Won't keep me up at night

Rating: 6/10 (1 December 2017)

Murder on the Orient Express is a lavish, entertaining film that will grab mainstream audiences in an instant. Based on the hit Agatha Christie novel, Murder on the Orient Express follows Poirot as he attempts to solve a case of (you guessed it) murder on the expensive, upper-class European train, the Orient Express. This is clearly a massive "star actor" vehicle with many famous faces popping up all over the place. Michelle Pfeifer, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, the suddenly famous Daisy Ridley and of course acting directing star Kenneth Branagh. I must say I enjoyed the film. It never dragged; the pace was solid all the way through. The visual are stunning (although quite obviously fake) and the cinematography is very interesting with the films use of birds eye view for each cabin. The acting on the whole was good although no one ever took any of my interest. There wasn't a defining character that really interested me and invigorated the story. Judi Dench was Judi Dench, Johnny Depp was a less drunk Johnny Depp, and Kenneth Branagh was witty but rather plain to say the least. These problems all most likely arise from how many star actors there are and how little screen time any of them receives mainly to the size of the cast and how short the run time is. Kenneth Branagh is an interesting person. He is clearly a very clever individual capable of directing and starring in his version of Orient Express and his acting is always on point. However, he never really shines. I don't personally hold anything against him but I have never once really seen Kenneth Branagh become engrossed in a character. I feel that he has the potential but never feels he wants to push it. Watching his directing is almost like seeing the same thing occur. I never feel he really pushes the story, style and talent to its most and therefore the final product is a little lacklustre. I feel the real problem behind the film is actually the story. I hate to say this (because of how much of a literary genius Christie is) but the story is actually a little drab. The mystery is interesting while it exists but the ending feels like a cop out. I understand it was probably the first to use this type of ending as a device but there's a reason mystery stories that end in that way have no future. The mystery excites and hypes people up to find out who the killer is. And then it's all of them. I mean, come on. I get that they got around the massive coincidence factor by stating it was all set up before hand and Poirot just happens to be there but I can't stand it. Sorry Ms. Christie. I don't think it's all down to her though. The film obviously adapts from the novel and while the major story elements are there the film will condense and adapt them which I feel has clogged up the story a little. While it never drags, that doesn't mean it doesn't have problems. The film will impress people and make a lot of money, which is what it's designed to do, but at the end of the day the film stands with the words "Blockbuster" and "simple" all over it. Will it attract attention and make money? Yes. Will it be remembered in 5-10 years? No.