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Murder on the Orient Express (2017), PG-13, ★★1/2


It is another remake from another movie in the '70s that put that story on the map of the top stories from the murder-mystery genre. Murder mysteries are a very interesting genre that depends on graphic depictions of crimes or a cerebral plot that will get you to think. I have to be quite honest that I was not as excited because of its marketing that focused more on the background music than what appetite we are going to get from this final result. This is a well-produced, well-cast movie that seems to lull in the middle act that focuses so much on Poirot and his mustache, that it becomes boring after a solid first act and the last 20 minutes ended well. But, when the train comes to a halt, the tension comes to a halt.

In the 1930s, after famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) solves a mystery in Jerusalem, he is looking forward to his upcoming holiday and taking a break from detective work. He gets on a boat from Istanbul where he makes the acquaintance of Governess Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley) and a doctor named Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom Jr.). After meeting his friend, Bouc (Tom Bateman), the director of the Orient Express, Poirot receives a telegram stating there is a case in France that needs immediate attention. He offers to take Poirot to France on the three-day trip on the Orient Express. At least, he will be relaxing on the way.

We see a number of characters, most notably: Samuel Ratchell (Johnny Depp), secretary Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad), Austrian professor Gerhard Herdman (Willem Dafoe), socialite Mrs. Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer), the elderly Princess Dragomiroff (Dame Judi Dench) and missionary Pilar Estravados (Penelope Cruz). As days pass, one of the passengers is murdered in its bed, Bouc implores Poirot to investigate it so he has to investigate both the passengers and the conductor.


This movie has beautiful cinematography by Haris Zambarloukos, great costume design, a great cast, a good production, however, I was not invested in Poirot's investigation or Branagh's pacing because the movie tries too hard to make it as cerebral or clever because to be honest, the conclusion of this murder is pretty simple and the person who will be murdered is predictable. And, most of that build-up to the conclusion of the murder is languid and not as exciting compared to other murder mysteries. Plus, you do not get connected to most of the characters as it focuses more on Poirot and his distracting mustache.

I just did not see anything fresh in comparison to the Sidney Lumet 1974 movie, which you see. There are more dull moments than breaths of fresh, new life and the tone is too one-dimensional that you can bare to take a nap for about 10-20 minutes. I forgot for some time who was in the movie as the film again does not focus on the suspects. The conclusion to this movie is psychologically stimulating but it was too late to save the movie. I would recommend it as a cable watch or to stream but to be honest, you will forget about this movie sooner than later. I was a bit disappointed.

**1/2


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