Saturday, 14 May 2022

VOD: All The Old Knives (dir: Janus Metz, 2022)

"You know, I get the feeling you're trying to educate me about something - I'm just not sure about the subject."

This Amazon Original opens with a tragic plane hijacking that does not end well, and then fast forwards eight years to the re-opening of the case and a potential CIA mole being investigated, pitching Chris Pine against ex-agent - and his former lover - Thandiwe Newton.  The film then effectively becomes a two-hander over dinner in a restaurant as Pine tries to ascertain Newton's role in the whole affair, accompanied by extensive flashbacks.  It is slick, stylish and beautifully shot, if all a little careful and restrained.  Thankfully, Pine and Newton are well-matched and play their verbal games with nuance and careful consideration as plot details unfold slowly and the narrative puzzle-pieces slot neatly into place.  All The Old Knives is a talky, dialogue-heavy and satisfactory thriller, held together by its solid central performances and its stylish presentation.
 

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