Murder on the Orient Express (2017 Film) Review

With Kenneth Branagh directing and starring, does this latest adaptation of the classic novel manage to overcome its off-point marketing?

This adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express stars Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Derek Jacobi, and Kenneth Branagh as the iconic detective, Hercule Poirot.

There's nothing close to nudity or profanity in this film and while the whole movie surrounds a certain murder, it is obscurely seen as it is committed. Outside of that, there's not a lot of violence, but if you are a parent and are concerned about whether this film is eligible for your kid(s), check out the Kids-In-Mind overview for specific details.

Before I begin, I would like to mention that even though I have read the book, this adaption will not be judged on how faithful it is to the book. Whether it does the source material justice, or injustice, will not come into play on what grade this film will receive. With that out of the way, time to begin the review.

Welcome back, Kenneth Branagh. After what seems like a while, you have returned and have reinvigorated a genre of filmmaking not seen in movies today. With Murder on the Orient Express, the second silver screen adaption of Agatha Christie's famous novel, Branagh brings back the mystery genre for a good, old-fashioned whodunnit. Also returning with Branagh, is his unique style of filmmaking with gorgeous cinematography, lavish production design, and a talented cast to boot.

Hercule Poirot

While the cast assembled is amazing, Branagh is not only the star behind the camera, but in front of it as well. He brings to life one of literature's best detectives, Hercule Poirot. Albert Finney and David Suchet are the two most notable actors to portray the detective in the last forty years and Branagh, deservedly so, easily ranks among those two actors as one of the best portrayals of the character to date.

From a perspective of only the film itself, Branagh stages the film so that you immediately know everything about who Poirot is within the first five to ten minutes. The fact that he's smart, resourceful, and, true to his claim, the greatest detective in the world, are all things you learn quickly and it is a brilliant movie by Branagh and he deserves majors kudos for it. Even unfamiliar audiences will become very familiar with the character in such a short amount of time. It's great not only from a story perspective, but when viewed as an individual's first experience in this world, it shows amazing foresight on Branagh. To be prepared to initiate the uninitiated swiftly is only one of the many talents Branagh displays with this movie.

Poirot himself may not be an funny character, but he does have his fair share of intentionally funny moments. The character may look very stoic, yet as you immediately get to know him, you find that Poirot is a much more layered and interesting character. As for Branagh's acting alongside his fellow cast members, his interactions with them are beyond exciting and, appropriate since it is a mystery, suspenseful. It's an overall marvelous performance from Kenneth Branagh.

The Suspects/Victim

I'm not going to go into much detail on each of the suspects of this mystery, because there's not a lot to say about a majority of them. While I may not do that, I will divulge who among them I enjoyed the most.

In my opinion the highlights of the supporting characters were Daisy Ridley as Mary Debenham, Michelle Pfeiffer's Caroline Hubbard, and the victim of the film, Johnny Depp as Samuel Ratchett.

That last one surprises me. I have not seen Johnny Depp give a good performance in a long time. He's been busy revisiting Captain Jack Sparrow, playing the Mad Hatter lately, and has recently signed on to play characters in the Fantastic Beasts and Dark Universe films, though that last one seems unlikely due to recent news of late. Every time I see Johnny Depp on the screen, I find him to be playing a slight variation of the same character: a drunk, boring man who I could not give a single care about. Here, that streak ends. Sure, he's murdered at the end of the first act, but he a great impression with his major involvement with the first act. His accent sounded authentic and the man's wardrobe was stunning. Johnny Depp's performance here, serves as a sign that he can be good with more care put into his character.

Daisy Ridley caught me off guard while watcher her performance on screen. When I found that she was going to be in this movie, I thought it was neat, but I did not expect anything from her. In fact, I thought she'd be lagging behind these more experienced and well-known actors. What I thought could not have been further from the truth. I do not even believe that "caught off guard" is the right way to put it. Rather, her performance was so enjoyable that during her scenes, she completely became the character and made me forget that this was a movie. Daisy Ridley played one of the more significant characters in this movie and she proved that she can handle the screen time. Her performance was full of life and character.

With Michelle Pfeiffer, this was a great return for her. Similar to Johnny Deep, though on a lesser scale, I haven't seen her in anything good for quite a while. On paper, Caroline Hubbard is an energetic, lively individual and that is exactly what is captured here with Michelle Pfeiffer in the role. It is completely within the actress's capability and I was proven right every time she was the focus of the film. Even when she wasn't, you couldn't help but be drawn to her, because Michelle Pfeiffer plays the character in a manner that completely steals most of the scenes in the movie. You'll find  what exactly that is when you see the movie itself. It is a bit of surprise.

The rest of supporting actors are alright. Outside of my favorites, I enjoyed Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Willem Defoe, and Tom Bateman, but the rest of the cast didn't make a strong enough performance to be memorable, or notable, among the variety of characters in this movie.

Cinematography/Production Design/Score

One of Kenneth Branagh's strengths, as a director, is that his cinematography in his films, is some of the most immersive cinematography I have seen in films lately. That does not change with Murder on the Orient Express. The locations the film is set in make it feel that you, the viewer, are present during these events. Branagh puts you right in front of everything. It makes you forget that you are watching a movie and feels like you are experiencing these events firsthand. Branagh and his cinematographer, Haris Zambarloukos, did an outstanding job with the filming each of the fine-tuned locations seen in this movie.

Like the film itself, the production quality here is so far unmatched from any other film I have seen this year. Aside from the fact that a murder occurred, I would love to travel on the Orient Express. The train, inside and outside, was stunning, quaint, and full of rich detail. There is a real sign of craftsmanship from whoever was responsible for designing and constructing the interior of the train. The color scheme worked seamlessly and the furniture to looked quaint and comfortable. This is an absolute shoe-in for the Best Production Design category at the Oscars this coming year. I'll be surprised if it does not get recognized.

With Kenneth Branagh returning to direct, so does his go-to composer, Patrick Doyle. To me, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Thor, have been the best soundtracks Doyle has composed. With Murder on the Orient Express, I do not find his music here to be particularly notable.

It's a basic, suspenseful soundtrack that does not have as much presence as I would hope. Even when it is showcased, there is not a lot to say about it, other than the fact that it makes certain scenes more suspenseful.

There's even a song played during the end credits of the film that was sung by Michelle Pfeiffer, and that is better than the entirety of what is heard in the rest of soundtrack throughout the near-two hour runtime of the movie.

Grade: B+

There may be misplaced and unauthentic product placement as well as the runtime being five to ten minutes too long, but Murder on the Orient Express is something you should see. If you are familiar with the novel, I would recommend that you check this adaptation out in theaters, and even if you are not, the theatrical experience will get you immersed in this world and it is worth the price of admission. If you are unable to catch it in theaters, you should definitely see it once it is available to buy, rent, or stream. Either way, you will enjoy your time with this movie.

This is my assessment of Murder on the Orient Express. If you saw it, tell me what you thought of the film and my review in the comments below. Let me know if you are familiar with the book or its other adaptions. If there is a movie you want me to review, share that it in the comments too. Thanks for reading, I am the Film Fanatic, bye-bye.