Movie Review – Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

murder_express

Movie Synopsis:

In this latest film adaptation to the classic whodunit novel by Agatha Christie, famed detective Mr. Hercule Poirot is traveling back to England on the famed Orient Express train. Many other guests are on board, and Mr. Poirot simply wants a calm journey before he gets back to the hustle and bustle of London.  However, when a man turns up dead in the train, and the train is derailed in the mountains in a snowstorm, it is up to Mr. Poirot to calm the passengers, and conduct an investigation into who the murderer is.  As the investigation unfolds, the detective uncovers a complex situation, and motives everywhere.

Movie Review:

This film was a highly enjoyable murder mystery, which had a lot going for it. For starters, the cinematography of the film was fantastic, with scenes both on the train and visuals of the train traveling through European and Middle Eastern countryside and urban areas extremely satisfying and picturesque. Scenes when the train is derailed on a snowy cliff are also well executed.

Another major plus for the film was the ensemble cast, which was top notch.  Kenneth Branagh does an incredibly convincing job as the aloof but sensible and moral Inspector Poirot.  Branagh really embodies the character and does a great job showing how the detective thinks as he pursues the case. Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, and others round out an array of cast members with different backgrounds, issues, and shades of grey. The result is a combination of characters with differing levels of chemistry, making for a number of taut scenes that are enjoyable for the audience to watch, as we work with Poirot to try and figure out the case.

The one negative side to this film was that in a few small areas, the pacing felt a little bit slow, which is also one element to the book itself that can be challenging. The train is stuck in the snow for a long time, and at times the pacing feels a bit slowed down as well.  However, this is a minor issue, and overall this is a fantastic film that is enjoyable and fun to watch.

It is definitely a strongly recommended movie to enjoy!

Overall: 4 stars out of 5 stars.