Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

Murder On The Orient Express - 2017

Next we have 2017's "Murder On The Orient Express", a remake of the classic whodunit of the same name produced in 1974.  A murder takes place on a luxury train on which travels a famous sleuth.  Can he solve the murder before another takes place?

The film's cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Tom Bateman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Derek Jacobi, Sergei Polunin, Lucy Boynton, Marwan Kenzari, and Olivia Colman.

Luxury abounds on the Orient Express, a train which travels from Turkey to Europe and affords its guests anything their heart can desire.

Super sleuth Hercule Poirot is a last-minute addition to the passenger list, and he's very excited to be getting some well-earned rest and relaxation.

Also traveling on board is Edward Ratchett, who requests some protection from Poirot on account of some threatening letters he has received.  His whole personality is abrasive, and Poirot refuses to help him because of the nature of his business and because of his manner.

During the night, Ratchett is murdered, having been stabbed to death.  Matters are compounded when the murderer seems to have escaped and the train is unable to move because it was caught in a snowbank.

The director of the line asks Poirot to handle the investigation so that he can present the police with a case closed verdict.  Poirot thinks about it and ultimately decides to take the case.

Among the suspects are Ratchett's secretary, who tries to deflect attention from himself.

Mrs. Hubbard is a talkative, pushy woman who seems to have no end of information about the possible suspect.

We also have Ratchett's personal valet, who is harboring a grudge against his deceased employer.

Pilar is a Spanish nurse who also has a connection to the case.

Beniamino Marquez is an American immigrant who sells cars and shares a room with Ratchett's valet.

Mary Debenham and Dr. Arbuthnot were overheard before the train journey plotting.  So, they are definitely of interest in the case.

A prejudiced Austrian professor is also on board and makes life generally unpleasant for those surrounding him.

Princess Dragomiroff and her maid are also of interest in the case, and the Princess is handled with care, especially as she is of royal blood.  "God blessed me with long life, but cursed me with a bad back to make it miserable."

A Hungarian count with a bad temper and his wife, who takes powerful medicinal hypnotics to help her sleep, also come under suspicion.

Also under suspicion is Pierre, the train steward, who has keys and access to everything.

Once Poirot has everything figured out, he has all of the suspects gathered so he can present them with the facts of the case.  "You tell your lies, and you think no one will know.  But there are two people who will know.  Yes, two people.  Your God and Hercule Poirot.  It is time to solve this case," he tells the assembled suspects.

Cast rundown:

   Kenneth Branagh..........................Hercule Poirot

   Penelope Cruz..............................Pilar Estravados

   Willem Dafoe...............................Gerhard Hardman

   Judi Dench...................................Princess Dragomiroff

   Johnny Depp................................Edward Ratchett

   Josh Gad.....................................Hector McQueen

   Leslie Odom Jr..............................Dr. Arbuthnot

   Michelle Pfeiffer............................Caroline Hubbard

   Daisy Ridley.................................Mary Debenham

   Tom Bateman...............................Monsieur Bouc

   Manuel Garcia-Rulfo......................Beniamino Marquez

   Derek Jacobi.................................Edward Masterman

   Sergei Polunin..............................Count Rudolph Andrenyi

   Lucy Boynton................................Countess Elena Andrenyi

   Marwan Kenzari.............................Pierre Michel

   Olivia Colman................................Hildegarde Schmidt

And that's it for Murder On The Orient Express.  It's very stylishly done, but I much prefer the original.  The film ends with Poirot being asked to go to Egypt because of a murder on the Nile River (which will segue into the next film in the series "Death On The Nile", which is supposed to be released this autumn).

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