Well-cast yet overwrought remake

Rating: 7/10 (26 November 2017)

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (2017) *** Kenneth Branagh, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dame Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom, Jr., Willem Dafoe, Derek Jacobi, Olivia Colman, Tom Bateman, Marwan Kenzari, Lucy Boynton. Remake of the Agatha Christie mystery with Branagh (who also helmed) starring as world-renowned sleuth Hercule Poirot who attempts a vacation retreat but winds up investigating the titular occurrence in the process. Well-cast and handsomely produced the film runs on all cylinders yet grows wearisome by the climax (and becomes frankly anti-climactic and quite a lot to swallow).