KNOX GOES AWAY (2023) - Movie Review

Director: Michael Keaton
Starring: Michael Keaton, James Marsden, Ray McKinnon, Al Pacino, Suzy Nakamura, Marcia Gay Harden, Lela Loren
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama
Writer: Gregory Poirier
Runtime: 114 min
Rated: Rated R for violence and language
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray + DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Academy Award® nominee* Michael Keaton directs and stars in this unpredictable thriller as John Knox, a hit man attempting to make amends before his recently discovered dementia takes over. Aided by a trusted friend (Academy Award® winner** Al Pacino) with his own shady past, Knox races against the police — and his own rapidly deteriorating mind — to save his estranged son (James Marsden) from a vengeance-fueled mistake and “cash out” before it’s too late. Also starring Oscar® winners Ray McKinnon and Marcia Gay Harden.

Review:

"Knox Goes Away" is not Michael Keaton's directorial debut. The first film he ever helmed is the 2008 neo-noir thriller "The Merry Gentleman", in which he starred alongside Kelly Macdonald and Bobby Cannavale. Keaton also played a contract killer in that one, and the story explored similar themes of forgiveness and redemption. The film revealed the actor's talent in the director's chair as he crafted a riveting mix of genres with surprising subtlety. "Knox Goes Away" is a fantastic second directorial project, and one that made me want to see more from Keaton as a director.

Michael Keaton stars here as John 'Aristotle' Knox, a hit man diagnosed with Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, a rapidly evolving form of dementia, who must save his son from a life-altering mistake by setting in motion a daring and complicated plan while also making arrangements to liquidate his assets and retire from the business. The details of the plan are not immediately revealed, and as the story progresses, we're left clueless as to what his intentions are. But, the pieces do eventually fall into place in a deeply satsifying ending.

Unlike this year's Russell Crowe starrer "Sleeping Dogs", Keaton knows how to use the dementia angle to effectively generate tension. Due to the disease's fast-moving evolution, there's a "ticking clock" element to the plot as Knox only has a few weeks to complete his plan and find redemption before "going away" forever. Keaton is incredible in the lead role, perfect in every scene as a man ravaged by a disease that twists and alters his memories and emotions. You can feel him barely hanging on to his consciousness as the inevitable end draws closer, and you can't help but feel sorry for this man, despite him being a cold-blooded killer. You have to appreciate the ability of a filmmaker who can get you to root for what is essentially a bad guy, though the movie does prove manipulative in that regard, making sure to point out his victims were always low-lifes of the worst kind, most deserving of a bullet to the brain, and highlighting Knox's passion for philosophy and classic literature to make sure we know he's not an uncultured ruffian.

Keaton isn't the only one acting his heart off. James Marsden is fantastic as Knox's son, Al Pacino is his usual great self as a strangely sympathetic crime boss, and Marcia Gay Harden is a scene stealer in a brief apperance. Some other supporting cast members are a mixed bag, but mostly sufice.

The movie is a low-key slow burn affair, and it's light on action, so don't go in expecting a John Wick body count. Keaton does get one particularly satsifying but short action scene towards the end, and it's especially great because the action is used sparingly, so the sudden jolt of violence is both surprising and effective.

Granted, some suspension of disbelief is required for the whole thing to work, but there isn't much that strains credibility too hard. "Knox Goes Away" is one of those rare must-see movies, a fascinating character study and a tightly-paced neo-noir thriller that gets the most out of its clever premise. Definitely worth a watch.

SCORE: 8/10