Knox Goes Away Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Knox Goes Away Blu-ray Movie Review

"As far as you're concerned, I'm Schrödinger's murderer."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown February 10, 2025

One last job gone wrong. No matter how many angles Knox Goes Away approaches the tired crime subgenre, there's no escaping just how tiresome it's become. Does a final job add narrative weight? Higher stakes? Emotional heft? No, no and no. So why do we return to it again and again, particularly when a movie has something unique to offer, in this case the protagonist's diagnosis of an aggressive form of dementia? Is that not enough? Michael Keaton certainly brings his A-game, at least in front of the camera. As a director, he's certainly adequate, although there's little to separate his work from that of any other filmmaker on any similar film. He also seems to have a loose handle on his castmates, leaving them victims of a winding, meandering screenplay that isn't as strong as it first appears. The end result? A surprisingly ordinary crime caper that tries but fails to do something different.

Contract killer John Knox (Michael Keaton) may be the savviest of assassins but he's had to watch his personal life crumble over the years. Divorced from his wife, Ruby (Marcia Gay Harden), and estranged from his adult son, Miles (James Marsden), he lives a solitary life, known best by a sex worker named Annie (Joanna Kulig) who occasionally keeps him company. But when Knox is diagnosed with an aggressive form of dementia, he sets his retirement plans into motion, taking on one last job before he throws in the towel. Two accidental murders later, though, and Knox is scrambling to clean up a mess that may or may not have been caused by his dementia. That same night, his son arrives at his door, shaken and bloody, having killed a man who raped his daughter (Lela Loren). Knox knows exactly what to do and sets out to make sure it looks as though his son had nothing to do with the criminal's death. But can he elude detective Ikari (Suzy Nakamura), who's assigned to both cases? Directed and produced by Keaton and written by Gregory Poirier (Rosewood), the film also stars Al Pacino, Ray McKinnon, John Hoogenakker, Dennis Dugan, Jay Paulson and Paul Perri.

Keaton's performance is layered and compelling, with a real sense that the actor understands the complicated relationship between tone and character. Knox, typically in control of every aspect of a situation, is suddenly thrust into a scenario he can't control; the slipping of his own mind, the one thing he's always counted on to get him through. From diagnosis to manifestation of greater symptoms, we watch Knox struggle to retain his faculties and tie up loose ends, often with the knowledge that at any moment he may be placed at a severe disadvantage. As a means to bury old hatchets and set his family up for financial security, it works wonders. Think Breaking Bad. But too many plot contrivances conspire to undermine the story, piling subplot atop subplot until the whole thing begins to feel like a screenwriter workshop project. It ceases to play believably and begins to draw from better films; Michael Clayton chief among them. It also dabbles in Elmore Leonard, at least enough to give the bulk of the narrative a slightly western, slightly noir vibe that occasionally works but sometimes feels at odds with the first act, which is more introspective and thoughtful.

And that's where things are shakiest. Knox Goes Away is at its best when Keaton is deep in anxiety and affliction, less so when criminals press in, murders run rampant, and crime scenes need cover ups. Al Pacino's placement and performance is smart and engaging, despite playing somewhat like an afterthought, or a way to expand a part snagged by a Hollywood legend. The Annie tangent, though, is a distraction throughout, borrowing from The American without lending the sex worker much beyond femme fatale foreshadowing. Her role is almost baffling, other than to provide yet another roadblock in a highway already littered with obstacles. Likewise, Marsden's role is a touch convenient. A neighbor, an old friend, a near-stranger who vaguely knows Knox would've been a sharper means to an end, but the pileup of opportunity and tragedy is too obvious and doesn't do Knox's primary crossroads -- his diagnosis -- any favors. Don't misunderstand, nothing about Knox Goes Away makes it a bad film. Just a muddled effort that bites off a bit more than it can chew.

Knox Goes Away Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Knox Goes Away looks terrific thanks to a striking 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that isn't hindered by any issues. Colors are subdued but convincing throughout, with lifelike skintones, coldly saturated earthtones, the occasional splash of bold reds, sinister black levels and filmic delineation. Even the darkest scenes look great, with contrast that doesn't render things overly vibrant but also doesn't leave the cinematography under-supported. Shadow detail is revealing despite lesser lighting, and only serves to lend elements in the light greater presence and power. Overall detail is excellent too, with crisp, clean edges, exacting fine textures, and well-resolved nuances in costuming and textiles. Shots of Knox prepping a crime scene or covering up what really happened look as if you've rolled out a sheet of items in your own house, and evidence planting is as clear as it is compelling. Moreover, I didn't catch sight of any macroblocking, banding, noise or other nagging issues, making the technical encode a proficient topper to an already strong presentation.

Knox Goes Away Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Knox Goes Away is a film of quiet moments; reflections, conversations, evidence tampering, crime scene manipulation, phone calls... there's very little in the way of explosive action, other than a few bits of gun violence. And yet Lionsgate's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track handles it all with an effortlessness found in the best of lossless mixes. Dialogue is often hushed but always clear, intelligible and perfectly prioritized. You may need to turn on the subtitles if you're trying to keep the volume down at night, but given room to work, there's nothing to complain about. LFE output is similarly reserved in all but a handful of sequences -- most notably a cramped quarters shootout when Knox gains the upper hand over a group of thugs that invade his home -- allow for some nice low-end oomph. The rear speakers are assertive without being aggressive, lending sets and locations a sense of believable acoustic space and plenty of spatial nuance. Diners sound completely different than living rooms, which are completely different than open forests. It seems like an obvious thing to say, but hearing it done well is another thing entirely. Ultimately, Knox Goes Away sounds as good as it looks, even though both the audio and video presentations are deceptively simple.

Knox Goes Away Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary - Director/co-producer/actor Michael Keaton is joined by co-producers Nick Gordon and Trevor Matthews in a discussion about how the project came together, what attracted Keaton to the director's chair, as well as the characters, casting, performances, cinematography, tone, cinematic influences and technical merits. It's a solid commentary, full of anecdotes and production details, and one sure to please anyone who enjoys the film.

• Building the Performances of Knox Goes Away (HD, 16 minutes) - Cast and crew discuss Knox Goes Away's performances in this clip-heavy EPK featurette.

• Bookmarks (HD) - Never one to abandon a feature, Lionsgate still offers Bookmarks. Does anyone use them, though? I'd be curious to know. Perhaps the forum can provide an answer...

Knox Goes Away Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Knox Goes Away has a lot going for it, especially in its star and director. Keaton delivers a strong performance in front of the camera and manages to juggle quite a lot of plot points without letting anything clatter to the floor. He gets overwhelmed by the storytelling and various subplots, losing sight perhaps of what does and doesn't matter, not to mention what is and isn't too convenient or contrived. But that could just as easily be a problem of screenwriting over direction, which seems to be the case. Fortunately, Lionsgate's Blu-ray is excellent, with terrific video and equally impressive lossless audio. Additional extras would've helped add even more value to the package but the audio commentary on tap does a fine job offering a glimpse into the production.