Murder on the Orient Express
(B or 3/4 stars)
1974's film adaptation of Agatha Christie's whodunit novel 'Murder on the Orient Express' was a solid prestige flick that garnered Academy Awards attention. I enjoyed it on many levels, but found the revelation of the killer & the denouement to be somewhat underwhelming ... and I feel exactly the same with this new version directed by & starring Kenneth Branagh. The film opens is Jerusalem. The year: 1934. Having just cracked a case there, Belgian master detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) - and his oversized moustache - is looking forward to a much-needed vacation. Unfortunately for him, he is summoned to yet another case in London and, with his pal Bouc (Tom Bateman), must board the Orient Express. A thuggish passenger, Edward Ratchett (a snake-like Johnny Depp), whose art dealer business appears shady, tries to hire Poirot for protection {Ratchett keeps getting death threats}.
But Ratchett ends up murdered by way of multiple stab wounds, & there's a train full of suspects. While an avalanche forces the now-derailed luxury train to stop on a hazardous trestle, prissy OCD-ed Poirot meticulously interviews the suspects one by one, including: Ratchett's secretary, MacQueen (Josh Gad), Ratchett's valet, Masterman (Derek Jacobi), society lady/widow, Mrs. Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer), purse-lipped Princess Dragomiroff (Dame Judi Dench), her maid, Ms. Schmidt (Olivia Colman), sweet governess, Miss Debenham (Daisy Ridley, of Star Wars fame), respectable Dr. Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom Jr.), a racist Austrian professor, Gerhard Hardman (Willem Dafoe), & a sullen missionary, Pilar Estravados (Penelope Cruz). But the more Poirot discovers, the less the clues seem to add-up. And he comes to realize that this case might be the 1st in which the solving of it is beyond his talents.
Kenneth Branagh lends a classic directorial style to his films and, that's no different here. I enjoyed this film. It is great looking. The ensemble cast is a who's who of past, present & future stars -- it's a wow-er. The film takes place {mostly} in a single location, but Branagh's camera moves elegantly through the narrow train corridors. The camera swerves inside, outside, above, or wide; using unique angles, mirror & windows to give the film a more open, epic feel. The train itself is luxurious & gorgeous; a dark-wooded wonder that anyone would love to board & travel from Istanbul to Paris in. The costumes that each character wears are impeccable to the 1930s era. And Patrick Doyle's musical score is effective, as well.
Now, this isn't a typical murder mystery in that it's not overly suspenseful or thrilling. Rather, it provides archetypical characters & explores their backgrounds to see who could have killed this man, and why. And the characters - while broad/archetypical - are performed well by all. Branagh gives the brainy, humorous Poirot an emotional center that was previously untapped. Most effective of the supporting players are Pfeiffer's widow, Cruz's enigmatic missionary, Depp's Ratchett, oh hell ... they're all good. I even liked the banter btwn. Poirot & his pal Bouc, played by Tom Bateman. I don't think this film has quite the cast as Sidney Lumet's '74 version (Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Anthony Perkins, John Gielgud, Sean Connery, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, etc.), but it's still impressive.
Complaints of the film? Well, there's a lot of plot exposition to suss through. And as mentioned, the reveal of the killer & subsequent wrap-up is meh. But overall, I think it's great to experience one of these all-but-forgotten old-school murder mystery films. 'MOTOE' does not re-invent the wheel & it didn't blow me away, but Branagh, his cast, the impeccable period detail, et al should appeal to audiences both new & familiar with the source material.
But Ratchett ends up murdered by way of multiple stab wounds, & there's a train full of suspects. While an avalanche forces the now-derailed luxury train to stop on a hazardous trestle, prissy OCD-ed Poirot meticulously interviews the suspects one by one, including: Ratchett's secretary, MacQueen (Josh Gad), Ratchett's valet, Masterman (Derek Jacobi), society lady/widow, Mrs. Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer), purse-lipped Princess Dragomiroff (Dame Judi Dench), her maid, Ms. Schmidt (Olivia Colman), sweet governess, Miss Debenham (Daisy Ridley, of Star Wars fame), respectable Dr. Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom Jr.), a racist Austrian professor, Gerhard Hardman (Willem Dafoe), & a sullen missionary, Pilar Estravados (Penelope Cruz). But the more Poirot discovers, the less the clues seem to add-up. And he comes to realize that this case might be the 1st in which the solving of it is beyond his talents.
Kenneth Branagh lends a classic directorial style to his films and, that's no different here. I enjoyed this film. It is great looking. The ensemble cast is a who's who of past, present & future stars -- it's a wow-er. The film takes place {mostly} in a single location, but Branagh's camera moves elegantly through the narrow train corridors. The camera swerves inside, outside, above, or wide; using unique angles, mirror & windows to give the film a more open, epic feel. The train itself is luxurious & gorgeous; a dark-wooded wonder that anyone would love to board & travel from Istanbul to Paris in. The costumes that each character wears are impeccable to the 1930s era. And Patrick Doyle's musical score is effective, as well.
Now, this isn't a typical murder mystery in that it's not overly suspenseful or thrilling. Rather, it provides archetypical characters & explores their backgrounds to see who could have killed this man, and why. And the characters - while broad/archetypical - are performed well by all. Branagh gives the brainy, humorous Poirot an emotional center that was previously untapped. Most effective of the supporting players are Pfeiffer's widow, Cruz's enigmatic missionary, Depp's Ratchett, oh hell ... they're all good. I even liked the banter btwn. Poirot & his pal Bouc, played by Tom Bateman. I don't think this film has quite the cast as Sidney Lumet's '74 version (Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Anthony Perkins, John Gielgud, Sean Connery, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, etc.), but it's still impressive.
Complaints of the film? Well, there's a lot of plot exposition to suss through. And as mentioned, the reveal of the killer & subsequent wrap-up is meh. But overall, I think it's great to experience one of these all-but-forgotten old-school murder mystery films. 'MOTOE' does not re-invent the wheel & it didn't blow me away, but Branagh, his cast, the impeccable period detail, et al should appeal to audiences both new & familiar with the source material.