It’s time yet again to Social Distance the heck out of this epidemic and watch a movie together while still staying in three different states: North Carolina, Florida, and California. Next up for the Tri-State Watch Party, it’s the Oscar-winning Knives Out.
The Netflix Watch Party app ended up being a little complicated, so we just set a time to hit “play” and then chatted through instant messenger. Click the jump to read some highlights from the conversation.
The Players: Elizabeth, Hannah, Kathryn, Nathan, and the parents (Parents represented here by Marian, because Dad would chisel a message in a stone tablet before typing anything on a phone.)
Nathan
So, has anyone else seen this movie besides Kathryn & I?
Marian
No
Elizabeth
Nope!
Nathan
You’re in for a treat!
Kathryn
Two minute warning?
Elizabeth
I even made popcorn
Nathan
Kathryn
Elizabeth
Nice
Hannah
4k UHD or the other version?
Kathryn
4k?
Elizabeth
I got whichever was listed first?
Hannah
I’ll do the first one then
Kathryn
Play!
Hannah
Hold up
Elizabeth
Hang on hang on FL needs a sec..
Kathryn
Excited, can you tell?
Hannah
Ok go
Elizabeth
Going!
Nathan
I went with 4K, but I’m a stickler for film quality.
Hannah
That’s why I was asking about the version. I didn’t know what that meant
Nathan
Elizabeth, do you need a puke warning? 
Elizabeth
Hah, nah, I’ll take my lumps 
(I’ll still frequently say “ew” I’m sure)
Love the violin music
Kathryn
This house, man.
Elizabeth
I want that little library nook
Kathryn
That voice on the tv is Joseph Gordon Levitt
Elizabeth
NO WAY I KNEW HE SOUNDED FAMILIAR
Huh, first time I’ve seen a casual vape in a film
Yay Jamie Lee!
Kathryn
Nathan
And Don Johnson!
Elizabeth
Miami vice on the scene!
Kathryn
“You’re part of the family”, but not invited to the funeral.
Hee. “How old is she?” “We have no idea.”
Elizabeth
Heh
Kathryn
What have I seen Walt in before?
His eyes really stand out.
Elizabeth
He ALMOST looked like Mark Hamill for a sec
Nathan
I know him from Boardwalk Empire.
Kathryn
I really like the Rashomon overtones here.
Hannah
Is that the Australian actress from Sixth Sense?
Toni Colette
Kathryn
Not sure.
Nathan
Indeed it is, according to IMDB.
Elizabeth
Ah, I thought they knew who the guy was in the background and he was warning them
Hannah
Thunderstorm here in FL is nice for mood
Elizabeth
Craig’s rocking a southern accent?
Kathryn
Indeedy!
Nathan
Oh, yeah!
Elizabeth
Nice
Nathan
This is Daniel Craig’s best role, IMHO.
James Bond be damned!
Elizabeth
Hee, Hamilton quote!
Hannah
Surreally flashbacks make me think of Death Becomes Her (I’m sure there are other examples)
Kathryn
The blink back and forth to different interviews is just masterfully done.
Elizabeth
Seriously
Kathryn
Wow, Daniel Craig really has ice-blue eyes, doesn’t he.
Elizabeth
Ouch, fired at the party
I think Craig got a similar voice coach as Kevin Spacey got for House of Cards. (Except Craig’s doing it better.)
Hannah
Bit of John Goodman too
Kathryn
Haha, I missed that quick pan past the statue on the desk. It was a mother spanking a baby.
Elizabeth
Heh, symbolism
nice Clue reference
Hannah
Benoit Blanc = Hercule Poirot?
Elizabeth
Kathryn
Quick, Mom, what was the movie where a rich man pretends to shoot his wife’s lover, which then gets revenge?
The inside of the house in that film was really similar
Elizabeth
Oh oh oh…there’s a scavenger hunt to find a stocking
Kathryn
Yes!
Hannah
This is a Frasier thing, puking at lies
Elizabeth
EW
Kathryn
Yep.
Hannah
(They’re thinking about the movie. Mom’s phone is charging)
Elizabeth
DEFINITELY Kevin Spacey’s voice coach
Walt’s married to the nervous woman in the pearls?
Hee, he’s starting to sound like Dad.
Nathan
Elizabeth
Ransom is Chris Evans?
Nathan
Yes.
Elizabeth
Hahah “Why did I wait until my 80’s to become a morphine user. What a shmuck. What a nudnick.”
Nathan
Kathryn
Such a panicky feeling.
Elizabeth
Stressful!
Hee, I like the back and forth dialogue in her head
Nathan
Nice touch with the painting on entryway there.
Elizabeth
I didn’t see it
Kathryn
They’ll show it in more detail later.
Elizabeth
EW
“I keep waiting for the big reveal, where it all makes sense.” Very meta.
Hahah, earlier when he waved her over it was all “come join the family” but it was really “come here and let me prove a point”
Kathryn
And so far there’s been three different countries that she’s “from”.
Elizabeth
I missed that
Everybody was mysteriously outvoted
Heh, Spanish dubbed Murder She Wrote
Hannah
“Where is her bag that she had all her medicine in” asks Mom
Elizabeth
Good question
and eep!
Kathryn
Still in the room I think
Hannah
Yeah, I think that’s what she was implying with the question
Elizabeth
Hey it’s that guy
Nathan
Yep!
Elizabeth
Police captain in Blade Runner!!
Nathan
All this “modern technology “ is about 40 years old.
Elizabeth
SSLP, geez
Hannah
Bastard Local Sheriff That Guy
Nathan
Detective Fanboy.
Elizabeth
Magnet!
Kathryn
Heh. Helpful Fanboy commentary.
Elizabeth
She’s almost got a Fourth Doctor scarf on
I SO want that book nook
Kathryn
Me too!
Elizabeth
Ah, medicine bag addressed, if not answered
Marian
Is the movie you were thinking of Deathtrap?
Elizabeth
No I don’t think so..
Was it a young Michael Cane?
Kathryn
Yep, and I found it. “Sleuth” from 1970.
Elizabeth
THAT’S IT
Marian
Yes. I did that play with Karl Redcoff.
Kathryn
The ending to that one freaked me the heck out I remember.
Elizabeth
Same
Kathryn
This is the painting on the trick window
Elizabeth
Ha, nice.
Ooooooooooooooo
Kathryn
Heeeere we go…
Elizabeth
Nightmarish!
Hannah
Heh that was the switch from steady cam to handheld
Elizabeth
Hee
Also yay Ransom!
Kathryn
Ah, that cable-knit sweater.
Elizabeth
Mm mm mmm
Seriously, I’m not really Team Captain America but he’s got a smile that lights up a set.
Nathan
Elizabeth
Hee
Oooo, diabolical
Nathan
“Detective Blank”
Hannah
Now it just sounds like he’s doing a Christopher Plummer impersonation
Elizabeth
I want to believe Ransom is a nice guy but he’s so pretty it’s suspicious
Nathan
Kathryn
“Because fuck my family. ” sounds about right
Elizabeth
Aw, damn, I liked Meg
Ooooooooooooo
Hannah
Is this a good time to pause for a pee break?
Nathan
Sure!
Elizabeth
Yep
Kathryn
Yep
Elizabeth
Paused!
Paused with Captain America, chin in hand looking pensive..
Nathan
What’s everyone’s time stamp?
Elizabeth
1:22
Nathan
We’re 1:21:52
Hannah
1:22:04
Elizabeth
Perfecto
Hannah
Ready when you are
Nathan
Ready!
Elizabeth
Ready!
Nathan
Pressing play.
Elizabeth
Playing
Hannah
“It’s nice to see mysteries now that incorporate cell phones” says Mom
Elizabeth
Ha, right?
Also, in the history of ever, has “you lie low until this all blows over” ever worked?
Nathan
That would be a nope!
Kathryn
I wonder if Daniel Craig asked to have a soliloquy in this.
Elizabeth
He sure got one
And we have threats
Hannah
(Side note: It’s been raining heavily all day, it’s still raining, there’s been construction disruption in the bayou and high tide is at 3 a.m. I’m not sure what kind of flood I’m going to encounter tonight)
Elizabeth
Ooooh dear, hopefully not too much
Nathan
Oh, boy!
Hannah
Pix to come!
Nathan
That convo didn’t go like he wanted!
Elizabeth
Heh, you tell im Marta
Oh I like Ransom’s house
Hannah
Arson!
Elizabeth
eep!
Hannah
I told you I would burn down the building
(You took my stapler)
Elizabeth
hahahaha
Kathryn
Nathan
Elizabeth
It’s a minor touch, but I love that her phone screen is cracked all to hell
Hannah
Turning radius sucks on that tiny car
Elizabeth
Hee
Kathryn
Car chase!
Elizabeth
“You regret helping me yet?”
“I regret not taking the beemer.”
Hannah
Hyundai getting a bad rep
Nice
Elizabeth
hahah
Hannah
Haha never mind
Elizabeth
Most realistic car chase EVER
Kathryn
“I feel like I swallowed bees!”
Elizabeth
Crap
“That was the dumbest car chase of all time” NO IT WASN’T IT WAS AWESOME
Nathan
Kathryn
Right?!
Hannah
I admire the stealth puking. Many a time I wish I had that ability
Elizabeth
EW
hahah
same
Nathan
A doughnut…
Elizabeth
Heh
Yipe!
Anybody know what he’s singing?
Nathan
Was wondering that myself.
Elizabeth
Nope, I still don’t trust you Meg.
Nathan
The dog still has the baseball in its mouth.
We have title!
Elizabeth
Hee
Nathan
I love the grandmother!
Elizabeth
Now I want a doughnut
Nathan
I love that whole analogy!
Hannah
Oh God I’ve got the song from Bruce Rogers Homer Price play stuck in my head
Elizabeth
hahaha
Hannah
“In every whole doughnut / There’s a nice round hole. / If you take a big bite / Hold the whole hole tight…”
Elizabeth
La la la la I can’t hear you I can’t hear you la la la la
Is that another country?
Kathryn
Fourth country
Elizabeth
Side note, Evens’ eyelashes are stupidly long
Ooooooo
Awwwww
Kathryn
God that gets me right in the heart
Elizabeth
Heh, copy of the New Yorker with the article
Hannah
I like how Mom was IMMEDIATELY on the continuity of the bag
Elizabeth
Yes!
Hah, eyeroll from the police officer.
Oh my goodness the back and forth with who knew what when
Kathryn
Nathan pointed out there was a row of glass jugs in Ransom’s house too.
Elizabeth
Nice
Well she was a dummy to come to that meeting without backup wasn’t she
HUGH
AND ONLY THE HELP CALLS HIM THAT
Kathryn
!!!
Elizabeth
EW
Kathryn
Sorry sorry sorry
Elizabeth
hahaha
I was waiting for that
Hannah
Nope
Elizabeth
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Hannah
That was nicely planted early on
Kathryn
AHAHAHA
Elizabeth
Checkov’s trick knife!
Kathryn
She is gonna have one hell of a bruise though
Nathan
Harlan said early in the film Ransom couldn’t tell the difference between a real knife and a stage knife.
Elizabeth
Heh
OH NO WAY THE GAMES THEY’D PLAY TO COMMUNICATE
Nathan
Love this song.
Elizabeth
Did the expression on the painting change?
Kathryn
Yep!
Elizabeth
What’s the song here?
Nathan
Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones.
Kathryn
Don Johnson’s got a Black eye there
Elizabeth
I BET he does
That was so fun!
Nathan
That was actually better the second time.
Hannah
Dad says, “Agatha Christie eat your heart out”
Kathryn
Love this movie, even knowing what’s gonna happen.
Elizabeth
Hee
Nathan
Wow! Didn’t realize the lawyer was Frank Oz,
Elizabeth
Lionsgate, they seem to be responsible for a hell of a lot of movies I like
No, change that, I must be thinking of something else, I just looked and I haven’t seen most of them
Kathryn
And I’ll tell ya, when we saw this in the movie and Marta had her last barf, I turned to Nathan and said “And this means I can NEVER RECOMMEND THIS TO ELIZABETH.”
Elizabeth
hahahaha
Seriously
Though I’ve seen worse, dear lord
Kathryn
Lionsgate did Cabin In The Woods though
Elizabeth
OH WELL THAT MUST BE WHAT I WAS THINKING OF
Kathryn
Hannah
All good here. No more flooded than when I left (though it stinks like mud)
Nathan
Kathryn
Marian
Sorry about the smell
Elizabeth
Looking for a present for that hard-to-shop-for person? Want to buy them (or yourself) a square foot of a castle in Scotland? Look no further! You can support the restoration of Dunan’s castle, legally call yourself Lady or Laird, AND if you use this link to get there, you can support this podcast too! ScottishLaird.co.uk.
If you want to follow along with Fanart Fridays, check us out on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram!