‘GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY’ on NETFLIX

The challenge of writing about a whodunit is to impart enough information about the characters and the basic setup without divulging too much about the twists and surprises.

A murder mystery should be peeled back like the layers on an onion. The title alone, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” suggests the same, even though the onion in question is an architectural feature of an island estate.

“Glass Onion” may be considered a sequel to Rian Johnson’s 2019 “Knives Out” in the same way that the James Bond franchise was launched when “From Russia with Love” followed “Dr. No.”

Just as Sean Connery was the common thread of the 007 character in those early films, Daniel Craig is the Hercule Poirot-type detective Benoit Blanc holding together a budding new whodunit franchise.

The fun begins with longtime friends and associates of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) receiving puzzle boxes containing invitations to a weekend on his lavish private estate on a Greek island.

The guest list includes Miles’ former business partner Cassandra “Andi” Brand (Janelle Monae), Connecticut governor Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) who’s running for the senate, and cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.).

Fashion designer and ditzy former model Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) and her assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick), and Twitch influencer Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) round out the party.

Not in the circle of Miles’ group is world famous detective Benoit Blanc, but here he is on the dock with the other guests for the boat ride to Miles’ hideaway. Since the event is a game about the billionaire turning up “dead,” why not involve a real sleuth?

On our first glimpse of Benoit, he’s in his bathtub playing an online murder mystery game with friends Angela Lansbury, Stephen Sondheim, Natasha Lyonne and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Suffering from ennui and lack of a challenge from a great case, Benoit tells his gaming buddies that his “mind is a fueled-up racing car, and I got nowhere to drive it.” This is all the more reason for the famed sleuth to join the eclectic group for the murder mystery game.

Miles is fond of calling his guests “disruptors” and in a sense, some of them seem more so than others. Claire appears to be an idealistic candidate for higher office, but she’s being bankrolled by Miles.

Others have a connection to Miles’ bounty as well. Lionel actually works as a scientist for Miles. Former partner Andi has been estranged from Miles due to bad blood over their business breakup.

As in all the best murder mysteries, where writer-director Rian Johnson has crafted a really good one with thrills and humor, each character harbors their own secrets, lies and motivations.

Here’s hoping that Netflix will deliver another crowd-pleasing “Knives Out” installment, and that we will learn more about the enigmatic Benoit Blanc and how he came to be as resourceful as Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes.



‘SPECIAL FORCES: THE ULTIMATE TEST’ ON FOX

Presented as the ultimate celebrity social experiment, “Special Forces: The Ultimate Test” is an all-new series on FOX television in which ostensible household names endure some of the harshest, most grueling challenges from the playbook of the actual Special Forces selection process.

Unlike other survivor reality shows, there are no votes and no eliminations in the expected sense. No one will be voted off the island. These celebrities, who are so used to being in the spotlight, quickly learn the meaning of “no guts, no glory.”

Selection for the Special Forces is a test unlike any other. Sixteen celebrities from all genres will take on, and try to survive, demanding training exercises led by Directing Staff (DS) agents, an elite team of ex-Special Forces operatives.

In this unique series, the only way for these recruits to leave is to give up on their own accord, through failure or potential injury, or by force from the DS agents.

Viewers will see the recruits face the harshest of environments that simulate the highly classified selection process.

The celebrities will push themselves in a way they never have been challenged before. They face the ultimate test of their physical, mental and emotional resilience, revealing their deepest and truest character.

Who are these celebrities? Who will quit, who will survive? Some of the celebrities are known better than others. Mike Piazza, a Hall of Fame catcher mostly with the Mets and Dodgers, played for 16 seasons in the MLB.

Dr. Drew Pinsky, known nationally as “Dr. Drew,” has been a ubiquitous figure both on television and radio for the entirety of his career. Kate Gosselin might be remembered for the reality series “Jon and Kate Plus 8.”

Anthony Scaramucci was the Communications Director in the Trump White House for a day or two. No, actually it was a full ten days before he was caught up in controversy.

He’s authored five books, so that should go a long way in making him fit, or not, for the Special Forces challenge.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.