By Murtaza Ali Khan
Featured in IMDb Critic Reviews
Murder on the Orient Express is the latest rendition
of Agatha Christie’s 1934 classic detective novel of the same name that has
previously been adapted thrice—Sidney Lumet’s 1974 film, Stephen Harrigan’s
2001 TV film, and a 2010 episode of the British television series titled Agatha
Chistie’s Poirot. The latest adaptation, based on a screenplay by Michael Green,
is directed by Kenneth Branagh who also essays the part of Christie’s iconic
sleuth Hercule Poirot. The film co-stars the likes of Penélope Cruz, Willem
Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley. Set in the
1930s, the film follows Poirot as he tries to unravel a murder mystery on a
famous European train. The film had its Indian premiere at the 48th
IFFI.
Remakes
and renditions often give rise to debates, especially when a classic work is
involved. While there are those who see it as a futile exercise, there are
others who are excited by it. One major advantage, of course, is that the
younger generations get introduced to classic works. Besides, there is a
greater scope for technical innovations, which, if used properly, can immensely
enhance the storytelling. But, at the same time, the expectations are so high that
often the end product can prove to be somewhat underwhelming despite being superior
in quality to the earlier adaptations.
While
looking at the Lumet’s version of the Agatha Christie’s bestseller it becomes
quite obvious that its USP is its gamut of colourful characters. The dream-like
ensemble cast led by the likes of Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Vanessa
Redgrave, and Albert Finney is another major strong point of the movie. But
what of the Kenneth Branagh film? Well, as far as the ensemble cast is concerned,
it looks quite solid. Branagh, Depp, Dafoe, Dench, and Pfeiffer are all
seasoned performers with proven track records. However, with the exception of
Branagh, no one really gets enough screen time to begin with. As a result, all
the other characters fail to create the kind of impact that’s expected of them,
especially in a film like this. Cruz, Dafoe and Dench are terribly
underutilized. The two actors who stand out (i.e. other than Branagh) are Depp
and Pfeiffer.
Murder on
the Orient Express is essentially a one-man show: Branagh as Poirot is an absolute
treat to watch. The manner in which Poirot’s character is introduced is nothing
short of brilliant. Branagh, who has directed and starred in several film
adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays including Henry V (1989) and Hamlet
(1996), plays Poirot in a Shakespearean vein. His Poirot has a knack for
theatrics and there are few performers alive who can beat Branagh at his own
game. While his direction in the film may not be as impressive as his acting,
it is certainly effective. The movie’s attention to period detail is striking. Haris
Zambarloukos’ cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. The decision to shoot
on a 65mm film proves to be the right one in the end. Also, the special effects
immensely add to the overall appeal of the movie. Here is a film that has all
the right ingredients but the recipe somewhere needed a little more fine-tuning.
Rating: 6/10
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated!
Murder on the Orient Express - Official Trailer (YouTube)
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated!
Murder on the Orient Express - Official Trailer (YouTube)
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