Monday Movie Time - Murder on the Orient Express Review 🎬

Hello there Internet!

I hope you are doing well wherever you are in the world right now 🌏

Today's post is something that I'm really excited about.

When I was in middle school (so like Year 8 and Year 9 for those of you who just got really confused), I used to love reading murder mysteries. They were my jam, and Agatha Christie was my girl of choice.

I got completely swept up in each mystery, but there was one that always stuck with me. The Murder on the Orient Express. So when I saw that a film version had been made, I got really excited.

Here is what I thought:

One of the most infamous mysteries ever written got a contemporary cinematic update with a stellar cast and spectacular scenery to match. The film of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” is a pleasant visual massage for the mind, and a rollercoaster of emotions and intrigue.

It’s a race against time for famed detective Hercule Poirot to solve the murder of a man on the majestic Orient Express. Everyone is a suspect; but when the truth becomes increasingly hard to come by, how will Poirot find the murderer before they strike again?

Any Christie novel would be quite the mountain to climb considering she is an icon in the world of murder mystery. But one of her most famous stories ever? That’s an Everest-sized tall order, and I was nervous for director Kenneth Branagh and his all-star cast. Would they reach the summit or fall flat?

This film certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, but trust me when I say that’s a good thing. It was a fresh take on the classic story, and all the different elements came together to create a thoroughly enjoyable film experience.

The picturesque scenery was breathtaking. The sweeping landscape shots that followed the Orient Express weaving through the European countryside made it feel like the location was its own character. These shots placed audiences in the thick of the atmosphere and fostered a sense of isolation for the passengers; especially when they get stranded.

The train itself was beautiful, and it looked right at home in the gorgeous European countryside.

I especially enjoyed Kenneth Branagh’s efforts as a director. Through the curious choice of points of view and camera angles, you could tell that he had a very specific vision in mind. Everything felt very deliberate, and I thought it was visually enticing and innovative.

From an acting perspective, Branagh’s portrayal of the infamous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot was very intriguing. There’s nuances in how Christie had written him in the novels, and David Suchet’s TV performance came pretty close to perfect. 

Kenneth Branagh embraced the mustache to portray Belgian super-detective Hercule Poirot.

So, I’m glad that Branagh decided to try something completely different. The accent held up relatively well throughout and there were moments when the detective’s eccentric tendencies translated in some great comedic timing. But what I liked most about Branagh’s Poirot was the decisiveness in which he conducted his investigation. He was strong and commanding, even in times of confusion and frustration. He captured the brevity and wonder of Poirot’s ability to solve even the most mindboggling of cases and did the best detective in the world justice. Bravo.

Character wise, there were 12 train passengers who were implicated as suspects for the murder. The cast list in this regard was full to the brim with stars and talent; including Michelle Pfeiffer, Dame Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, Leslie Odom Jr and Johnny Depp.

There were numerous tense moments throughout the narrative; brilliantly acted by the stellar cast.

Everyone had their moments to shine, but I thought there were a couple of people that really stood out for different reasons. Star Wars favourite Daisy Ridley gave a strikingly elegant performance as the Governess Mary Debenham, whilst Penelope Cruz brought the delicate vulnerability to a strong portrayal of devout Nun Pilar Estravados.

But I thought Lucy Boynton gave a memorable performance as Countess Elena Andrenyi. Guarded and plagued by drug addiction, her scenes stuck with me because of how seemingly fragile she was.

What I wasn’t expecting from this film was its strong thematic centre. With the complexity of detail and general storytelling needed to make a Christie narrative successful, the raw emotion and sentimentality can sometimes get a little lost. So, I quite liked how Michael Green’s screenplay read between the lines and implicitly focused on the humanity of the characters on the train, their conversations with Poirot and also Poirot’s relationship to his job of solving murders. There’s definitely more to take away from this film than just finding out who killed a man.

Paranoia is in the air as Poirot races to find the murderer amongst the passengers on the train.

Narrative wise, the screenplay also did a good job of conveying the case itself. I won’t spoil anything, but anyone who is familiar with Christie or this book will know it’s an absolute cracker. There was a nice balance between slow sleuthing and rapid discovery. This was good for audiences in turn because it keeps you hooked, but also gives you time to process and work over your own theories in your head.

Kenneth Branagh’s take on Agatha Christie’s classic “Murder on the Orient Express” was unexpectedly enjoyable in a lot of ways. The combination of grand landscapes and inventive camera made it feel particularly ominous and eerie. A guaranteed mental workout, this film is proof that there is no crime that Hercule Poirot can’t solve.

Happy cinema adventures!

★☆★☆★☆★

I hope you enjoyed that review. If you want to read more fun stuff like this, be sure to follow me @miss_memphis98 on both Instagram and Twitter to be updated on when I post new things 😊

Thanks for reading,

Love and intelligent mustaches, Emily xx 🔍