Stanko's Stance

The only carry over character from the original, Benoit Blanc brings the same charisma we are all hoping for. This time around we find him in the middle of the circle of chaos rather than observing it, but it is fun to see him orchestrate a plan rather than just observing someone elses.

Blanc doesn’t get the big finale speech like in Knives Out, rather he lets some of the secondary characters take the shine. But don’t worry, He still puts people in their place when necessary!

Edward Norton is…fine? Norton plays the asshole Miles Bron part well and can dazzle with big words and grand gestures, but there is not a magnetism. I am not drawn into him when I see him. I remember Norton more for playing the asshole in The Italian Job (2003) than this.

Going to be honest here. Why no put Ethan Hawke in this role? Why not let a man who dazzles in absurdity be the eccentric millionaire?

Miles Bron is not a swing and a miss. I would compare him to a productive out; maybe a ground ball to the second basemen allowing the runner on second base to advance. Maybe the groundout makes it two outs though, threatening a rally.

Okay Kate Hudson! I did not expect you to be my second favorite character of the entire movie!

The one-time Oscar nominee has arguably the funniest moments of the movie. She is a constant flirt and really remarkably stupid. It is a shock to the system amongst these individuals who have to play dumb to appease Miles Bron.

If you did not laugh at the “Jewy” joke or the sweat pants joke, then I don’t know what to tell you.

Mr. Bautista is having himself a little bit of a moment. The former wrestler has announced he is stepping away from the Marvels universe. Glass Onion is a bit relatable to his Drax character because he likes violence and appearing manly, but Duke is more meta in this project.

Duke Cody is the most on the nose character in terms of poking fun at American culture. He is the YouTube anti traditional meta speaking head. What happens to his character of Duke is a surprise within the story, but the way he acts is the least surprising of all the characters.

Janelle Monáe wins Glass Onion. Hands down. She is the best part of this movie. It is not just her performance, but it is also the Brand characters.

Playing the roles of Helen and Andi, Monáe sucks up the screen. She has the character with the most written depth, and Monáe dives deep while also having fun with it.

Is it any coincidence that the best written character in Glass Onion is one with family issues, connecting to the motif of Knives Out, the OG.

I really wanted more from Kathryn Hahn. It is not her fault, but she, Leslie Odom and Jessica Henwick were the three most wasted talents in the movie.

Kathryn Hahn became famous for her role in Wandavision, earning herself an Emmy nomination for her efforts. Since then she was in a show The Shrink Next Door which I have never heard of, Glass Onion, and various animation. She is then attached to Agatha: Coven Of Chaos at the heigh of superhero fatigue.

She needs a pick me up.

Leslie Odom is the most wasted actor in the entire movie. His aesthetic, his character and his talents are all off kilter. I was really impressed with Odom in One Night In Miami (2020) where he was nominated for two Oscars, but since then the only major movie he was in was The Many Saints Of Newark (2021), which I did not see cause I did not see The Sopranos.

Most of Leslie Odom’s solo screen time came in the beginning trying to solve the puzzle box. After that he just gossiped with Claire and questioned everything with his logical brain.

So, uhh, what happened to Peg? Why did she disappear for the final act of the movie?

Jessica Henwick plays that part of Peg, the assistant to Birdie Jay, so probably the person with the most thankless job of the bunch. It really is a bummer that we don’t get more of Peg because every time she tries to do damage control she delivers a fantastic line.

The funniest conversation of the movie may be Peg vs. Birdie Jay regarding sweat shops: “Birdie… please tell me you did not think sweatshops are where they make sweatpants.”

Let’s get this out in the open. Madelyn Cline is attractive.

Whiskey as a character is a credit to Rian Johnson because up until one conversation we have this simplistic opinion of her. Then when she talks with Helen playing Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe), we get a new sense of her. She is self aware to what she is. She knows this current job is a stepping stone toward a possibly better career.

Whiskey as a character is meant for eye candy, but biting into it there is an extra flavor worth noting.

You remember the random person in the house who was just hanging around? His name was Derol, and he was played by Noah Segan. What did Derol do in the story? Well nothing really. He was kind of a waste of space, but that was his purpose. There are individuals who latch onto the wealthy and just coast on their generosity or apathy.

As unnecessary he would seem to the story, Derol doesn’t bother me too much at all because he is meant to be an accompaniment. He serves his role well as the random comic relief.