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REVIEW: "Murder On The Orient Express"

Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Written by: Michael Green
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Daisy Ridley, Tom Bateman and Olivia Colman
In Theaters: November 10, 2017 
Expectations were a bit low before I started eating popcorn, since first reactions were a bit mixed about Kenneth Branagh's take on Murder On The Orient Express, but I had no big reasons to complain that much. In fact, since the very first scenes you realise you aren't going to have problems with the acting, the objetive direction or the lack of beauty, because the movie's problems live on its screenplay. 
The script isn't funny. The script isn't dramatic. The script isn't able to build momentum. It's like having the best guitar player in the world and someone just got the tabs wrong for him to play. 
In fact, what saves Murder On The Orient Express from derailing is its impressive A-list ensemble cast. From huge veteran names like Judi Dench, to media darlings like Penelope Cruz or fresh cinematic promises such as Daisy Ridley (the star of the new Star Wars trilogy) and Tom Bateman, the movie lives in the actors' abilities to do a lot with the little is given to them. Branagh is nice as Poirot (not outstanding, I said "nice") in a movie that might centering on him a bit too much. I must say I missed this Johnny Depp who's not playing the "clown" or the "freak" - here, he plays a gangster in a role that got expanded when compared to the 1974's version. But the "best performance in show" distintion goes to Michelle Pfeiffer who delivers a great performance here as the more complex and eye-catching character - a role that needed the "true movie star gravitas" that Pfeiffer has! She's amazing in it. After Darren Aronofsky's mother!, she uses another opportunity to remind us how such an incredible actress she is... and singer, since she gets to sing "Never Forget" (a lovely original tune of the ending credits). 
Visually the movie is also stellar from costume design to makeup & hair and also features a nice work from the cinematography and production design teams (not stellar, but good), making Murder On The Orient Express very "luxury looking" and a "train for beautiful people". Sound is OK, no complains. 
In the end, you realise Kenneth Branagh's cinematic adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic is an entertaining movie from the worst point of view and a pretty homage to its source material and previous cinematic adaptation. Not great, not that good, but nice! 
RATING: 3/5
Academy Awards 2018 playing categories:
  • Best Supporting Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer)
  • Best Costume Design
  • Best Makeup & Hair
  • Best Original Song ("Never Forget")

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