Murder on the Orient Express

Johnny Depp, Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Pfeiffer,

Daisy Ridley, Derek Jacobi, Penelope Cruz,

Dame Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, Josh Gad

"Everyone is a Suspect"

This latest remake of the Agatha Christie's novel is directed by Kenneth Branagh who I grew up watching in several films with his ex wife Emma Thompson. In this tale, he portrays the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. A role which I normally associate with the actors Peter Ustinov (in his late years) and David Suchet whom I remember as being really good characterization of Poirot. 

Murder on the Orient Express is one, if not the most famous Agatha Christie novel. The book, set in the late 1930s is a crime story with numerous characters who all become suspects in the murder that occurs on board this famous train ride. A journey that was interrupted by an avalanche which blocks the rail tracks. Poirot who happens to be a passenger on the train takes it upon himself to probe the murder, given that he is under immense pressure to solve 'the crime' lest the killer strikes again and before they reach their destination.

Kenneth Branagh takes on the gargantuan task of directing as well as essaying the main role which entails sporting the famous moustache, his witty analysis of every circumstance with his natural probing attitude. Although Branagh tends to overact with his soliloquies, his Poirot was spot on.  

The rest of the cast headed by the enigmatic Johnny Depp all blend in well together. Each of them performing their best in a sea of characters who all want to stand out. Yet they do well with the complicated dialogue which is reminiscent of the manner, English was spoken during that era.

Costume wise, they are all garbed befitting the late 1930s. The plot with its numerous twists and flashbacks can be a bit murky, trudging and clocking in 114 minutes. Certain scenes were dragging on unnecessarily while a few vital sequences passed by too quickly.  Overall, the film is buoyed by its great cast who did their best to keep us invested in the whodunit till the very end, with its big reveal folding up nicely towards the somewhat, dare I say forced conclusion.  

I remember watching the 1974 version of this film with Albert Finney as Poirot, but my short attention span memory completely blocked out who the killer was and how it all ended. Therefore I was gripped with suspense and wanted to learn who committed the crime in this version, even though Kenneth Branagh with Poirot's moustache engaging in a soliloquy ever so often can be quite distracting, I'd say!