the detective himself!
Don’t worry, no spoilers! The most interesting part is the setup, where we meet all the moving parts of the story – particularly the soon-to-be victim.
Generally, this is the most obnoxious person in the village, and in this case, the name gives it away. It’s fire and brimstone priest, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks.
Invariably the finger of suspicion then points to our hero – or at least the person doing much of the narrating.
Review: Wake Up Dead Man At The Movies
In this case it’s liberal priest Father Jud Duplenticy – Johnson’s character names are fabulous – played by Josh O’Connor.
It’s clear that Father Jud is going to need all the help he can get – in other words Benoit Blanc himself.
And if you remember Blanc’s previous appearances you’ll know he’ll spend much of the first act sniffing around the late Monsignor’s conveniently depleted congregation.
What’s on the mind of parish secretary Martha Delacroix, shaky doctor Nat Sharp and disgruntled lawyer Vera Draven is a rumoured missing fortune that may be the motive for Monsignor Wicks’s demise.
As for the culprit? Well, poor Father Jud was discovered, literally red-handed, at the scene of the crime.
Now, rookie visitors to a whodunit will no doubt trail after Benoit Blanc and Father Jud with their eyes peeled for significant clues.
But the rest of us know that’s a fool’s errand. They always leave the key clue out until the very last moment – if at all.
Old hands instead scrutinize the cast to find out who’d do the best reading of the line “I did it. I’m glad I did it! And I’d do it again.”
Or simply toss a coin. Both methods are just as likely to get results, unless the writers are doing their job properly.
And in this case, Rian Johnson – who writes and directs the Knives Out films – did a very good job.
He always picks a great cast, and then gives them all something to do. He doesn’t cheat – quite – though, like Agatha Christie herself, he’s always ahead of us all.
Also like Dame Agatha, his stories are hugely entertaining, with strong enough characters to work anyway, not just as potential suspects.
O’Connor in particular is terrific as the priest battling some unchristian emotions.
And Craig has settled into his role as the eccentric detective.
In the early films, Benoit Blanc wasn’t so much a character as a collection of amusing idiosyncrasies. Now they combine into someone we want to see again.
Wake Up Dead Man is certainly an efficient whodunit, but it’s also better than that. Best film of the series, I think.
Review: Wake Up Dead Man At The Movies
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
