I do love how the characters in wake up dead man are a lot more subtle with how awful they are. They're not the cartoonish evils of Glass Onion or the loud and chaotic old money evils of the first movie (which fit the vibe of their own movie). But the evil was more grounded. They were normal people that were radicalized by a man who used their bad sides to secure their undying loyalty. The incel behaviour is played for laughs, but it's also a sobering moment of ah, fuck these were just normal people before. They weren't rich. They weren't powerful. They were vulnerable. And easily manipulated.
It isn't just that Knives Out protagonists win by being kind and steadfast. They win by sticking to what it is they're good at. What they've been called to do, as thankless and as demeaning as those jobs can sometimes make them feel. They didn't play the "game" like Benoit did. They just did what they knew they were good at.
Marta wins because she was a nurse and a caregiver before anything else. She wins the inheritance because she gave Harlan companionship, not just medical care. She gets the truth out of Ransom because she acted as a nurse, trying to save Fran even though she still dies in the end. Had Harlan just fucking listened to the actual medical expert in the room instead of himself, he would have lived.
Helen wins because she's a third-grade teacher—her job is literally educating, caring for, and looking out for kids. Glass Onion isn't just the working class vs the wealthy, it's an actual functioning adult woman vs a bunch of adult-sized toddlers, whining and throwing temper tantrums and thinking only of themselves. She plays games with her third graders, and in the end she wins by making a game of destroying everything Miles ever held dear, even getting the others to side with her.
Jud wins because he's an actual fucking priest, who actually embodies everything his god taught. He doesn't try to poach Wick's "flock" or anything, nor does he allow himself to surrender to anger and vindictiveness in the way Wick did. Jud is absolved of all his crimes because he just wants to do good by his church, in the name of his god.
Just as Blanc is an excellent detective, so too are these three spectacular at their jobs.
Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig just keep reiterating the same points in every film and I do love them for it.
• Respect the working class
• Fucking respect women.
• Listen to the local queer person who is excellent at their jobs and you will go far.
With three movies to compare between, I really appreciate how each Knives Out movie explores justice from a different thematic angle, not based on the murder that was committed but based on the cruelty that led to that murder.
In Knives Out, a compassionate, ethical young woman treats everyone around her with generosity, and the people around her repeatedly try to take advantage of her kindness to force her into losing the fortune that was gifted to her by a dear friend. There, justice means that she keeps the fortune and decides that actually, she doesn't have to be kind and giving to people who've proven themselves assholes.
In Glass Onion, a woman loses her sister to a gang of wealthy, successful people who've sacrificed their principles for the sake of ambition and ego. There, justice means that everyone involved will be made notorious: whatever their other accomplishments, they will forever be known for being complicit in the burning of the most famous painting in history.
In Wake Up Dead Man, the church takes advantage of a young girl's loyalty and faith to place her under a lifelong burden and fill her with guilt, shame, and hatred. Justice means helping her understand what was done to her and the women around her, and giving her compassion so she can find peace.
This is cool because it means the movies contradict each other! The compassionate justice of Wake Up Dead Man would be totally misplaced in Knives Out, and so would the toppling-monuments justice of Glass Onion. And because each movie has something different to say, they all stand on their own and feel fresh.
This is also why Benoit Blanc is the uniting figure but never the protagonist of these movies. He's an agent of legal justice in that he's the detective and it's his job to figure out whodunnit, but the protagonist -- Marta, Andi and now Jud -- is always the character who delivers thematic justice.
obsessed with how the scene where Jud is on the phone with louise is, through his own eyes, a reminder of what being catholic and being a priest means to him, but to benoit as an atheist it isn’t some eye opener of what Catholicism or God or holiness is supposed to be, but of who Jud really is. just at the end of the day a genuinely kind person.
The colors and use of light displayed in Wake up Dead Man are PHENOMENAL and I wanted to share some thoughts me and my partner had over the days.
SPOILERS AHEAD (this might be longer than expected)
Wake up Dead Man is a movie that have a LOT of religious meaning and intent, from a murder inspired heavily in the resurrection of Christ (with not only the murder happening in Easter Week three days before the "resurrection" itself, but also a crypt with a stone door that only opens from the inside, just like the location it is normally told about the hiding of Christ's body before resurrection, and Grace being represented as a twisted version of Holy Mary to them), to the most precious and expensive jewel being the representation of temptation, the Eve's Apple.
But there's a very dedicated camera and lighting work that wants to show us the intention behind the scenes, something deeper but obvious, to tell us a bit about the characters and their intents.
And the colors, ohhh the colors baby
That's where this analysis is going.
We have an arrange of colors that are displayed boldly throughout the film, but some colors are more present than others; more specifically, Red, Blue, Green, White and Black. The intensity of warm rays of light are another issue to discuss, but we're going to address it when it's time.
RED
Red was seen initially by me as a color of lying, something that whenever a character had in their wardrobe or was presented boldly in a background showed that what was said was not entirely true, and it could be easily distorted and retold as the character would seem fit, but it felt easy and quite obvious to perceive, since the color red can be an amalgamation of meanings.
But when we take religion in consideration, we can limit a bit and can see red as sacrifice, blood, and most importantly, sin.
The first time we see red so boldly, besides the decoration of the church, is through Martha's story of the Harlot's Whore.
The scene describes Grace, the "slut", wearing revealing clothes, being considered a sin inside of Father Parlament's family for her lifestyle, taking care of Wicks even through such "sinful actions of his mother".
Martha's lies of the true event of the tale are shown with a red strike, but her perspective is not the only one that can be interpreted. (we'll see it soon!)
The sin of greed, anger and a missed opportunity to become filthy rich from a fortune that was secretly never meant to be; the telltale from a child that saw a woman consumed by hatred.
Jefferson Wicks at its peak (and right before his fall), is also seen in red, in a position of power and ignorance, of loyalty to its own ego and violence.
Compared to Wicks, Father Jud can be seen, instead, in a position of subservience, bowed down to an abusive religious power he cannot control anymore.
The murder weapon and blood follow an obvious path, but nonetheless it's blood - sacrificial; shown and depicted as a means to an end, to show the son of God resurfacing and coming back with vengeance, haunting those who did not believe in his faith and power (Priest Jud).
Any characters that are seen sat down on the red sofa are being sinful in a way; either through lying, deceiving, ignoring the issue at hand or deciding to be complacent to the violence within. Martha is seen walking through the red carpet of the church, holding red flowers, and seen with many other red elements throughout the entire movie, hinting a sin unspoken, something you cannot tell, therefore cannot blame.
Even Prentice has sinned at the revelation of the real tale in Martha's Confession; where his actions of swallowing a gem to avoid a sinful act of another can be seen as sinful itself, if you think that's a prejudice and judgement he have for his own daughter and do not want her to have it for being too "sinful" in his own eyes.
BLUE
If we see red as "lies", blue would be the truth, but that's not a satisfying conclusion, is it? Considering religion, Blue can be seen as the sky, water, and even better: the Holy Spirit. But here, I'd like to give another interpretation, of a truth of greed.
Every character in blue is being sincere or truthful, yes, but also coveting for something. Either for the truth itself, or wanting something in return, always with an objective in mind.
The first time we see blue being depicted is also in Martha's tale of the Harlot's Whore. Both blue and red in a single frame might have created some confusion, but the scene with blue shows Prentice telling her of never allowing such sin to become part of the church, the temptation of money that leads men to its fall - and THAT meant an objective for Martha, something she started believing it was right to follow and act, since Grace only wanted the riches behind the faith.
And from the same scene of Grace ruining the church, the blue speaks of the true main objective behind it: finding such fortune. It is not clear for the viewer until the very end, but she's searching for the jewel inside the statues, something easily depicted and hidden as a "fit of rage". It was said to "Look not for the Eve's Apple, but Christ" and she did exactly that.
Quite easy to mask, if you think of the pastor having so many moments of immense "fortitude" when drinking to no end.
Benoit Blanc, through his observation and sense of space, also has changes of lighting many times for a more "moody blue", showing that what he's suggesting or theorizing is indeed truthful; seeking, in this case, for the solution of the mystery. His ties are mostly blue within an ocre suit, showing his truth being not only more logical in nature, but as a character who values it.
Father Jud also shares moody blue scenes with him! He's going through moments of questioning his faith, understanding what's true and what's not and having noticeable scenes of reflection of the truth makes him more than a clueless company alongside Benoit.
Pastor Jud also shows slight blue throughout the film besides lighting changes, such as his water bottle on his desk when he's writing as accurately as possible about the happenings in the last 9 months. His blue sweater and clothes are also big indicators, which reminds me of all of the other suspects as well.
From the scenes of revelation of "murder shenanigans" to the rise of conflict between the Jefferson Wicks' flock, there are many of them wearing slight tones of blue and red through the plot. Cy wearing navy while revealing about his private conversation with Wicks alongside his blue Iphone to gain support and money, Nat with his blue suit the moment Wicks falls to the ground prepared to maintain the secret plan, Simone's blue-purple pod in frustration of knowing a con-man, and even the Coronel with her obvious cop blue tone in search of the answers, there are many indicators of truth and objectives through them.
Vera in specific is a very interesting character to analyse in this, being not only the first character in Wicks' close flock to question his attitudes because of her personal struggles (Cy), but also the first to sympathize with Grace, someone disgraced for more than 60 years in her church. She's CLEARLY wearing a blue suit when confronting. It's not navy, it's not a blue-ish black. It's an affront. A revelation that she won't fall for the same bullsh*t anymore.
The forest has been a clear indication of blue aswell, the darkest ones, to show the vulnerability, the openness of space and the things you cannot escape.
I cannot be certain because certain screens will have slight color differences than my watching experiences, but Martha is the only one that doesn't wear blue as an elder (as a child she did have a checkered blue dress tho! But that's me going too deep!)
GREEN
If blue and red were indicators of sin and truth behind conivation... What is the green? (I swear we're finishing!!!)
It was an enigmatic color for me, I won't lie, what IS the meaning behind green? Essence? Humanity? Nature? Maybe.
In the Catholic Bible green has many meanings; mercy, nourishment, new life, flourishing, renewal, vigor, anointing.
And the answer may be quite versified, yet one has come to mind in sense of consistency: Faith.
Let's go back to the Harlot's Whore again. You know the drill by now. The scene in specific is Prentice speaking about keeping the loved ones far from the corrupting hands, the power and money being represented as Eve's Apple, a temptation that leads to a despicable end. The sin comes through thinking the sinful enemy to keep away is Grace, but the green represents her belief in Eve's Apple. The belief to maintain such things away at all costs.
The same happens when Prentice swallows the jewel in front of her, green and blue are shown while she's focused on the jewel, showing that yes, it is the true tale about how Prentice hid the jewel from Grace and died, but she saw Eve's Apple for the first time. She understood the temptation it might've created, therefore the meaning behind the name chosen. She believed, carried the secret of its location for 60 years with faith that keeping it would keep the church safe from corruption. God from Satan's hands.
Father Jud is quite a representative of green, and, therefore, Faith. He's seen wearing green in the movie, although it's subtle, but it shows himself exercing his potential as a priest. His faith is freeing, supportive and forgiving. And green is his main color of choice when he reopens the church after everything that happened. It's a new beginning, it's what it was meant to be.
The plaque is Green, it's revitalized and it's open for everyone.
The acid, however, is another issue. Just like blood, carries a different meaning. Revitalization and flourishing through the process of death could be one of them, like giving a new purpose, death without sins or regrets through destruction, leaving only what truly makes us humans (tbh it's quite a supposition for me, it doesn't quite fit with the theme chosen for green, but it's still something remarkable that I cannot ignore just to "prove a point". It's all about thinking and discussing here!). It's quite an interesting and weird way to take out a body, but it's a badass method as well, Martha :D
Quite ironic to see so many scenes of nature with green, and acid being part of the color as well, opposite of such vibrant life.
Bonus
WHITE, ORANGE AND BLACK
White is an obvious one. Besides the meaning of Peace, there's virginity, purity, holiness, purification, and Jesus.
The only characters seen wearing all white are Prentice, Jefferson Wicks (after death), Samson and Grace.
Prentice is a priest, he wears white for being one. Wicks wears it because it's necessary for sepulture, leaving everything behind and being one with God. Samson is wearing it not only because it's a disguise, but he's the only good person in the midst of the flock. Grace, ironically for many, also wears white when it's enraged, its pure form of anger and desperation, pain and sadness all at once.
Orange is for the Jewel, Eve's Apple. The religious meanings are interesting, from baptism of the Holy Spirit to probation, trial, judgment and the Glory of God.
And finally, black is seen not only in the funeral (duh), but it's Martha's main color. It's a reminder she has never stopped reminding herself of what she needed to do, trapped in a hated tale of a poor girl as means to justify her actions. She let go at her last moments, receiving Grace she should've earned from the only Faith she trusted.
There are waay more things to comment, but I wanted this to leave my chest through a Tumblr post!
"Wake Up Dead Man", and the thankless labor of women
One of the things that stayed with me the most, was reflecting on traditional gender roles in the Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude congregation and how it relates to religion in general.
Vera halts her life to raise a child she has no moral obligations towards. Simone is the church's biggest donor, keeping it operable basically by herself. Martha is the only employee handling administrative work in the church, keeping the treasure a secret her whole life. They are all endlessly devoted. They are all meant to be contrasts of Grace, the real "women of God," and in the end, it's thankless labor from all of them.
Vera's adopted brother is a selfish jackass who appreciates nothing about what she did for him. He saw her as just a free nanny to be "dumped" once his real father showed up.
Simone is being prayed on at her weakest and used as a cash cow, only to be told she can't be healed because she's a faithless woman.
And Martha only realises at the tail end of her life that her selfless devotion to a man and his teachings meant nothing to him. That he betrayed her the first chance he gets.
Wicks sees himself as blameless, has no standard for his own behavior. He's a disgusting, horrible man, who deserves none of their devotion.
When Vera and Martha realize that their whole life they trusted the story of the "harlot whore", only to experience the exact same treatment even after doing everything in their power not to be like her, that's the first time they can reflect on her, and when they finally realize:
The way Father Judd renamed the church from "Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude" to "Our Lady of Perpetual Grace"... I am insane about this film. Grace Wicks you WILL always be famous
you mean that you show that the church that we enter is devoid of faith by having the cross (the cross that grace destroyed) (the woman controlled by her father that still believed in her father's word) (because he was a man of faith) (and was betrayed in the end because dressing provocatively is a sin not as easily forgiven as is lying) (and so faith is long gone from that church because grace is gone) (that poor girl) be empty and the shadow of it clearly visible in the wall that has to bear it?
you mean that you show when a character is showing grace (like the name of the character that was wronged and why this all happens in the first place) (that not once is shone with that light because she was forgotten by the very god that her father worshipped) (that poor girl) light shines upon them like god themselves is guiding the shone-upon character?
and that this is the only moment that benoit doesn't solve a case, at least officially, because having grace (the sun dims every time benoit talks) (only shining when he realizes he's being selfish) (when he understand that this is bigger than himself) (that this is not a game) is more important than being right.
you mean to tell me that when father jud carves a new cross (bringing faith back into the church) he carves the figure on it in a way that can be understood both as jesus and as grace (a woman he has never met) (but a woman that looks so much like himself) (pointed at as a sinner just for being human) and that in the heart of the statue he puts eve's apple (returning it back to grace) (the rightful owner) (the only way he can) (righting a wrong he didn't cause) bringing grace finally into the church as a revered and not a hated figure (because his purpose is not to fight the wicked) (but to serve them and bring them to christ) (and where finally, finally, the light of the sun shines upon her)?
yeah i guess you could say i thoroughly enjoyed the imagery of wake up dead man. it was pretty neat.
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