Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (12A)

Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, a bourbon-sipping Columbo eight steps ahead of his smug suspects, returns for a third case.

In keeping with the traditions of the genre, we first meet the key players, who are all, of course, soon-to-be suspects. Father Jud (Josh O’Connor) is a young priest and former boxer who is banished to a small parish church in upstate New York. Presiding over Jud’s new posting is Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), a domineering figure who rules his congregation with contempt. These acolytes include a dedicated parishioner (Glenn Close), a put-upon lawyer (Kerry Washington), a washed-up sci-fi writer (Andrew Scott), a nasty wannabe politician (Darryl McCormack) and a down-on-his-luck doctor (Jeremy Renner). Benoit and Jud, the atheist and the believer, joust satisfyingly over a crime that has all the signs of miraculous conception.

Wake Up Dead Man has fun smuggling all sorts of one-upmanship and sneakiness under its religious vestments. As with the previous Knives Outs, the satire is applied in broad but enjoyable brushstrokes. This thrilling installment makes three-for-three for director Rian Johnson. Don’t miss.