Knox Goes Away movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Knox Goes Away

This film noir premieres in theaters on March 14, 2024.

RATING: R (bloody violence & language)

LENGTH: 1 hour 54 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

The film was directed by Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning Michael Keaton, who also stars in it and produces it. Writing credits go to Gregory Poirier.

The story is about a hit man (Michael Keaton) who is diagnosed with dementia. He races against the police to save his estranged son while also trying to outrun the ticking clock of his own deteriorating mind. Knox is a contract killer with a conscience, as he only kills truly bad guys who deserve it. Before his criminal career, he was a college professor who loved books.

Producer Nick Gordon accurately described the film this way: It’s steeped in all the themes and motifs of classic film noir: a gritty urban setting, a flawed and alienated protagonist, an undercurrent of cynicism and fatalism, and moral ambiguity. It’s fresh and familiar at the same time.”

I definitely enjoyed this more than most film critics and was thoroughly engaged the entire time.

THINGS I LIKED:

I adore Michael Keaton in everything he does. I was impressed with his direction and the layered character he created in this. Two of the films he starred in (Spotlight and Birdman) won the Academy Award for Best Picture back-to-back. He also made history by winning three SAG Awards. Will this film finally earn him a deserved Best Actor Oscar? He should, at the very least, be nominated because he does a stellar job.
Academy Award winner Al Pacino gives another great performance in this, and we even get to see him dance for a second. Gordon said that the first day Al Pacino stepped onto the set, “you could literally feel the energy shift on the set. He’s a national treasure; it was a dream come true.”
Another actor I love watching is James Marsden. We usually associate him with comedies but he gives an impressive dramatic performance in this.
To round out the talented cast, we get to enjoy performances by Oscar winners Ray McKinnon and Marcia Gay Harden.
The dialogue is sharp and witty.
Fun Fact: The film was shot in only 25 days.
The Emmy-nominated cinematographer for the film was Marshall Adams, who created the look for the popular TV show Better Call Saul.
There is palpable tension throughout the entire movie.
I was so worried for Michael Keaton’s character the entire time, especially when it seemed he was making counterintuitive mistakes. I was immediately invested in him, which is something not all films are capable of doing.
There are screen cards that show us the passage of time in weeks, which is very helpful for us to understand the passage of time.
I love the dual meaning of the title that refers to Knox’s deteriorating mental state, as well as the threat of going away to jail.
The storyline of a character with dementia really hit home to me personally because my mother just passed away last year with dementia. It runs on her side of the family, so I’ve been doing a lot of research to learn what I can do to avoid it as long as possible. Wish me luck.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I had a hard time understanding what Polish actress Joanna Kulig said because of her thick, whispered accent.
Most of the scenes are at night or with subdued light, often making it difficult to see everything that’s happening.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity, F-bombs, and crude comments
We see murder, dead bodies, and lots of blood
Talk of an abortion
Talk of intimate relationships between unmarried people

THEMES:

Aging
Dementia and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
We see murder and blood-soaked scenes.
Various weapons are utilized.
Parenting
Relationships
Sacrifice
Some alcohol and smoking

FUNNY LINES:

“Did you bury this guy?” – John Knox (Michael Keaton) “No, why?” – Miles (James Marsden) “Cuz if you did, I was going to dig him up and kill him again.” – John Knox (Michael Keaton)