Knox Goes Away becomes a race against time for the titular character, outrunning the police and attempting to make good on his past before his own memory deteriorates beyond recoverable. Knox Goes Away could’ve been a surprisingly enthralling genre movie, but instead resorts too often to run-of-the-mill technical work and plot choices.
I’m going to take a shot in the dark and make the guess that Michael Keaton really likes Barry. In fact, he likes it so much that he structured his entire new movie, Knox Goes Away, around a similar premise and occasionally similar tone. And while I’m always trying to fill the void that Bill Hader‘s remarkably dark comedy has left since its series finale last year, Keaton’s execution here doesn’t do much to stray away from common convention and typical hitman noirs.
The wrench being thrown in this genre piece is that Keaton’s character John Knox has been diagnosed with a fast-moving form of dementia. While slowly losing his memory to the disease, he tries to exit the contract killing business while also exonerating his estranged son Miles (James Marsden) from the trouble he’s gotten himself into.
And so Knox Goes Away becomes a race against time for the titular character, outrunning the police and attempting to make good on his past before his own memory deteriorates beyond recoverable. As far as performance goes, there isn’t much that hinders the viewing experience. Michael Keaton delivers in his usual sly demeanor and offers enough screen presence to keep you tied to the screen. His leading man persona isn’t gone in Knox Goes Away because he’s able to play the grisly contract killer with some heft, while also having the familial soft side the film needs.
The rest of the supporting cast, from Al Pacino and Marcia Gay Harden to the aforementioned Marsden, is surprisingly capable and even star-studded despite the movie’s lower profile. Knox Goes Away hasn’t received the greatest critical acclaim, and while it isn’t contention for the year’s best picture, it’s surprisingly competent in terms of watchability, there just isn’t much to make it stand out.
And so maybe the lesson here is to let Michael Keaton take over in front of the camera and allow someone else with a bit more flare to take care of the picture in the director’s chair. Knox Goes Away could’ve been a surprisingly enthralling genre movie, but instead resorts too often to run-of-the-mill technical work and plot choices.
Rating: 2.5/5
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
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