Chock a film full of talented actors having a great time being mean or eccentric, add a clever plot peppered with plenty of cynical humor, and you get this delightful whodunit. The patriarch of a spoiled family (Christopher Plummer) is found dead on his 85th birthday and, of course, everyone has a motive. Enter a debonair Southern detective (Daniel Craig chewing up that accent) to solve the case. Chris Evans is especially enjoyable as the haughty, hateful grandson, while Toni Collette’s new age entrepreneur is a hoot. (It’s also a treat to see Frank Oz as the attorney.) The mystery keeps surprising right up til the end with lots of smart dialogue and stylish direction by Rian Johnson.
(4.5 / 5)