Stars Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Daisy Ridley, Tom Bateman, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Derek Jacobi, Olivia Colman, with Willem Dafoe and Johnny Depp Directed by Kenneth Branagh I suppose one might ask if we need another adaptation of this murder mystery. The last big cinematic adaptation was back in 1974 with Albert Finney as Poirot, and also featured a star-studded cast for its time, including Sean Connery, Micheal York and Ingrid Bergman. As this little murder mystery is based on the celebrated novel by Agatha Christie, there isn’t going to be many changes to the end where the murder is solved. Talk about spoilers. Then again, knowing how a Shakespearean tragedy ends wouldn’t stop one from checking out any new adaptations that may come along. Watching these remakes and adaptations is like taking a journey. We know where we’re ending up, but it’s about enjoying the trip getting there; the different vistas and performances where movies are concerned. Director Kenneth Branagh does take the lavish route utilising the 65mm film to capture the grand vistas of improbable landscapes the titular train takes to its inevitable delay point where the case is to be resolved. He also manages to wrangle a star-studded cast, at least by today’s standards, from the classic performers (Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi), to renowned actors (Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp), to the rising stars (Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr, Josh Gad) and more. It’s a fine cast and they all deliver where it counts. Branagh manages some variations, primarily by having a new opening with Poirot solving a case in Jerusalem, thus establishing his character and some eccentricities. Penelope Cruz plays a new character, albeit replacing one of the originals. Some of the other characters have minor adjustments as well, but as a whole, things remain the same. What comes across well is the witty dialogue in Michael Green’s script, mostly reflecting Poirot’s eccentricities and beliefs. This provide much of the entertainment and some unexpected humour that works well enough within the context of the film. All this provides us with a nicely updated adaptation that keeps the pace going, the drama tense, and the mystery intriguing. If you’ve never seen any previous adaptations or read the book, it is a captivating film. Some people may be heavily distracted by Poirot’s moustache, and it is quite the eccentric accruement. Granted, it is something attributed to the character in the books, but it is a mild distraction for any viewer. It is the overall production design that captivates with some sumptuous visuals put on screen. Add in the solid performances and you have a classic piece of filmmaking that may very well stand the test of time. Rating **** /5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here. Please Support.
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