If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, whodunits, Egypt, glamorous globetrotters or Kenneth Branagh; I have just the movie for you. Sir Kenneth once again plays Hercule Poirot (returning as the classic Belgian detective with the little grey cells whom we last saw in Murder on the Orient Express), He is taking a break from sleuthing by embarking on a relaxing vacation in Egypt. Vacation abruptly turns into a murder investigation when one of the passengers on a private yacht is murdered. It is obvious that someone on board is guilty of course, but who? Therein lies the fun of the movie. A myriad of characters and suspects are introduced. All have hidden secrets and motives. There is the glamorous Linnet Doyle (Gal Gadot) who stole her girlfriend’s (Emma Mackey) fiancée. The latter is stalking Linnet and her ex fiancée. Armie Hammer plays the sleazy playboy – who may or may not only be after his new wife’s money. Then there is Hercule’s old friend, Bouc, and his snarky artistic mother Euphemia – as well as Linnet’s ex fiancé, her personal maid and her lawyer, who all have something to hide. The writer has added a backstory to explain why Poirot wears such massive moustaches. This was not in any of the books I have read (I think I have read just about all of them), but I felt it was well-done and added to Poirot’s character. Also two additional characters have been added: Jazz singer Sophie Okenedo and her manager played by Leticia Wright, both with their own suspicious pasts. There are so many characters, though, that some really get the short end of the stick as far as time on camera: Russell Brand, Rose Leslie, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders immediately come to mind. Anyway, this movie is exactly what you’d expect out of a whodunit – great scenery, lavish sets and costumes, tons of red herrings, a plethora of suspects and a twist ending. The thing that keeps me from giving this movie my highest rating is I do think it was too long and dragged in the middle. But still, I am a big fan of whodunits, and if you are too, you are still going to want to catch this one (and hopefully the next one).
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.