The 3rd installment in the Knives Out franchise is here with Wake Up Dead Man bringing us to a small parish in upstate New York: Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude to be exact. The film follows Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), who is tasked with assisting Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) in breathing new life into his parish, which has become a cult-like entity. After a few months of Wicks and his supporters getting under his skin and rejecting his idea of faith, Wicks is murdered during a service and Duplenticy is suspect number one.
Rian Johnson himself proclaimed this project to be his most difficult experience as a writer. He pointed towards wanting to strike a balance between centering on themes involving faith and religion with the reality that this is a Hollywood blockbuster. Father Duplenticy and Benoit Blanc’s (Daniel Craig) first interaction and dialogue about religion was crucial for Johnson, expressing that he had these two distinct perspectives and mindsets inside of him. On this note, this is Josh O’Connor’s film plain and simple. His ability to visualize this internal struggle with his own faith and purpose is magnificent, bringing his journey of self discovery to the forefront of this film.
This idea that a priest is, “…always of service and always on stage…” was a major sticking point for Johnson in his writing, something that Duplenticy clearly comes to terms with in different ways throughout the film. Father Duplenticy came from a life of violence, but joined the priesthood to put his fists down and open up his arms to the world around him because he grew into the idea that faith is more powerful than fear. This is a major point of contention not just between him and Wicks, but the rest of our ensemble as he struggles to get through to them. They long for the lives they don’t have, selfishly and mindlessly following Wicks as he berates society as a whole, feeling the need to be on the defense in a society he feels is closing in against them. They fear the true nature of their ways being uncovered, pushing Duplenticy to fear that his ideology is a fantasy. Wake Up Dead Man is at its best when Blanc and Duplenticy are simply exchanging ideas, Duplenticy expressing what he knows about faith and Blanc contending with what he has learned about people. Johnson revealed during his Q & A that Daniel Craig was the one to suggest Josh O’Connor for the role, something that becomes obvious due to their chemistry being palpable.
Rian Johnson is able to masterfully weave these complex themes and beliefs about faith into the meticulously constructed mystery that unfolds before our eyes. His writing is clever enough to allow his thoughts to be thought-provoking, while also leaving room for the subtle comedy and commentary we have come to love from the Knives Out series. This is done with an assist from editor Bob Ducsay, who left plenty of room for certain scenes to breathe. There are multiple occasions where we see Benoit Blanc almost in a meditative state, most crucially when Father Duplenticy takes a phone call as part of their investigation, but it grows into so much more. This is a moment Johnson points to being crucial to the themes of the film, and it unfolds beautifully both cinematically and in O’Connor’s rendition. Cinematographer Steve Yeldin, who was involved with the first 2 films, also excels here. Johnson expressed in his interview how his conversations with Daniel Craig brought him to this idea of wanting to ground the franchise here, taking on a darker tone and deeper meaning. Wake Up Dead Man is filmed in a way that is able to feel quaint while also allowing the grandeur of the church to be breathtaking, specifically in how sunlight is the primary source of lighting utilized in the space. There’s moments when you can see Duplenticy’s emotions expressed through the darkness in the space and moments where the sun peaks through to break through that tension.
Despite the majority of the ensemble not having ample time to truly establish their personalities through performance due to the massive scope and focus on the themes and main stars, I felt it was well worth it to achieve Johnson’s vision for Wake Up Dead Man. There is still enough here to establish the egos and desires that factor into the countless twists and turns of our mystery, while also aiding in Father Duplenticy rediscovering why his purpose is so crucial.
4 out of 5 stars
Wake Up Dead Man is a bold new direction for the franchise. Rian Johnson delivers a nuanced take on religion and faith, intertwining these themes into another captivating mystery. Enlisting Benoit Blanc and Father Duplenticy as a Holmes and Watson type duo worked flawlessly, but uniquely enough here it is Watson that takes centerstage with a deeply profound performance from Josh O’Connor.
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