"Knox Goes Away" Reminds Us That Life as We Recall It is Fleeting
Michael Keaton is back. Or was, in 2023 for a shining moment, in a crime/thriller film which he directs and stars in, and which debuted on Max (think: HBO) a few weeks ago.
〰 No super spoilers. ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ The movie review is a bunny hop link and a half below. 👇
Pulse Check: Yup, still watching The Lady in the Lake [Preview it here]
“I'm brave, but I'm chicken shit” (Thx, Alanis) ♫♫
Gave up on the Terry Gilliam-inspired Time Bandits series on Apple TV+ [Trailer] fifteen minutes into the first episode. It’s in the vein of programming that I need to stop pretending I like just for the sake of being cool. I am not cool. Monty Python movies fall into this category. Conversely, speaking of things that are for me. Here’s a lady that keeps it real:
Six Degrees of Richard Linklater: Thanks to
’s generous Linklater personalized recommendation I watched, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? [Trailer] It’s a Linklater dramedy tackling one eccentric middle-aged woman’s malaise, played by Cate Blanchett. It’s kooky and at times, it demonstrates uneven pacing and a bit of genre identity blindness, but it’s a worthwhile watch if my meandering thoughts in the subsequent days since viewing the film are an indicator. It’s left me considering how women of a certain age are portrayed as they experience the ebb and flow of life’s changes. I wrote this piece last year, and it reflects this thought sentiment of mid-life female representation well. [Women on the Verge] I’m sure there are shows/films I’m missing, so please comment below with others.👇Star Trekking through the Romance Universe
Space Cadet on Prime. If you’re looking for Summer rom-com fare, it’s fun in a #scienceisnotreal way that can’t be beat mostly because it hinges on the premise that someone can fake their way into NASA by beefing up their resume. Emma Roberts is no stranger to romance. Plus, the guy who is her romantic partner plays the Hulk-looking character in The Umbrella Academy but looks like a cross between Reacher’s Alan Ritchson and Glen Powell. The standout is actress Poppy Liu, Robert’s bestie. She was also fabulously memorable in The AfterParty Season 2 which I highly recommend and is available for streaming on Apple TV+.
Future Me: I will be watching Industry Season 3 on Max. It’s the show that leaves you needing to shower after based on how vile everyone is. It follows a ”group of young graduates competing for permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London.” And this season, Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington guest stars. Last season it was Jay Duplass as a megalomaniac hedge fund manager. Oh, and Emily in Paris is back next week. [🔗Catch up on S3 with my funny take here] Oh la la…
The ‘90s are calling
I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours (oh wait, already did!)
What are you currently watching?
Remember “Memento”?
Yeah, me neither. It’s a joke. It’s the movie about the guy who suffers from short-term memory loss and it made every Y2K filmgoer go mental about the genius of its Nolan-style epic execution with so many details your mind was buzzing. Mine still is. Anyway, Knox Goes Away is a more dumbed-down version of that other film, though not entirely unsophisticated in its own way, and with a ton more heart. Yes, Keaton has more heart than Nolan. Go figure.
In Knox Goes Away, Michael Keaton plays a guy named John Knox, a hitman-for-hire who discovers he has a form of dementia called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (not Alzheimers). The condition is fatal and memory fades fast, setting up the primary catalyst for conflict in the film, especially as Knox’s condition renders his actions ripe with uncertainties. Knox has stuff to do before he loses his grip on reality and he has three weeks to do what he has to get done. The film is conveniently broken out into 3 chapters - each 1 week.
Given that Knox is a military man, a war vet who is highly skilled at pulling off missions in a very disciplined fashion, there is little doubt from the get-go, even in the precarious state he’s in, that Knox will accomplish what he sets out to do. The unpredictable forces, threatening Knox’s ability to carry out his plan, come in the form of the heavy distraction of fractured family relationships that reveal themselves, by way of his son Miles (James Marsden) and Annie, ex-wife (Marcia Gay Harden). His closest friend is a guy named Xavier (Al Pacino!!) who we can infer was in the hired assassin business and once a mentor to Knox before the pupil became the teacher or master (whatever that analogy is).
More Than A “Placid” Film - It’s a Film That Cares About Its Characters
The L.A. Times deemed this film “placid” in their review. I would argue that the film places a premium on restraint over action, subtly presenting elements that allow viewers to discern the motives and intentions of the characters, particularly focusing on Knox and, to a lesser extent, his sex worker lover, portrayed with understated elegance by the talented Polish actress Joanna Kulig (Cold War). It’s a slow-burn thriller that embraces a noir-light aesthetic and storytelling sensibility while intricately weaving a delicate family drama that thoughtfully explores maleness and father-child relationships.
Keaton and Marsden are thoroughly believable as father and son and their estrangement which precedes the film timeline is palpable in every scene here. Miles (Marsden) disapproved of his father's profession, leading him to sever ties long ago and, in doing so, bury many positive father-son memories along with their relationship. John (Keaton) finds it difficult to express his love for his son, preferring action to words. This leaves the heavy work to fall upon Keaton’s physical acting, which he’s no stranger to, to convey many of the emotions, and he achieves this quite masterfully. The “breaking bad” motif underscores the tension between father and son here but it comes to a screeching halt in the father-daughter moments. There, Miles pulls it together, until he can no longer, as his heart breaks for his daughter.
Don’t Just Take My Word For It - Another Film Reviewer Weighs In:
Per
on the topic of Keaton:“Keaton is somebody who can fly under the radar for several years, turning in solid supporting roles, then seems like he comes out of nowhere to remind us of how good he is.”
Yes, indeed…
A Fun Character
Suzy Nakamura plays the cop, or the cat to Knox’s mouse, and even with the little time she has in this film, her arc which includes caring for a sick mother and battling insurance companies in the process, helps us to understand her challenges and allows us to empathize with her day-to-day. Details like this create more dimension and make us care, even when we know Knox is going away and we aren’t getting the happy ending. We’re here for the ride.
Side note: You’ll recall Nakamura was the neighbor in Dead To Me, a show I fully endorsed and penned 4 letters about. [Yup]
We’re All Just Weird, Brat Summer People
We’ve lost command of the English language or reverence for the power of the word. Politicians are “weird.”
Being a “brat” is kewl. Really? Not in my book. But I also just discovered what the “XCX” in Charli XCX, the pop star, stands for so there’s that. Hint: Say XCX out loud.
Hey Look Ma, I Made It!
Here’s what you may not know about me: Last year I left my corporate job in search of that evasive work-life Zen state balance. In
’s latest, I’m featured alongside other writers trying to do this work-life balance stuff.
❤️ I’ll be teaching a Fall course appropriately billed as the “Romance Film Club” [link here]. If you’re in the Boston area, sign up. Otherwise, stay tuned here for my virtual "Romance Film Club," which I’ll be hosting on this Substack through Paid Subscriber Chat in October.
Instagram: bethtalkstvandfilms
Let’s Discuss
Are you weird? More importantly, what’s the weirdest film or show you’ve ever seen?
Share your thoughts on film recos that thoughtfully depict father-child dynamics. I’m all ears.
Favorite Keaton films?
Do you consider yourself a brat? More importantly, if you’ve written a post that covers the “brat” trend pls link to it in the comments.
Will you watch Knox Goes Away? Please do. If for nothing else than to convince Keaton to keep creating. The world needs him, even if we will all be watching him in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice next month.
Great round up. I need to save this for reference. 🥰
Had never heard of Knox Goes Away until now! I’m going to check it out 😊