Movie Review - A Haunting in Venice

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Crime/ Mystery/ Drama/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Kelly Riley, Jude Hill
 
Description: In post-World War II Venice, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a séance. But when on of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.

Review: Hercule Poirot is invited to attend a séance and use hi unique skill to debunk the paranormal.

Kenneth Branagh shines for the third time as detective Hercule Poirot and once again takes on the role of director as well. After “Murder on the Orient Express”(2017) and “Death on the Nile” (2022), “A Haunting in Venice” takes a different approach. Crime, mystery and horror are merged to give this case a unique twist. Based on the book “Halloween Party” by Agatha Christie, one that fans call one of her more underrated murder mysteries.

The film succeeds well in putting you down alongside Poirot as a spectator of events. Like the detective, you try to unravel the story behind the haunted house and ponder the how and why of this murder. It remains fascinating to puzzle together the answers.

For fans of the genre, the horror-inspired scenes are a welcome addition. This is what makes “A Haunting in Venice” different from the other two movies. The variety between the three films, for example, in tone, location and characters, ensure that you won’t easily become bored with Poirot and his case.

If Branagh decides to continue this franchise, I would love that. Because “A Haunting in Venice” is definitely the best one yet. “Murder on the Orient Express” was okay and “Death on the Nile” was downright disappointing. I really loved “A Haunting in Venice”. Branagh managed to deliver an atmospheric production. With beautiful sets, clever use of one location and an intriguing mystery. I does not bore you for a moment. And I’m very confused that its average rating is so low.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Belfast

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Jude Hill, Jamie Dornan, Catriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds, Lewis McAskie
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 31: AN OSCAR-WINNING MOVIE
 
Description: A young boy (Jude Hill) and his working-class Belfast family experience the tumultuous late 1960s.

Review: Actor and director Kenneth Branagh made a lot of films lately: from the flopped “Artemis Fowl” this his pompous Agatha Christie film “Death on the Nile”, which wasn’t very successful either but at least enjoyable. But with “Belfast”, Branagh really steals my heart. He based it on his own childhood in a working-class street in Belfast, where everyone knows each other and grandma and grandpa are always around.

The film is set in the late 1960s, filmed almost completely in black in white, with minimalist sets and plenty of natural light. Branagh manages to sublimely translate his memories to the silver screen.

Branagh knows how to direct his actors to great heights, as the actors fir seamlessly into his Northern Island lane. Child actor Jude Hill is the obvious heart of the film, as Buddy who is sincere, wise and naïve at the same time. And smaller roles are for “Pop” and “Gran”, played by veteran actors Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench, who were both nominated for Academy Aways for their roles. Branagh himself won an Oscar for “Most Original Screenplay”, which is well-deserved.

It's wildly clever that “Belfast” manages to create melancholy and nostalgia for a time and place that, for most viewers, is not in their own past. I loved this film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Death on the Nile

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russel Brand, Emma Mackey, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Letitia Wright, Sophie Okonedo
 
    
Description: While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh_ must investigate the murder of a young heiress (Gal Gadot).

Review: Detective Hercule Poirot attends a cruise of a newlywed coupe on the Nile River. During this cruise, someone is mysteriously murdered. Who is the culprit?
“Murder on the Orient Express”(2017) was an enjoyable detective-thriller. Based on the book of the same name, director Kenneth Branagh managed to keep the story engaging. It was a solid whodunnit. This stand-alone sequel, “Death on the Nile”, once again features Poirot as a detective (also portrayed by director Branagh) who must solve a new case. This time on the river Nile.
We know what to expect thanks to “Murder on the Orient Express”, so the wait until something actual happens now feels longer. It takes over an hour for the first murder to occur. Before this, the films makes an attempt at character development, but because of the many characters, they all remain superficial. Added to this is the fact that the cast of its predecessor was many times stronger. Unfortunately, the cast of “Death on the Nile” cannot match this.
The film gets off to a slows tart and the final murder mystery is not as strong. One wise choice was to focus on detective Poirot. We see a glimpse of his backstory and tries to highlight the sympathetic side of the man. Kenneth Branagh is also the highlight of the film, because he shines as Poirot. And he also very well directed this film.
“Death on the Nile” is a bit long, the build-up is a slow and the final murder mystery is not as strong as in its predecessor. As a viewer you are also puzzling for answers and these are fairly predictable and obvious. Fun to watch once, but that’s all it is.
Death on the Nile is a bit long, the build-up is slow and the final murder mystery is not as strong as in its predecessor. As a viewer you are also puzzling for answers and these are fairly predictable and obvious, if I say so myself. This is a typical case of a film that is fun to watch once, but that's all it is.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Tenet

Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 150 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Clémence Poésy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine

Description: Armed with only one word, Tenet, and fighting for the survival of the wntire world, a Protagonist (John David Washington) journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.

Review: That Christopher Nolan would one day make a film about time travel was of course a matter of time (no pun intended). When early in “Tenet” a simple clock is turned back an hour, it seems like a conscious wink from the always time juggling filmmaker. But you can also see it as an indication that the time travel rules used will be a bit more complex than turning back the clock. The general gimmick is presented relatively quickly: a reversed experience of time. Since Nolan’s oeuvre can be summarized as an intellectual puzzle of macho subjects, we should not be surprised that this concept is explained by a means of a pistol: as a shot, bullets are not fired, but go back into the firearm. But this technology also appears to be applicable to people, with all its complications.
Now Christopher Nolan is far from being the first to use such a narrative element. Tenet are consistently in reverse mode. In their own experience they do everything normal, but anyone who moves forward in time sees them walking backwards and hears them talking backwards (lost me yet?).
“Tenet” is in everything a pure Nolan film: a grand action spectacle about well-dressed men who deal with serious matters, seasoned with bombastic music and well-crafted stunts, wrapped up in a complex puzzle. But while Nolan still managed to put all these elements perfectly to his hand in “Inception”, this time he may have overplayed his hand a little. This way, the difficulty has been increased to such an extent that after a while t becomes difficult to connect al the plot points. The time travel aspect would suffice for a complex narrative, but “Tenet” has been set up as a spy thriller full of shadowy players and double agendas, which doesn’t exactly make it easier to understand. A war between the present and the future? Such ambition compels admiration, but it’s likely that the viewers gradually loses sight of exactly what’s at stake.  
The film becomes a lot easier to watch when the spy plot is released slightly and is used more on the time travel elements. The it turns out that the complexity is not much greater than that of a time travel movie “Déjà Vu”. Although Nolan makes sure that the viewers will have to keep puzzling until the end.

The film has some amazing scenes, like a car chase scene or a fight scene between two people who experience each time in a different way.
You might say that Nolan was over-ambitious and over-complicated this film. For me, the complexity of the film is reason enough to rewatch “Tenet” someday, because I really want to fully understand this film. It’s a beautiful looking movie, with a formula that is starting to show some cracks, but even a Nolan film that isn’t perfect, is still worth watching.

Rating: 4 / 5

00s Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Director: Chris Columbus
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 154 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Toby Jones, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs, Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth Branagh, Matthew Lewis, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, John Cleese, Warwick Davis, Mark Williams, Chris Rankin

Description: Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) ignores warnings not to return to Hogwarts, only to find the school plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and a strange voice haunting him.

Review: “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” is again a guarantee for a fun family night. And I love nothing more than to step into a magical place like Hogwarts.
This time we learn about a secret chamber in Hogwarts, build by one of the founders of the school: the rather unsympathetic Zalazar Slytherin. Slytherin didn’t like that the kids of ‘normal’ people could join the school. The secret chamber has a monster in it, that is out to kill children, or at least petrify them. The secret chamber can only be opened by a direct heir of Slytherin. When the first student of Hogwarts is found petrified, it’s clear that the evil heir has returned.
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” goes into a variety of situations but never loses the main storyline. The character get enough time and space. The young cast is again strong, led by Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
Richard Harris convinces again as Dumbledore. This was the last Harry Potter film for him after his death in 2002. Alan Rickman is perfect in his role as Snape and Maggie Smith is fantastic too as McGonagall. Kenneth Branagh is one to mention. He plays the self-loving douche Gilderoy Lockheart, who isn’t as heroic as you might think.
The setting are again beautiful. “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” is again a great Harry Potter film, fun for fans of the books as well as non-book lovers.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 133: Dunkirk

Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Drama/ Action
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Barry Keoghan, James D’Arcy, Harry Styles

Description: Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire and France are surrounded by the German Army, and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.

Review: You would think that we have enough WWII movies in Hollywood. But still movies based on this war are released. And every once in a while you wonder why this wasn’t made earlier. “Dunkirk” is one of those films. Aside from a British film from 1958 and a very impressive shot in the film “Atonement”, the battle for Dunkirk has been overlooked.
The fact that there were no Americans involved might be a reason, because the evens around Dunkirk happened about 18 months before the US got involved.
“Dunkirk” seems like a war epos, which is perfect for a director like Christopher Nolan. But this film is very different from the rest of his films. He never took on a true story and often works with existential themes. But Nolan is obviously very versatile and proofs that he can easily create a war movie with substance and subtlety. You can see it in the first 30 minutes, very timid and hardly any dialogue.
“Dunkirk” opens when the British army has withdrawn to the Dunkirk and is enclosed by the Germans. To draw the situations, newsflashes and flashbacks are left out. That the story starts here is surprising, because most Hollywood movies take their time to introduce. It starts right were the action is. And this is a fresh take on the theme.
For a war movie, Nolan kept it to a minimal and was very modest. The film isn’t over sentimental or dramatic. No extra fuzz. A story from a large scale, told by focusing on the smaller human moments.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 121: Murder On the Orient Express

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Josh Gad, Olivia Colman, Derek Jacobi

Description: When a murder occurs on the train he's travelling on, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) is recruited to solve the case.

Review: This is maybe the 6th book to movie adaptation for “Murder On the Orient Express”, I think, The book was released in 1934 and is probably her most known book. And because Agatha Christie’s novel is such a masterpiece when it comes to murder mysteries, many want to turn it into film. It’s a perfect whodunit. In 1974 Albert Finney played the role of Hercule Poirot in Sidney Lumet’s version of the story. Now, 2017, Kenneth Branagh directs and also decided to portray the infamous detective.
Kenneth Branagh has a dramatic style when it comes to acting. It’s perfect for Shakespeare films. And I have to say, his performance as Hercule Poirot is really good.
We know the story. Detective Hercule Poirot is on the Orient Express, enjoying a holiday, when one of the passengers is murdered. One of the twelve passengers is the killer. Time for Poirot to solve the case, while the train is unable to move on due to a snow storm.
Lots of details, trying to find the killer. It’s close to the original, but some things go a bit too fast because they have to stay within the duration of 2 hours. There is also not enough time to develop all the twelve suspected characters. Some we get to know better than others.
Branagh really managed to get a fantastic cast together. Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeifer, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Penélope Cruz and Daisy Ridley. And they are all solid, but no one really shines. Branagh’s interpretation of Poirot is good, the movie is not great. But very enjoyable and it looks stunning.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 125: Cinderella

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Adventure/ Drama/ Romance/ Fantasy
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Hayley Atwell, Ben Chaplin, Stellan Skarsgård, Derek Jacobi, Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera

Description: When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her scheming step-sisters (Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera). Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger (Richard Madden).

Review: In 1950 Disney came with the animated musical “Cinderella” and 65 years later the studios turn it into a live action film. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, “Cinderella” is a surprisingly good fairytale.
Disney always gives us heroes, beautiful costumes, emotion, morals, villains and depth. And although “Cinderella” is sugar sweet, it’s a delightful film for the whole family. And for the hopeless romantics among us.
Cinderella is played by Lily James, who isn’t an extraordinary actress but manages to make her character charming and very likeable. The prince is played by Richard Madden, who we know as Robb Stark from “Game of Thrones”. The stars are actually the bigger names in the cast: Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother. These great actresses support “Cinderella” well.
“Cinderella” is filled with great décor and scenery, but also gorgeous costumes. Really something from a fairytale. But it’s not a film that hides behind all the beauty it shows. There is a moral and it’s supposed to inspire, escepcially young girls. “Cinderella” touches you and is really easu to watch. A guarantee to put a smile on your face. I didn’t expect to like it this much. It’s an enchanting film.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 84: Dead Again

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Romance
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 1991
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia, Robin Williams, Wayne Knight, Derek Jacobi

Description: An amnesiac (Emma Thompson) and a private eye (Kenneth Branagh) find they might have a past life connection.

Review: In a convent nearby Los Angeles, an unknown woman is brought in. she doesn’t know who she is, doesn’t speak and has the most terrible nightmares. Private detective Mike Church is called to find out who this woman is. Because Mike can’t find any lead, he decides to put her picture in the paper. The only one that responds is an eccentric antique store owner, who says he can discover her past by hypnotizing her. And it works.
“Dead Again” was the first Hollywood production by director Kenneth Branagh. He mixed up romance, thriller and humor. And he gathered a good cast. Branagh himself takes the lead with his then girlfriend Emma Thompson. We also see Andy Garcia, who is underused by the way, and a smaller role for Robin Williams.
The film has an interesting plot, but somehow the movie comes off as somewhat cheesy. And the music, which should add some tension to it, is way too present. Even in scenes where hardly anything exciting happens, there is this bombastic and overwhelming music. I just didn’t love “Dead Again” as much as most people did.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 117: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Action
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh

Description: Jack Ryan (Chris Pine), as a young covert CIA analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.

Review: Jack Ryan is the most well-known character developed by author Tom Clancy. Alec Baldwin portrayed him in “The Hunt for Red October”, Harrison Ford did it in “Patriot Games” and Ben Affleck also played the CIA agent in the movie “The Sum of All Fears”. Now, over ten years later, Chris Pine has the honors to take over the role of CIA analist Jack Ryan. He has proven before that he can give a beloved character a new life, just look at Captain Kirk in the “Star Trek” reboot. Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley and Kenneth Branagh join him. Branagh is also responsible for directing the flick.
Jack Ryan decides to join the military after seeing the 9/11 footage. During his service, Ryan is injured and during rehabilitation he’s recruited by CIA agent Thomas Harper. A few years later we see that Ryan works on Wall Street as a CIA mole. Some suspicious transactions lead him to the Russian Victor Cheverin.
Unlike James Bond and Ethan Hunt from “Mission Impossible”, Jack Ryan isn’t an action hero. He’s is an intellectual who has to take the role of hero against his will. In “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” that intellect is hardly present and a lot of physical action shows us that we are dealing with a reboot hoping to be a blockbuster. You also notice it’s not a direct adaptation of the first Tom Clancy novel; the character is a bit superficial. The story misses intrigue, but is fluent and doesn’t bore you.
The choice for Chris Pine is successful. His presents is fresh and Keira Knightley, with a doubtful American accent, is also solid. Kenneth Branagh’s accent is a bit over the top, but his performance as villain is really good. Then it’s easy to ignore that cheesy accent. Kevin Costner has the most pleasant role, as the wry CIA agent harper. He’s often the viewers perspective.
Not great, but pretty good, that’s what “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” is.

Rating: 3/ 5