+7
2017 Murder On the Orient Express
3 out of 5.
I just saw this today, and perhaps I'm at a handicap, because I' m measuring it against the 1974 version. I'd probably bump this one up to a 3.5 if I'd never seen the earlier film; just b/c I 'm such a fan of these type of murder mysteries, and have (at one point) read every book Dame Agatha had ever written.
But for me. this version AND the so called uber actors PALED next to the original; and the unforgettable, almost stage like, on screen personas of people like Lauren Bacall,
Sean Connery, John Geilgud, Tony Perkins, etc. These were actors who knew how to command the screen. And were a delight to watch.
Johnny Depp, so often lauded as an actor who can disappear into a part - just seemed to disappear off the screen. Michelle Pfeiffer and William Dafoe had more impact, but never seemed to make me have any involvement with their character
( though I've surely enjoyed the magnetism of both of them in other films) Old timer Judi Dench was the only one who - for me - had a real presence.
The only thing I could say was superior in this version was the photography- . using all the skills of modern techniques, I think visually - the churning train wheels, the snow bound mountains, etc. - all of that was of very good quality.
But as I too often find in contemporary movies, something in the pacing or editing or over extended plot lines, or character development- something is lackluster. And lacking. The movie just started sagging for me about 2/3 through and I was just hoping they would 'get on with it.' .
Whereas the 1974 movie is one I could see over and over again, and relish the 'ride' even knowing the ending.
Btw-(semi spoiler ahead) - the one redeeming thing in the movie was that there was a sort of 'twist ' to the ending in this version from the '74 ending. A confession. Or two . A played out drama upon Poirot and a clever ploy by Poirot as a test of character.
But this sort of changed Poirot's character as well, making him more sentimental and human; but then- not the fussy, meticulous, annoying but brilliant sleuth that Christie created. I also, for no reason I can state, found the plot line and conspiracy harder to believe in this movie - whereas in the 74 version I didn't have any qualm about 'suspending disbelief,'
Still it is a well crafted AC mystery, studded with stars of this day, wandering over exotic foreign terrain; and probably more to be enjoyed by those unfamiliar with the 74 (and other) version(s). For me, the earlier film remains a mystery classic, and the one I would watch again.
Last edited by lenslady; 07-17-18 at 02:33 AM.