Murder on the Orient Express

I started reading Agatha Christie murder mysteries in fifth grade and have been enamored ever since.  I saw the 1974 movie version and have read the novel several times.  In fact, knowing that the movie was coming out, I decided to reread the novel once more.  Kenneth Branaugh has made a worthy vehicle for Christie’s great who-done-it.  He also stars as  Hercules Poirot, the little Belgian detective with the fastidious mustache  who uses his grey cells to outwit and catch killers.  In order to appreciate a movie like this, you need to know going in that there will be no explosions, car chases, romance or sex (or innuendo for that matter).  You will get, however, an entertaining movie as you try to figure out who killed the despicable Mr. Ratchett, played by a remarkably restrained Johnny Depp.  The cast is chock full of acting talent,  You have relative newbie Daisy Ridley all the way up to the venerable Dame Judy Dench as suspects in the crime.  Other notables include Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom, Jr. and two of my favorite British actors, Derek Jacobi  and Olivia Coleman.  I heard Mr. Branaugh say in an interview that they built a replica train for this movie and it is quite something to behold.  In fact, they have done a superlative job of recreating the mystique, glamour and elegance of an era now fading from memory. The set (the train, really) and the scenery from Egypt to the snowy Balkan mountains, are breathtakingly realistic.  If you enjoy movies like Gosford Park or television shows like Downton Abbey, I think you will enjoy Murder on the Orient Express.