— If the meds were switched, then when I got them mixed up, I… I accidentally switched them back, so… I gave Harlan…
— The correct doses, yes. But not accidentally.
KNIVES OUT (2019) dir. Rian Johnson
I love this moment, not just because of the twist, but also because Marta has been dying the whole movie with not only fear and grief, but guilt at having caused the death of her patient, her friend.
For Benoit to take the time to reassure that this was not her fault, in way that is so kind and so clear, was lovely.
“You are a good nurse.” You can tell when he says that the he truly understands what is paining her the most. Just beautiful.
I have so much love for this film, and for the moment following this where Benoit tells her that, if Harlan had listened to her, he would still be alive. The blame is taken from her, in the kindest possible way, by someone she trusts. After all the goalpost moving and ‘ah, gotcha!’ and obsession with spoilers in cinema over the last decade, with characterisation abandoned and plotlines left unresolved, knives out is a kind film. It isn’t obsessed with tricking you or catching you out, just wants you along for the ride
I love Benoit Blanc in this scene so much. I mean, he’s a great character throughout the film, but this was the moment I thought, “I will watch as many movies about this character as Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig choose to make.”
I am so sick of the trend of making intelligent male characters callous. And despite his veneer of slow Southern affability, Benoit Blanc is almost diabolically clever. So throughout the movie, I assumed he was toying with Marta, enjoying her discomfort because he found her suspicious. I thought he was another brilliant, heartless detective in the BBC Sherlock vein. But look at him in this scene. He practically has tears in his eyes because he’s so moved by Marta’s goodness, and I love him. I love this movie. I can’t wait for the sequels.
