Murder on the Orient Express, based on the novel by Agatha Christie - 7 out of 10

Murder on the Orient Express, based on the novel by Agatha Christie
7 out of 10


The original material is outstanding - the master of suspense, mystery, detective stories has created a legendary novel.
The classic train is stopped by the heavy snow in the middle of nowhere and a loathsome man is killed...

Edward Ratchett aka Johnny Depp.
The famous actor gives a rather bad performance and he is not the only one.

It seems from one point on that all the travelers had a reason to kill the vicious Ratchett.
Evidently, they initially pretend to have no idea who the dead man was.

Hercule Poirot aka Kenneth Branagh, who shares with Sherlock Holmes the title of most popular, best known detective in the world, is on the Orient Express and we can expect him to solve the case, no matter how complicated, even if there are multiple assassins.

This newest adaptation for the big screen seems inferior to previous ones, especially the one directed by Sydney Lumet.
The celebrated creator of Dog's Day Afternoon, The Hill, the Network and other classics has written an excellent book:

Making Movies in which he talks about the aforementioned films, including his Murder on the Orient Express.

As for the one directed by Kenneth Branagh, well, it ben fits from the acting of

Judy Dench, Derek Jacobi, Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe, the already mentioned actor-director and the rather inefficient Johnny Depp.

Alas, it is all a case of

Much Ado About Nothing 

Kenneth Branagh has been placed on the cover of time after his monumental Henry V.
Instead of giving audiences films that they at least compare with his Henry V and other outstanding Shakespearean adaptations, we have this misfire.

He will do better next time...Insh'Allah!