Knox Goes Away

    By Biff Whipster     8/3/2024

    Knox Goes Away is the new feature directed and starring Michael Keaton. This is Keatons second directorial effort after 2008’s The Merry Gentleman (which I had never heard of before)

    Keatons directing choices here fall flat. The constant fade to black transitions, the staging, and the 100% cliche detective B-Story feels like Lifetime Original fare, and leads to a wildly uneven tone. To be fair, it’s a MAX streaming original, so it’s basically a made for TV movie, but it really feels like a made for TV movie. The plot is well paced, and compelling at times, but the A and B stories feel like they’re from different movies. 

    Keaton as a performer is metered and stoic, and well foiled by an energetic James Marsden

Al Pacino also has a small, but earnest role. Keaton brings life to the films strongest area; It’s realistic and stark presentation of dementia. 

    It’s not my favorite Keaton movie, and I honestly couldn’t say if it’s his best directorial work…but I can say that this film is the answer as to why he directs so rarely. Keaton seems to be much more comfortable and creative in front of the lens. 

    There have been a lot of films about dementia recently…and this is one of them.  I love seeing the surge in Michael Keatons career, but I’ll be happy if he focuses on acting.