Josh O’Connor Takes Wake Up Dead Man to Church

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The Benoit Blanc films, similar to popular detective series, recognize the power of recurrence, which might be labeled a formula if one were to criticize. This ongoing movie series, initiated by Rian Johnson with the release of Knives Out in 2019 and followed by Glass Onion in 2022, continues with Johnson’s latest offering, Wake Up Dead Man. At this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, this film has garnered the most enthusiastic audience response so far. As with the previous films, Johnson gathers an ensemble of renowned actors, including Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, and Josh Brolin, to create a setup that allows Daniel Craig’s elegant Southern detective to bring everyone down.

While Wake Up Dead Man is another murder mystery, the most intriguing criminal act unfolds openly, as Josh O’Connor captivates the entire film with his performance, even outshining Benoit Blanc. And he does so while wearing the attire of a Catholic priest.

In this reinterpretation: O’Connor portrays Reverend Jud Duplenticy, a young, self-seeking priest embarking on a journey towards redemption. He’s assigned to a humble church in rural New York, where he encounters Monsignor Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, a character reminiscent of Colonel Kurtz – authoritative, combative, and bordering on insanity. Initially, O’Connor’s character engages in a power struggle with the older priest using light-hearted humor. The British actor (once more portraying an American role, as he did in Challengers) is particularly endearing with his awkward moments. He proves to be an excellent choice for Johnson’s knack for introducing comic relief at unexpected moments, which can be rather frustrating. However, it’s hard to find fault with someone that good-looking also possessing a sense of humor.

As a devoted cinephile, I found the profound earnestness of Rian Johnson’s film “Wake Up Dead Man” truly captivating. Unlike its comedic counterparts, this movie stands as the sincere and serious installment in the Blanc trilogy. It delves deep into themes of faith and politics, aspects that I believe will spark intriguing conversations among viewers.

If “Knives Out” and “Glass Onion” served as subtle jabs at the anti-immigrant right and Silicon Valley elitists, respectively, “Wake Up Dead Man” is Johnson aiming squarely at Trump and his allies. The ensemble cast portrays members of Wicks’ congregation, each harboring their own set of personal flaws that could potentially ignite a fatal conflict. Indeed, a murder does occur in this town, and Blanc arrives, brimming with theories and energy.

The film is primarily Father Jud’s, with O’Connor taking the lead role early on. Blanc doesn’t appear until a third of the way through, but O’Connor delivers a compelling performance that makes the movie his own. Portraying an idealistic priest who strongly believes in the church’s ability to redeem souls can be challenging for another actor, but O’Connor pulls it off flawlessly. He manages to strike a balance between being formidable and sympathetic, which is impressive considering his youthful appearance. There’s also a hint of darkness in his performance that adds depth to the character. Given that such devout religious figures may be suspected of wrongdoing, it’s not unthinkable for O’Connor’s priest to potentially be a murderer.

In the first two Blanc movies, Daniel Craig rightfully received praise, and he continues to shine here. However, in the film “Wake Up Dead Man,” which is as much about salvation as it is a mystery, Josh O’Connor becomes the standout performer: The Most Valuable… Clergyman. (Let’s agree that sounds less ridiculous.)

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2025-09-07 07:54