MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

First published in 1934, Murder On The Orient Express has gone on to be one of Agatha Christie's best-selling and well-known novels. It was the book that certified her legacy as one of the greatest mystery/crime authors that ever lived. Since its publication, it has been adapted into two feature films (one in 1974 and this latest adaptation) and two TV series, in 2001 and on an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot in 2010. With so many adaptations, was there really any need for another one? In my opinion, yes, as a lot of today's generation of viewers, including me, have probably never read the original book or seen the 1974 film. Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Christie's famous novel has a modern look to it and features the best actors, from both Britain and Hollywood. These include Branagh himself, as the famous Belgium detective Hercule Poirot, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dame Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Daisy Ridley, Josh Gad and many more. However, is Murder On The Orient Express a successful adaptation or one of this year's many disappointments?

In 1930s Europe, famed detective Hercule Poirot boards the legendary Orient Express for a small break in between cases. While on board, he meets an interesting assortment of characters. One fellow passenger, Samuel Ratchett (Johnny Depp), implores Mr. Poirot to assist him while on the train as he fears for his well-being, though Poirot respectfully declines. The next morning, Ratchett is found dead. With the train halted due to snow build up on the tracks, and with the evidence and suspects piling up, Poirot finds himself diving into a case that could be his biggest yet.

Because I hadn't read Christie's book or seen any of its adaptations prior to seeing Murder On The Orient Express, I had no idea what to expect and, fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed Branagh's take on the classic novel. The main problem with this latest feature is that a lot of older viewers will have read the book or seen the 1974 film and will already know what to expect which can leave them disappointed. Those who haven't experienced Murder On The Orient Express in any way will probably enjoy it more. In comparison to other adaptations, it's probably not that good, however, it works as a stand-alone mystery drama. 

Where Murder On The Orient Express succeeds is in Branagh's fast pacing and the suspense he maintains throughout. The majority of the film takes place on the Orient Express and, by using certain camera shots, it has a claustrophobic feel to it. The corridors are tight and the rooms are small so there's nowhere for the murderer to hide. What I found most impressive was Branagh's choices of camera angles and shots. The scene where Poirot, the conductor and the doctor discover the dead body is shot using an overhead angle which I thought was an interesting way to shoot a scene. We don't see the body itself until later in the film, what we do see is the shocked reactions of the characters. 

While the majority of Murder On The Orient Express does have a dark tone and chilling atmosphere, Branagh does sprinkle a few lighthearted moments throughout. His portrayal of the famous detective, Poirot, sparks a few chuckles, due to his lighthearted and likable personality. Poriot has been portrayed by many actors throughout the years, with many regarding David Suchet as the best portrayal in the 1989 drama series. Because of all the previous portrayals, there was a lot of pressure for Branagh to get the character just right and I think he has succeeded. He further proves why he's one of the best actors working today as he puts his all into his performance. It must have been a tough challenge to act and direct at the same time but, nevertheless, he has achieved it. 

Because of its star-studded cast, there's not a bad performance to be found. Michelle Pfeiffer was impressive as the widowed Mrs Hubbard and has a stand-out scene towards the end of the film. Daisy Ridley is currently best known for appearing as Rey in the latest Star Wars films, however, as the Governess, Mary Debenham, she proves that she's capable of handling dramatic roles outside of the famous sci-fi films. I was also impressed by Josh Gad who, in the past few years, has become better known for his comedic roles, however, as Ratchett's assistant, Hector MacQueen, he gives a good dramatic performance. Despite being given less screen time, every actor gives a solid performance. 

As for the mystery itself, I had no idea how the film was going to end. I was unsure of who the murderer was and was completely surprised by the ending. I can now understand why Murder On The Orient Express is one of the greatest mystery novels of all time. Like most good mysteries, it's full of clues, pieces of evidence and red herrings to keep audiences guessing. Each viewer will have a different opinion on who the killer is, however, they'll definitely be shocked at who it turns out to be. The twist leads to a thought-provoking climax about justice and revenge. After solving the murder mystery, Poirot must make the hard decision about whether or not to turn the murderer in. After a short while, he decides not to. This is because, earlier in the film, he made a dark and disturbing discovery about Ratchett, which lead to Poirot's understanding of why the murderer killed him. It was all about getting justice and Ratchett finally getting the punishment he deserves. 

Murder On The Orient Express isn't a perfect film and I'm sure that, once I read Christie's book or see the 1974 adaptation, I'll think less of it. Despite this, my first thoughts are that it's a thoroughly successful adaptation that features a star-studded cast and great directing from Kenneth Branagh who gives a fresh portrayal of Hercule Poirot.

7/10