Film review: Murder on the Orient Express (12A)

It’s pretty rare that almost every character in a film is played by a major actor or actress – but that’s very much the case in the hotly-anticipated remake of Murder on the Orient Express.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh – who also plays legendary detective Hercule Poirot – the latest version of the 1934 Agatha Christie book is certainly an ambitious murder mystery.

Although I’ve never read the book or seen the original film, I understand that Branagh’s remake re-treads in their famous footsteps and tells the same story.

Perhaps going into the ‘whodunnit’ style film with no prior knowledge of the original work is the best way to view Murder on the Orient Express, as the famous twist did deliver the best moment of the near two-hour running time for me.

Anyway, the basic premise is this; one of the Orient Express’ (a train that runs across Europe, most  commonly from Istanbul to Paris) passengers is murdered in a pretty brutal manner, forcing Poirot – the famed Belgian detective – to  launch an investigation.

That ensures that every single one of the train’s first-class guests find themselves on the suspect list.

I’ll not say who suffers a gruesome demise onboard the luxurious train (even though many of you will already know), but the impressive array of characters is the film’s biggest strength.

From Johnny Depp’s Edward Ratchett – a shady art dealer that appears to have a few even shadier people chasing him – to Michelle Pfeiffer’s happy-go-lucky Caroline Hubbard, who is potentially “husband shopping”, there are so many intriguing personas.

There’s not enough room to run through all of them in detail, but Murder on the Orient Express also boasts the talents of  Willem Dafoe (Gerhard Hardman), Judi Dench (Princess Dragomiroff), Penélope Cruz (Pilar Estravados), Daisy Ridley (Mary Debenham), Josh Gad (Hector MacQueen), Leslie Odom Jr (Dr Arbuthnot), Tom Bateman (Bouc), Olivia Colman (Hildegarde Schmidt) and Derek Jacobi (Edward Henry Masterman) – and that’s but a few.

Murder mystery style films aren’t all that commonplace these days – and there is perhaps a reason for that due to the spoiler-heavy world we now live in.

I can’t say that I would rush back to the cinema to see it again, but this remake is certainly worth a watch for the cast alone.

Branagh is perhaps a little over-the-top as Poirot, but his moustache really is a thing of beauty (for what it’s worth).

That beauty is matched by the film itself, with the era beautifully reimagined.

Overall, there is plenty to enjoy in one of the year’s more unique offerings.

Voice Verdict: 7.5/10 (reviewed at Boston West End Cinema)

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Nov 10 to Thurs, Nov 16)

**POKÉMON THE MOVIE: I CHOOSE YOU (PG)
3pm (Sat)

**PADDINGTON 2 (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 4.25pm (daily), 6.15pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (12A)
12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 3pm (Sat/Sun), 5.45pm (daily), 8.20pm (daily)

BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS (15)
6pm (not Mon/Thurs), 6.30pm (Mon), 8.45pm (daily)

THOR RAGNAROK (12A)
2D – 11.30am (Sat/Sun), 2.30pm (Sat/Sun), 8.30pm (daily)
3D – 5.30pm (daily)

JIGSAW (18)
6.45pm (not Mon/Tues), 8.45pm (not Thurs)

MY LITTLE PONY (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2pm (Sat/Sun)

LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (U)
10.20am (Sat/Sun), 12.20pm (Sat/Sun)

KIDS’ CLUB
10.15am Sat/Sun – The Jungle Bunch (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Thor Ragnarok (12A)

SUBTITLED SHOWING
Tues 8.15pm – Bad Moms Christmas (15)

**FREE LIST SUSPENDED