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Murder on the Orient Express
(20th Century Fox)
By Lucas Allen
Much like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie became famous for her mystery novels, including her stories of famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who is featured in one of her most well-known novels, “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Though the book has been adapted before, with the 1974 film version directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Albert Finney as Poirot as the most memorable, actor/director Kenneth Branagh takes upon the challenge of giving the story a new look and feel for the 21st century. Those who find reading it in school too boring, for instance, may find the film helps them understand the story better.
After solving a case in Jerusalem, Poirot (Branagh) heads to Istanbul, where his old friend Bouc (Tom Bateman) landed him a room on board the famed Orient Express. The detective wants to relax on the three-day trip as a break from his sleuthing. But then ruthless gangster Ratchett (Johnny Depp) is found murdered during the night and Poirot reluctantly agrees to handle the case before handing it over to the local police.
As the train is blocked off by snow from an avalanche, he manages to find clues that lead to one possible motive.
Poirot then interviews some of the suspected passengers, each of whom has a personal connection to the victim and a past kidnapping and murder of a rich couple’s daughter. The passengers include the widow Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer), Ratchett’s assistant MacQueen (Josh Gad), governess Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley), the religious missionary Estravados (Penelope Cruz), professor Hardman (Willem Dafoe), and princess Dragomiroff (Judi Dench). Soon enough, Poirot finds himself weaving through a maze of deception and despair as he uncovers the shocking truth.
To bring an already adapted story into the new millennium, Branagh had to jump a lot of hurdles to make a film that was acceptable or stood out. On the bright side, he manages to use style to his advantage, much like with some of his other films. His use of light and dark, as well as other colors, helps add to an old-Hollywood feel based on the time the story was written. There are also some action scenes like the avalanche scene and a mid-movie chase happening outside the train that is enough to keep the movie from feeling too modern.
But despite the fact it’s a technical marvel, it’s pretty much the same story that’s already been told before. When comparing it to the classic ’74 version, this one feels like the same movie, right down to the conclusion, only updated with better visuals. If you’ve never heard about the story, it’s not a problem. However, any fan who read the book or has seen the other adaptations will find it more predictable and less interesting than before. If Branagh wanted to adapt it for a new generation, he could’ve taken a risk and change some parts of the story, including maybe a new twist to the conclusion, to give the movie more substance.
But at least the film features a strong cast of A-list actors. Branagh in particular sells Poirot with his giant mustache and his obsession to detail. Though his role is limited, Depp is playfully sinister and excels with his smarmy looks. Veteran actresses Pfeiffer, Cruz, and Dench add dimensions to their characters, while both Dafoe and Gad bring personality to their characters. The real highlight is Ridley, who sheds her “Star Wars” persona in a well-layered and convincing performance almost guaranteeing a bright future beyond a galaxy far, far away.
“Murder on the Orient Express” is great for newbies who want to introduce themselves to Christie’s murder mysteries. For those already acquainted, only those curious enough to see how it handles the material may like it. But for those who don’t want to tread the same path again, stick with the 1974 version.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for violence and thematic elements)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3 Stars (Out of Four)
