Directed by Rian Johnson — Screenplay by Rian Johnson.
Rian Johnson, the renowned writer-director behind films like Looper and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, has successfully made himself synonymous with the whodunnit mystery genre in recent years with his Knives Out films centered around Benoit Blanc, the heavily accented detective character, which has helped Daniel Craig reinvent his career following his James Bond exit. These are films that have become highly celebrated for their distinctive detective, their star-studded casts, and the way they merge comedy, modern inventiveness, and a genre affinity to form films that are always a highlight of the year in which they are released. This was the case with both Knives Out and Glass Onion, and it is certainly also the case with Wake Up Dead Man, which, arguably, features the best protagonist performance that we’ve seen in any of these films.
Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man follows a young Catholic priest named Jud (played by Josh O’Connor), who has a past as a boxer. The young clergyman has been sent to upstate New York to be the assistant pastor at a rural parish led by the controversial Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (played by Josh Brolin), known for his incendiary preaching. Jud and Wicks butt heads over their clashing styles when it comes to faith, preaching, and the like, so when Wicks is found dead in a closet near the pulpit, having been stabbed in the back, locals start suspecting that Jud may be responsible. When it becomes clear that there is no conclusive evidence, and when it seems like an impossible murder has taken place, the local police chief summons the famed detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig), who soon starts to see a connection between the murder and a certain novel. As Blanc investigates the case, new evidence is uncovered, and Jud’s faith is tested.
In clever and enthralling ways, Wake Up Dead Man follows the formula that Rian Johnson’s whodunnit films have more or less set in stone. So, what exactly does that mean? Well, the film is a blend of comedy and mystery-thriller elements, it features a nicely constructed puzzle-like mystery along with fun breadcrumbs scattered throughout the narrative, the comedy often has timely references that may or may not situate it at a particular point in time (e.g., Substack is mentioned, at one point, as a professional writer’s online outlet), but it also features satire or commentary with a clear and direct political tinge to it. On top of that, as is always the case, the film sees Benoit Blanc essentially team up with someone who, in one way or another, has been thrust into the spotlight. To say that something follows a set formula is often framed as a negative thing, but I don’t mean it to be negative in this case, as I think there is an intentionality to it, as well as ways that set it apart from the formula. Think of these films as exceptionally well-made and well-cast paperback mystery novels in film form that thrive by focusing on a particular genre’s tropes and bringing new energy to a genre that was once in need of rejuvenation until Rian Johnson repopularized it. Johnson is exceptionally well-suited to craft these juicy narratives that are elevated through certain prestige elements and good old-fashioned top-tier filmmaking.
In the case of Wake Up Dead Man, I found it to be incredibly nice to have Benoit Blanc’s narrative revert back to a more natural setting rather than the over-the-top opulence of Glass Onion and its fantastical setting. What further elevates it from its ilk (beyond its star cast) are the prestige visuals (there are a couple of scenes here with skillfully orchestrated lighting inside the central church that help to emphasize certain faith-related themes) and the terrific writing that hammers home well-fleshed out themes and allows for certain wonderful grace notes. Johnson has a lot to say about what the purpose of religion is and how he feels certain individuals exploit their power surrounding it. It did not, however, feel overly preachy to me, as there is a warmth and a sincerity to the way the film highlights the positive nature of faith. There are genuinely moving moments here where the comedic-mystery high-wire act takes a step into the background to allow for kindness, a generosity of spirit, or an act of comfort.
At the same time, and even though he perhaps doesn’t layer it on as thickly as he did with Glass Onion, Johnson’s political commentary is right there for all to see. This is a film about confronting hateful leaders that seek to divide us, confronting the deceitful individuals that are abusing their power to paint modernity as an enemy of the church, it is a film that directly comments on how social media is misrepresenting truth, but, importantly, it is also a film that in a crucial scene reveals itself to be about the hope that those who share blame and crucially know right from wrong in their heart of hearts will eventually see the light and take a step in the right direction. I have thus far emphasized its heavier themes, but I do want to highlight that, even though this is maybe not as comedy forward as previous entries, there are moments of excellent clever humor, like the bit of meta commentary that Johnson includes to clapback at his harshest naysayers with a scene where it’s unmistakable that a perennially online conservative voice completely misunderstands Star Wars.
Characters and performances are both one of its strongest and one of its weakest elements. Because while it must be said that it is somewhat frustrating that the film doesn’t pay as much attention to its formidable cast as previous entries did (thus resulting in certain actors not leaving much of an imprint), the film also features, in my mind, one of the strongest central performances of the year. Josh O’Connor, who previously shone in films like La Chimera and Challengers, has turned in a performance that elevates this film to sky-high heights. His performance is nuanced, multidimensional, and deep, as he both earns laughs and makes the film feel like genuine prestige drama in moments. O’Connor commands the screen with a soft touch and an understanding of how to fulfill the potential of the material. His performance is funny and emotional, and it should be a real starmaker. O’Connor goes toe to toe with the formidable cast and runs away with the movie despite it featuring a reliably strong Daniel Craig turn, as well as scene-stealing work from Glenn Close and Jeffrey Wright, the latter of whom does a lot with very little.
Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man is another wildly entertaining and super effective original whodunnit with excellent production design, strong visuals, and an endlessly entertaining performance from Daniel Craig. What especially makes it stand out from the two previous entries in the strong series of films is that it features an outstanding lead investigative companion performance from Josh O’Connor, whose nuanced and passionate performance helps to make the latest Knives Out feature, which is still a thrilling, twisty, and topical great time, also feel deep and even sometimes emotional, as the film’s exploration of true faith is handled gracefully in key moments.
9 out of 10
– Review written by Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
I'm Jeffrey Rex 