"I do not approve of murder, my friend."

Rating: 10/10 (2 September 2018)

It's been a couple of years since I saw the Sidney Lumet directed version, so a definitive comparison between the two pictures is difficult to make. Both films have an exceptionally talented cast, so in that regard it's a toss-up. From what I can recall though, Albert Finney's portrayal of Hercule Poirot simply cracked me up with all the physical and facial contortions he went through to interpret the character. Kenneth Branagh comes across much more seriously, and his sarcastic barbs to characters that irritate him are done with dagger like precision. Like a lot of reviewers here, I thought the mustache business was a bit overdone, but the best was when we got a view of Poirot waking up wearing that mustache guard in place. Talk about vanity.
If this is one's first viewing of any of the filmed versions of the story, what comes across as coincidence defying probability is the connection that all the riders on the Orient Express share with an old kidnapping case that resulted in the death of a young child. The circumstances become clearer as the story unfolds, and it's done in credible fashion, so one's patience is rewarded. The resolution to the murder mystery aboard the train is one of Agatha Christie's writing triumphs, and is handled well, even after one of the train's passengers takes credit for the killing of Ratchett/Casetti (Johnny Depp).
I'm usually in tune with most reviewers in my estimation of a picture, but in this case, the relatively low score for this 'Murder' seems unjustified. True, director Kenneth Branagh probably gave himself more favorable screen time than necessary in the unfolding of the mystery, and some of the ancillary characters seem rushed. However the period detail and outstanding cinematography compensate for a lot, and Poirot's final verdict is rendered much more skillfully than Albert Finney was able to get away with. In this picture, it just felt right that no one would have to stand trial for murder, and if push came to shove, who would it have been anyway?