Branagh delivers on remaking a classic

Rating: 7/10 (25 November 2018)

Another example of Hollywood trying to regenerate success through a remake, Kenneth Branagh directed and starred in 2017's 'Murder on the Orient Express.' Although it opened to little fanfare, the film boasts an all-star cast and has a lot to offer audiences who've been waiting for a whodunit thriller to come along.
On the surface, 'Express' is a sophisticatedly simple mystery that follows the world's greatest detective, straight talking Hercule Poirot (Branagh), as he takes an international steam engine from Istanbul en route to London to investigate a murder. While onboard the train, a number of things happen as Poirot meets many interesting people who appear to be cut from different cloths. But it's something rather shocking that puts the brakes on the extravagant trip (as the title suggests).
The best aspect of 'Express' is without a doubt the plot. There are enough twists and turns to keep your attention, and it's fair to say the reveal at the end is one that's hard to see coming. But the cast comes in a close second, as we get to see strong performances from everyone from Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp to Daisy Ridley and Leslie Odom Jr. But veteran actors really steal the show, including Dame Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer and the aforementioned Branagh - there's really nothing to complain about - or find fault in. And it would be remiss not to acknowledge the amazing cinematography. From sweeping views of cities and landscapes to the use of the close quarters on the Orient Express, the camera work is worth noting.
Sure, 'Murder on the Orient Express' is a remake, and as such it must overcome the challenge of not being the original. But Branagh manages to deliver in a genre that doesn't get much attention anymore.