Knives Out***1/2

Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, and Christopher Plummer.

Directed by Rian Johnson

Tagline: Hell, any of them could have done it.

Rian Jonson pays homage to the classic murder mystery in the new film Knives Out, a riotous whodunnit that is built around a fairly standard plot but delivered with some subversion and much gusto.

Wealthy family patriarch Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), who has amassed a fortune as a successful crime novelist, invites his dysfunctional family to his mansion for his 85th birthday party. The gathering includes Harlan’s realtor daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), her unfaithful husband Richard (Don Johnson), and their spoilt son Ransom (Chris Evans); son Walt (Michael Shannon), who runs his father’s lucrative publishing company, his wife Donna (Riki Lindhome, criminally underused), and their son Jacob (Jaeden Martell); and widowed lifestyle-guru daughter-in-law Joni (Toni Collette) and her college-student daughter Meg (Katharine Langford).

But when Harlan is found dead the next morning, his throat slit in an apparent suicide, a private detective, Benoit Blanc (a standout Daniel Craig, sporting an entertainingly bizarre Southern accent), is recruited anonymously by one of the family members to investigate.

As the sleuth tries to figure out what really transpired, the fractures start to surface and the truth is revealed about each of the trust fund kids who are either desperate to protect their inheritance or hiding a secret. Everyone, it turns out, is a suspect.

Upon discovering that Harlan’s nurse Marta (Ana De Armas) is incapable of lying since she has a “regurgitative reaction to mistruthing” (if you are sensitive to onscreen vomiting, then this is not the film for you!), Blanc asks her to assist in his investigation.

Like Cluedo meets Columbo by way of Agatha Christie, Knives Out spends two hours trying to amusingly unravel its mystery.

The movie’s fantastic cast keeps you riveted to the proceedings (even when they require some suspension of disbelief); they are all fun to watch and terrific in their respective parts despite the fact that some of them aren’t always given the chance to properly shine.

Rian Johnson assembles a stellar group of A-listers, then pretty much hands the movie to the relatively lesser-known Ana de Armas; it’s an odd (but clearly intentional) choice, and while it works since the actress is winsome in her star-making role, it also keeps the wheel of suspicion from spinning as teasingly as it could have.

Its sharp wit is one of the film’s strengths; there are some running jokes that work brilliantly while dissecting prejudice and privilege. Its setting, however, could have used some Wes Anderson-like charm. Also, while there are a few interesting twists and turns, its ultimate big reveal is a tad predictable, and what fools the villain at the end certainly won’t fool the audience.

All in all, Knives Out may not be a game-changer, but this amusing, entertaining mystery is still a whole lot of fun.

Charlie’s Angels*1/2

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, Elizabeth Banks, Djimon Hounsou, Sam Claflin, Noah Centineo, and Patrick Stewart

Directed by Elizabeth Banks

Tagline: Sworn to secrecy. Bound by sisterhood.

Charlie’s Angels return to the big screen for a belated continuation of the film series with a new cast and a new director but the same old hackneyed action comedy beats and nary an inventive element in sight.

The Angels have now gone international, recruiting crime-fighting lady spies to take down criminals around the globe. “Bosley” is revealed to be a rank in the organization; as senior operative John Bosley (Patrick Stewart) retires, he is honoured at a party thrown by Rebekah Bosley (Elizabeth Banks), Edgar Bosley (Djimon Hounsou), and the rest of the gang.

When a threat emerges, two Angels – rebellious Sabina (Kristen Stewart) and former MI-6 agent Jane (Ella Balinska) – are put together to help Elena (Naomi Scott), an engineer who has worked on the Calisto project, creating a device that can provide clean, sustainable energy but due to a flaw can also be weaponised. Calisto has the potential to cause havoc, and it is up to the Angels to keep it out of the wrong hands.

What should be an exciting thriller, soon turns into a fairly formulaic caper. It’s all very joyless and listless. There is nothing distinctive about Banks’ direction. The story is conventional. The action elements are subpar. The wit falls flat.

The acting talent of the leads isn’t exactly stellar either. Stewart does stand out and delivers a somewhat entertaining performance, but the group just doesn’t connect like they should, and lacks the charisma or star power to draw in an audience.

To make this revival work, the project would have needed a more distinctive storyline, inventive touches, sharp script, and a charming cast – elements that this movie simply does not possess. As it stands, Charlie’s Angels may offer the occasional moment of fun, but the film really doesn’t warrant a trip to the cinema. With a better script and cast and a more versatile director, the adventure could have been a lot more entertaining.

Rating system: *Not on your life * ½ If you really must waste your time ** Hardly worth the bother ** ½ Okay for a slow afternoon only *** Good enough for a look see *** ½ Recommended viewing **** Don’t miss it **** ½ Almost perfect ***** Perfection