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

Movie Trailer Sunday (307)

Here are this week's trailers.

All I See is You
Director: Marc Forster
Description: A blind woman's(Blake Lively) relationship with her husband (Jason Clarke) changes when she regains her sight and discovers disturbing details about themselves.
Starring: Blake Lively, Jason Clarke, Ahna O'Reilly, Yvonne Strahovski, Danny Huston
Trailer: Trailer "All I See is You"
Comment: A very mysterious trailer.

Murder On the Oriënt Express
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Description: A lavish train ride unfolds into a stylish & suspenseful mystery. From the novel by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express tells of thirteen stranded strangers & one man's race to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Pfeifer, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Penélope Cruz, Josh Gad, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Olivia Colman, Derek Jacobi
Trailer: Trailer "Murder On the Oriënt Express"
Comment: I love Agatha Christie stories, can't wait to see this new version of her best story.

Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Description: Set in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his dog.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Greta Gerwich, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, F. Murray Abraham, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Ken Watanabe, Courtney B. Vance
Trailer: Trailer "Isle of Dogs"
Comment: Since "Fantastic Mister Fox" is my favorite Wes Anderson movie, I'm so happy about this!!!!

Peter Rabbit
Director: Will Gluck
Description: Feature adaptation of Beatrix Potter's classic tale of a rebellious rabbit (James Corden) trying to sneak into a farmer's vegetable garden.
Starring: James Corden, Margot Robbie, Domhnall Gleeson, Daisy Ridley, Rose Byrne
Trailer: Trailer "Peter Rabbit"
Comment: Anything with a rabbit makes me go YAY!!!

Cook Off!
Director: Cathryn Michon, Guy Shalem
Description: Amateur "chefs" from around the country compete for a million dollar prize in the ultimate food fight.
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Diedrich Bader, Ben Falcone, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Stephen Root
Trailer: Trailer "Cook Off!"
Comment: I have a feeling that this is a terrible movie. Judging by the poster (which is awefull) and trailer alone.

Movie Trailer Sunday (295)

Here are this week's trailers.

Paddington 2
Director: Paul King
Description: Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Ben Wishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, Julie Walters, Imelda Staunton, Ben Miller, Peter Capaldi
Trailer: Trailer "Paddington 2"
Comment: Cutest bear ever!

Victoria and Abdul
Director: Stephen Frears
Description: Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.
Starring: Judi Dench, Olivia Williams, Eddie Izzard, Michael Gambon, Ali Fazal
Trailer: Trailer "Victoria and Abdul"
Comment: What a great story!

The Mountain Between Us
Director: Hany Abu-Asad
Description: Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers (Idris Elba, Kate Winslet) must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness.
Starring: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Beau Bridges, Dermot Mulroney
Trailer: Trailer "The Mountain Between Us"
Comment: I love Idris Elba, can't wait to see this.

The Hitman's Bodyguard
Director: Patrick Hughes
Description: The world's top bodyguard (Ryan Reynolds) gets a new client (Samuel L. Jackson), a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson
Trailer: Trailer "The Hitman's Boduguard"
Comment: I hope it's as hilarious as it looks!

Murder On the Oriënt Express
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Description: A lavish train ride unfolds into a stylish & suspenseful mystery. From the novel by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express tells of thirteen stranded strangers & one man's race to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeifer, Josh Gad, Daisy Ridley, Willem Dafoe, Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Olivia Colman
Trailer: Trailer "Murder On the Oriënt Express"
Comment: Can't wait to see this. I love Agatha Christie murder mysteries!!!