Murder on the Orient Express (2017) - Movie Review

Agatha Christie was a renowned author of the early twentieth century. The prolific author penned 73 novels and numerous other publications. One of her most famous novels was Murder on the Orient Express published in 1934. When it was released in the United States that year, the title was changed to Murder in the Calais Coach to avoid confusion with another recently published novel. It was forty years before the story became a movie fan favorite. The 1974 film received both critical and popular acclaim. The film was nominated for several Oscars, taking home the award for Best Supporting Actress won by Ingrid Bergman as Greta. The 2017 remake was good, but is unlikely to receive the acclaim of its predecessor.

The 1974 cast

The 2017 edition stars Kenneth Branagh as the renowned fictional detective Hercule Poirot. Branagh also directed the film. If you are looking for talent, this film is brimming with it. The cast includes film icons Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp and Willem Dafoe. With a whodunnit involving a train full of passengers, the individual roles almost feel like cameos. We get a bit of one-on-one dialogue between Poirot and each of the suspects, with just a dash of other interactions to help keep the story interesting.

For the uninitiated, I won't deliver any spoilers. But I will provide an overview of the story: Hercule Poirot is a famous detective. His ability to find the truth is rooted in his impeccable sense of balance. When something isn't exactly right, it is glaring to him. His attempt to take a vacation, after solving a mystery in Jerusalem, is sidetracked when his presence is urgently requested in England. He manages to secure a berth on the Orient Express from Istanbul, Turkey. An avalanche strands the train mid trip. While waiting for help to arrive to clear the track, the body of a criminal is discovered in his cabin. Poirot is pressed to solve the puzzling crime. Everyone on the train is a suspect. Which makes the task even more difficult to solve. Clues point in many directions, initially confounding the detective, who eventually works the problem out. His solution brings him full circle to his own unresolved business as his determination forces him to re-evaluate his own worldview.

When it comes to film, I am not a purist. If a revision changes the story, I get it. Sometimes an original work needs heavy editing to fit into a two hour format. Writer Michael Green manages to keep his story very close to the book, although liberties are taken with the story. For one, the mood is a bit darker. The characters do not line up perfectly with the original, but the themes remain the same. The story manages to provide ample misdirection while dropping certain clues as to the resolution that ultimately works itself out in a flow that felt natural enough. I thought the story was well done. I would normally call a story like this one contrived. But this one is delightfully contrived, so Christie gets a pass.

I enjoyed the performances in this film, which was really a bit of a love letter to Hollywood. It was a bit self indulgent, which I can tolerate. Judi Dench merely needs to appear to be fantastic. Her stage presence is amazing. She can do no wrong in my book (to date). Branagh was a quirky Poirot, which was felt a bit heavy handed at times, but his character was palatable. We don't see much of Cruz, who is churchmouse timid in this film. Willem Dafoe was solid, although we don't get much of him. I really loved his recent performance in The Florida Project. Michelle Pfeiffer was pleasantly sultry. Johnny Depp was gangster good. It's hard to go wrong with a cast like that. No performance stood out as weak.

One major difference between the 1974 version and the 2017 installment of Murder on the Orient Express is the cinematography. It felt like we were riding on a train. The special effects were very good, although some seemed a bit off to me (like the avalanche). The look of the film was rich. The costumes and sets created an impeccable illusion. I was transported to the 1930s by this film. And isn't that why we go to the theater? To be transported to another place or time. In that respect, this film succeeds as well. This 114 minute film has a PG-13 rating for thematic elements, primarily related to a murder. Language, alcohol and drug use are also elements affecting the rating. This film is pretty tame.

I like this film. Murder on the Orient Express is a classic. It is an acclaimed novel followed by an acclaimed film. I think some of the critics may feel this film did not need to be made. It didn't. But it was. I can't judge this film based on whether it is better or worse than its predecessor. I judge it based on my own enjoyment of the presentation of this classic tale. I thought it was done well. It wasn't perfect. It was even tedious at times. It was a little bit choppy. The pacing was decent. The characters were a bit flat, but that has a lot to do with the type of story this is as well as the amount of time dedicated to each plot line. Overall, I was satisfied with the film visually and felt connected enough to the action for a recommendation. IMDb is a bit harsh right now at 6.8. I believe that may come up a wee bit given some time. I would recommend the film for a matinee as this one is visually delightful at times. There is value it seeing it on the big screen as it may lose some polish on a television screen. 7.5/10.