murder on the orient express 2017 movie review

NicolaDove/20th Century Fox. “Murder on the Orient Express” suggests it’s possible that no director has ever loved his star more than Kenneth Branagh loves himself. Watching how lovingly Murderon the Orient Express is well-crafted entertainment whose flaws are covered up by great work from Branagh in multiple facets.. Based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, Kenneth Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express is the latest screen adaptation of the famous crime thriller. It was most famously brought to film by Sidney Lumet Thisreview of Murder on the Orient Express (2017) was written by Daniel L on 18 November 2017.. Murder on the Orient Express has generally received mixed reviews. Ona certain level, you can’t help but wonder how yet another production of Murder On The Orient Express even exists in 2017.It’s not as if audiences have been begging for more Agatha Christie MURDERON THE ORIENT EXPRESS movie poster | ©2017 20th Century Fox Rating: PG-13 Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., Tom Bateman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Penelope Cruz, Josh Gad Mein Mann Flirtet Mit Meiner Freundin. TRAILER 237 CLIP 204 CLIP 214 CLIP 214 Play all videos What to know Murder, intrigue, and a star-studded cast make this stylish production of Murder on the Orient Express one of the best Agatha Christie adaptations to see the silver screen. Read critic reviews Rent/buy Rent/buy Rent/buy Murder on the Orient Express videos Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - The Night of the Murder CLIP 204 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - Colonel Arbuthnot CLIP 214 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - Stabbed Twelve Times CLIP 214 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - Ratchett's Murder CLIP 208 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - They're All Connected CLIP 142 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - The Armstrong Case CLIP 140 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - Getting Away with Murder CLIP 157 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - Poisoning Ratchett CLIP 211 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - Memories of Murder CLIP 159 Murder on the Orient Express Official Clip - Ratchett's Request CLIP 210 Murder on the Orient Express Trailer 1 TRAILER 237 Murder on the Orient Express Photos Movie Info Having concluded a case, detective Hercule Poirot Albert Finney settles into what he expects will be a relaxing journey home aboard the Orient Express. But when an unpopular billionaire is murdered en route, Poirot takes up the case, and everyone on board the famous train is a suspect. Using an avalanche blocking the tracks to his advantage, Poirot gradually realizes that many of the passengers have revenge as a motive, and he begins to home in on the culprit. Rating PG Genre Mystery & thriller Original Language English United Kingdom Director Sidney Lumet Producer John Brabourne, Richard Goodwin Writer Agatha Christie, Paul Dehn, Anthony Shaffer Release Date Theaters Nov 24, 1974 original Release Date Streaming Sep 7, 2004 Runtime 2h 7m Distributor Paramount Pictures Production Co EMI Films Ltd. Sound Mix Mono Aspect Ratio Scope Cast & Crew News & Interviews for Murder on the Orient Express Critic Reviews for Murder on the Orient Express Audience Reviews for Murder on the Orient Express Aug 07, 2017 Christie's flaws as a writer are only magnified in the film adaptions of her work In short, she cheats a lot and this one is no exception. That being said, Finney's Poirot is delightful. Super Reviewer May 10, 2017 A little bit of a revenge fantasy dressed up with loads of star power. Unfortunately the story is lame and unbelievable. Still its good to see the stars out. Ingrid Bergman and Albert Finney actually take the trouble to bother to act. Sep 13, 2016 Classic old fasioned whodunit based of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name. The cast is superb and Lumets direction is unquestionable brilliant. That finale where the clues are put together keeps you glued to the screen with every new beat. This is a pinnacle in detective films and I wish every film had this brilliance, who get swept up in the story that you forget to find the clues yourself. Mar 31, 2014 This is a film adaptation of one of many of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot stories, and it's one star studded affair. This particular caper follows Detective Poirot as he investigates the titular event a wealthy man is found dead on the train, the Orient Express. There's a number of possible suspects, each with their own motives, and it's up to Poirot to figure out who is responsible. Albert Finney is Poirot, and some of the other major players include LAuren Bacall, Ingrid BErgman, Sean Connery, Jacqueline Bisset, Richard Widmark, Vanessa Redgrave, and many more. The film is a good bit of fun, and it has a nice look to it, with some decent shooting, and yeah, the central murder mystery is decently engaging too. I'll admit that things get a little slow, bogged down, and a tad bit boring in the middle, but if you happen to fall asleep, things get wrapped up and summarized before the big finish, so that's okay too. All in all, this is a fun, ensemble spectacle that you should give a watch. Super Reviewer Credits →MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is a remake of Agatha Christie’s classic 1934 mystery novel. Consulting detective Hercule Poirot, mourning his wife’s death, decides to take a vacation. A friend offers him the chance to head to travel from Istanbul to Europe on the luxury Orient Express train. Poirot notices the odd behavior of a dozen fellow passengers. They include an actress suffering the pains of fading glory, a doctor with an attitude and a nervous uptight missionary. Poirot’s forced to deal with the passengers as a detective when another passenger with a shady past is found stabbed to death. It would seem wise to leave a classic movie and novel untouched. However, Director Kenneth Branagh who also plays Poirot has delivered an astounding, captivating movie. He combines vivid performances by an all-star cast with stunning imagery, a magnificent score and a fine screenplay that attains an emotional, moral resonance far too often lacking in major studio fare. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is a thoroughly entertaining movie, but it's marred by some foul language and a weak, antinomian ending where relativism trumps justice and CC, Ro, FR, LL, VV, S, A, DD, M Strong moral worldview involving a murder mystery and pondering what is true justice, with some overt Christian, biblical elements and allusions including talk of sin, there’s a priest character in the movie’s opening sequence, and one character has become a Christian missionary, plus forgiveness plays a key part in the climax, allusions to being judged by a jury of one’s peers, plus some Romantic elements and some false theology at the end, including an antinomian ending that undermines the morality taught earlier in the movie and there's a Muslim imam character in the opening sequence; eight obscenities "d" and "h" words, two strong GD profanities and two light exclamatory profanities, plus some coy but not graphic innuendoes and sneers by one playboy character, showing a cavalier playboy attitude toward relationships; some brief strong and light violence includes a couple of gunshots that only graze their victims rather than really hurting them, a couple fistfights that also involve attempts between the antagonists to hit each other with blunt objects, flashbacks to the kidnapping murder of a child, a flashback reveals how the murder occurred implying a series of stab wounds that are not shown as they happen, a corpse is shown very bloody with a chest cavity opened from afar and above, a woman pulls a gun on herself, but it has no bullet when she pulls the trigger, references to the murder of a 3-year-old girl that greatly affected her family and those around her, and the murder of a villainous victim is shown as still having a devastating effect on the people involved; no depicted sex, but man is with what is revealed to be a prostitute while making wisecracks implying they’re fornicating; no nudity; social drinking of alcohol shown throughout this movie set in the 1930s; some occasional cigarette smoking and a character seems addicted to barbiturates because of past trauma; and, lots of deception and duplicity among many characters to hide the truth about a murder from a private detective and the ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is a remake of the Oscar-winning 1974 hit movie starring Albert Finney, Ingrid Bergman and Sean Connery and brings the classic mystery novel by Agatha Christie to even more vibrant life. It would seem wise to leave that classic untouched, but Director Kenneth Branagh has stepped up to deliver a movie that pairs vivid performances by an all-star cast with stunning imagery and a magnificent score with a screenplay by Michael Green “Logan” that attains an emotional resonance far too often lacking in major studio fare. Best of all, this MURDER has been shot with the option of being displayed in the full, now-rare glory of the 70mm format. The result is a dazzling work of art that is alternately fun to watch and hard to shake, the very definition of must-see filmmaking and worth every penny viewers pay at today’s excessive prices. Branagh holds the screen magnetically with his lead performance as Inspector Hercule Poirot, a man whose ace deductive skills have made him famous across Europe. After an amusing opening sequence set in Jerusalem where he reveals that it’s a corrupt police officer who committed a heinous crime rather than the priest, rabbi and imam who are about to be executed publicly, Poirot declares his need for a vacation. While the inspector sports an impressive handlebar mustache and a showman’s panache, he’s secretly saddened by the loss of his wife. A friend takes pity on his loneliness and offers him the chance to hop a luxury passenger train called the Orient Express for some rest and relaxation from Istanbul to Paris. Poirot quickly notices a string of odd behavior and quirks from a dozen of his fellow passengers, including an actress who’s suffering the pains of fading glory Michelle Pfeiffer, a doctor with an attitude Leslie Odom Jr. and an uptight missionary Penelope Cruz. He’s forced to deal with them head-on when the train is trapped by an avalanche while traveling through the mountains, and especially when Ratchett, a boorish passenger with a shady background, played by Johnny Depp, is found stabbed to death in his cabin. As Poirot tries to unravel the mystery of who killed Ratchett, he discovers no one is exactly as they seem, including the victim himself. Trying to deduce the twisting motivations across so many fellow passengers leads to a delicious array of twists that pay off with a walloping surprise. The flaw in the otherwise well made movie is that it does not fulfill its premise. The premise is to find the truth and bring justice, but at the end relativism trumps truth and justice. Therefore, the end of the movie is unsatisfying. Certainly, some viewers may have seen the original movie or read Agatha Christie’s popular, brilliant 1934 mystery novel, but Branagh and Green manage to give this ORIENT EXPRESS an impressively profound moral sense. As the discovery of how the murder occurred is revealed, the lush score by Patrick Doyle “Hamlet,” “Sense and Sensibility” attains a tragic undertone that helps attain the rare feat of portraying even a righteously vengeful murder in a way that makes viewers feel every anguished moment in taking of a human life, no matter how evil the victim was or how just his premature death is. Haris Zambarloukos, who also brought Branagh’s MOVIEGUIDE Award winning, wonderful live-action movie version of CINDERELLA to vibrant life, creates scenescapes here that look like Thomas Kincaid paintings come to life. Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer. What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support. You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you. Movieguide is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible. A New Way To Experience Family Night A family devotional that combines your favorite movies with Gospel truths! An exciting and fun way to grow spiritually and together as a family Download for FREE right now and transform your family movie nights Enter your email to download your free devotion for families! "*" indicates required fields Share There is a moment early in Kenneth Branagh’s intricately constructed adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit when Hercule Poirot Branagh stands on the deck of a ship as it leaves Istanbul. Poirot is captured center frame The deck, the railing, the adjacent cabin and the sea itself are balanced perfectly around him. The shot is illustrative of Murder on the Orient Express as a whole, which centers upon Poirot as the audience’s guide through the cinematic lattice, and also as the center of the film’s thematic and indeed philosophical exploration. As one would expect in a detective drama, Poirot provides the balance between mystery and understanding, but this conceit goes further, as this very balance becomes less steady and understanding less certain as the narrative unfolds. The twists and turns of the story are well known to many. This reviewer, however, had the pleasure of not knowing the story at all and therefore encountered the titular murder and subsequent investigation as a series of reveals and genuine surprises. Even those familiar with the story, however, may find much to enjoy with Branagh’s stylish presentation and delivery. Director of photography Haris Zambarloukos creates a mobile and captivating cinematography, including some extraordinary overhead shots that delay showing the full extent of a scene just long enough for the viewer to cease expecting it, before the camera pans to reveal further details. Zambarloukos also captures much of the film in long takes reminiscent of the work of Emmanuel Lubezki in “Birdman” and “The Revenant.” Like the latter of these, a cold and snowy environment enshrouds the events of Murder On The Orient Express, vast mountains dwarfing the eponymous train as it moves with a smooth motion similar to that of the camera. This fluid visual style neatly complements the wattage of the starry cast who play the passengers aboard the famous train, all of which are neatly sketched and provide a colorful collection of characters. From Johnny Depp’s “Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales” oily Edward Ratchett who spars words with Poirot over cake, to Judi Dench’s “Victoria and Abdul” haughty Princess Dragomiroff and her seemingly downtrodden maid Hildegarde Schmidt Olivia Colman, “Tyrannosaur”; from Michelle Pfeiffer’s “mother!” overly garrulous Caroline Hubbard to regular Branagh collaborator Derek Jacobi’s “My Week with Marilyn” Edward Henry Masterman; from Willem Dafoe’s “The Florida Project” curiously accented Gerhard Hardman to Daisy Ridley’s “Star Wars The Last Jedi” stellar turn as the cool and collected Mary Debenham, each passenger/suspect is more than they seem and provides an excellent foil to Poirot. Yet the film ensures that Poirot himself is also layered, as a constant strain of melancholy plays behind Branagh’s searching eyes and flamboyant mustache. Poirot’s remarkable deductive abilities and suggestions of obsessive compulsive disorder are balanced with regular references to a photograph of a lost love, and a broader sadness at a world that he believes is not how it should be. This belief feeds into the philosophical investigation of Murder on the Orient Express, which seems to develop in response to Poirot’s a rather naïve moral perspective, expressed early in the film “I can only see a world as it should be. It makes an imperfection stick out like the nose on your face.” His view proves highly significant, as while the viewer may agree or disagree with Poirot, it makes sense that a detective would create a mental construct as a bulwark against the contradictions and iniquities that Branagh’s character encounters. But as Poirot and the audience learns, if no one is what they seem, perhaps the world at large is similarly dubious and possessed of shades of gray. This conceit plays into the visuals, as at times the largely digital exteriors are at odds with the physical interiors. Jim Clay’s production design evokes a sense of period, location and society, but the digital effects seem overly pristine and smack of artifice, modernity and transience. Yet this tension is thematically effective as Murder On The Orient Express is acutely interested in the tensions between artifice and reality. Many shots capture the characters through multi-paned windows, expressing the multiple roles they play and the various perspectives available, both narratively and morally. The film emphasizes such relativity in moments when Poirot reconstructs the events of the titular and other crimes, in a manner similar though more reserved than that seen in “The Limehouse Golem” earlier this year. Also unlike that film, Murder On The Orient Express eschews gore, which again supports the somewhat conservative morality that Poirot puts forward, and adds further meat to the philosophical meal. So much visual and narrative backflipping might become wearing if without purpose, but where the film goes with this perspective proves to be arresting and feels quite radical. At one point there seems to be a resolution that feels somewhat anticlimactic, but more is still to come before Branagh/Poirot delivers the coup de grace that is both expected yet refreshing and pleasingly ambiguous. This ambiguity undercuts the overtly artificial construction of the film’s milieu, demonstrating that standards of morality and ethics may be as much a construct as the mechanisms of a railroad, or indeed a plot. It is the film’s philosophical investigation, that perhaps Ludwig Wittgenstein might enjoy, that elevates Murder on the Orient Express into something special. Combined with his starry cast, intricate and vivacious storytelling, Branagh has breathed new life into a classic story, making it fresh, vibrant and relevant. Murder on the Orient Express Reviews Movie Reviews By Reviewer Type All Critics Top Critics All Audience Verified Audience Prev Next While this take on Murder on the Orient Express is destined to exist as a Sunday afternoon matinee picture people will throw on and bask in, there is unmistakable depth and humanity inside the confectionary of its exterior and its big-budget staging. Full Review Original Score Mar 23, 2022 What remains most pleasurable about Murder on the Orient Express is the stylish and classical quality of the storytelling; it's an old-fashioned sort of murder mystery in more than the obvious ways. Full Review Original Score 3/4 Mar 17, 2022 A solid but slightly unremarkable bit of detective fiction. Full Review Original Score 3/5 Dec 29, 2021 With a glorious mustache that must be seen to be believed, Kenneth Branagh slips into the role of Hercule Poirot quite comfortably. Full Review Original Score B+ Aug 24, 2021 ...overall, Murder on the Orient Express should've been more engaging with a sense of urgency... Full Review Dec 23, 2020 To be honest, Branagh's stately direction means the mystery itself is a bit of a plod. Even if you don't already know whodunit. Full Review Dec 20, 2020 The beauty of this story is that everything seems coincidental or random, as if a bit of bad luck has resulted in an unsolvable slaying. Full Review Original Score 6/10 Dec 5, 2020 Agatha Christie deserves a better remake... Full Review Original Score 2/5 Nov 5, 2020 It's one of those films that feels completely and utterly unnecessary. Full Review Original Score Sep 17, 2020 We have charismatic actors dressed fashionably, wrapped in a story full of intrigue, and accompanied by a production design that feels lavish and detailed. Full Review Original Score B+ Jul 18, 2020 Filmed in glorious 65mm, Murder on the Orient Express is a lush adaptation in the grand tradition of those old Hollywood films that boasted "an International All-Star Cast." Full Review Jul 6, 2020 The journey begins well enough, but the train jumps the tracks and collides with a lifeless procedural that's more Kenneth Branagh vanity project than murder mystery. Full Review Original Score C Jul 1, 2020 It was fun. I like this kind of movie. Full Review May 13, 2020 This movie was silly and fun, and I had a good time. Full Review May 13, 2020 The actors here try too hard to flesh out roles that are little more than stock types. Full Review Mar 25, 2020 Overall Murder on the Orient Express is a worthwhile bit of fun. Fans of the book might will find it to be a slick, dutiful retelling of a classic, while newcomers will certainly be entertained, and may even be inspired to dip into Christie's literature. Full Review Mar 24, 2020 As a pure mystery, Murder on the Orient Express is just okay. But as a Branagh acting showcase, as a handsomely directed film, and as a nostalgic reminder of more elegant times, it's a triumph. Full Review Feb 20, 2020 If this is the quality of work he is able to produce on his first attempt with [Agatha] Christie's material, then [Kenneth] Branagh quite possibly has the next great franchise in his clearly capable hands. Full Review Original Score 4/5 Feb 15, 2020 Her Agatha Christie stories keep everyone guessing until the end, and no matter how the story is presented, it is always with a dramatic flare and a big reveal. Full Review Feb 4, 2020 When the big reveal finally happens, it is played out in grandiose bravura that most of us crave in a big production such as this. Full Review Original Score 3/4 Jan 24, 2020 Prev Next Do you think we mischaracterized a critic's review? A Lot or a Little? What you will—and won't—find in this movie. Where to Watch Videos and Photos Parents say 24 Kids say 51 age 12+ Based on 24 parent reviews April 20, 2023 Totally awesome mystery movie! Entertaining whodunnit doesn’t have too much violence nor bad language. This movie is based on the book by Agatha Christie and the first version of the movie in 1974. Although the movie isn’t very violent it does have some drinking alcohol and consuming drugs. There is some violence a man gets stabbed 12 times in the stomach and some violent dialogue but nothing too hairy. Families will enjoy this murder mystery sequel and will love the storyline. I think this movie is great for ages 10+ This title has Great messages Great role models Too much drinking/drugs/smoking 1 person found this helpful. May 30, 2022 Classic whodunit with a lot of style and panache Excellently shot, fantastic pacing and appropriate liberties were taken with the source material. Fabu job modernizing the portrayals in order to have a cast that reflects 2017 and contemporizing the mystery so more of the audience is invested. Branagh does a fabulous job...on pins and needles for Death on the Nile. What's the Story? In MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, master detective Hercule Poirot Kenneth Branagh has just solved a case in Jerusalem and is looking forward to a vacation. Unfortunately, he's summoned to another case in London and must board the Orient Express. A boorish passenger, Ratchett Johnny Depp, whose business appears shady, tries to hire Poirot for protection. Next thing anyone knows, Ratchett has been murdered, and there's a whole train car full of suspects. Poirot interviews them one by one, including Ratchett's secretary Josh Gad, his valet Derek Jacobi, a society lady Michelle Pfeiffer, a princess Judi Dench, a professor Willem Dafoe, a governess Daisy Ridley, a doctor Leslie Odom Jr., and a missionary Penelope Cruz. But the more Poirot learns, the less the clues seem to add up; they even seem to contradict one another. He comes to realize that this case will lead him to question everything he knows. Is It Any Good? Branagh calls on his finest classical directing skills to make this smart, old-fashioned murder mystery into an enjoyable, great-looking entertainment, with an ensemble cast to die for. Based on the novel by Agatha Christie, Branagh's colorful, fluid Murder on the Orient Express is a worthy companion to the book's previous big-screen adaptation, Sidney Lumet's 1974 version. Best of all, Branagh directs himself in the role of the famous detective Poirot, and it's as natural a fit as his outings as Henry V and Hamlet were. Branagh finds a fascinating emotional center to the character, a certain kind of pain that drives him, rather than just being really smart. Plus he has an amazing mustache. The movie takes place in a single location, but Branagh's camera moves gracefully through the narrow corridors; he never constricts or tightens for suspense purposes. He goes outside, or above, or wide, to bring all the characters together on a human level. He also uses mirrors and windows to fascinating effect. This isn't a traditional murder mystery, in that it's not particularly suspenseful or thrilling. Rather, it's content and mature enough to explore the reasons behind it all, to find the soul of the thing. This is a movie aimed at viewers who have a little bit of patience and who don't mind a little bit of the way things used to be. Talk to Your Kids About ... Families can talk about Murder on the Orient Express's violence. How much is actually shown? What's the impact of the violence that's not shown? Is this thrilling or shocking? How does the movie depict drinking and drugs? Are they glamorized? Do any of the characters appear to be addicts? What indicates that? What does the movie have to say about racism and discrimination? Which characters appear to be intolerant of characters from other cultures? How are they treated by others? Like Poirot, do you believe that there are simple, black-and-white solutions for every problem? Why or why not? Why do you think author Agatha Christie and her character Hercule Poirot have such enduring appeal? Movie Details In theaters November 10, 2017 On DVD or streaming February 27, 2018 Cast Daisy Ridley, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh Director Kenneth Branagh Studio Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Genre Thriller Topics Book Characters Run time 114 minutes MPAA rating PG-13 MPAA explanation violence and thematic elements Last updated July 2, 2022 Did we miss something on diversity? Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update. Where to Watch Our Editors Recommend Thriller Movies Mystery TV Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. See how we rate

murder on the orient express 2017 movie review