A Stunningly Beautiful, Well-Shot Film with a Talented Cast Can't Stop Being Dull and Convoluted

Rating: 5/10 (6 April 2018)

Note: I haven't read the novel.
First of all, I like to say the positives: the production design is beautiful and the cinematography is very impressive. The cast is full of talented actors and actresses. What could go wrong?
Then, it goes downhill from the crammed mess of a screenplay. I was left confused during expository scenes, and I found myself not remembering any of the characters, except for the main protagonist. I feel like the writer and director is so sure that audiences would remember every exposition/information thrown at them in almost like a 3-minute sequence of a bunch of interrogations. And a couple of moments where the writing crew thought it would spice up the action, but instead they really did nothing to the already convoluted story. I guess Hollywood's gotta Hollywood with a mystery by adding unnecessary action scenes.
And when it comes to the climax of the mystery, I already predicted the twist. After the first hour passed, I began to realize how unbelievably convenient these individual characters who are seemingly strangers to each other, are somehow connected to a crime committed by Johnny Depp's character. I had the all-of-the-passengers-murdered-Johnny-Depp theory in mind until the climax, and I was glad that it was true. I think that twist made my spirits lift a bit, but I wasn't feeling the drama that unfolded after that.
So yeah, Murder on the Orient Express is gorgeously made and has a talented cast, but it's boring AF.
Verdict: Skip!