Before seeing this new version of Agatha Christie’s most famous story, I re-watched the classic 1974 adaptation. Kenneth Branagh’s newly released film has been largely compared unfavourably to the great Sidney Lumet’s version but I feel it does stand up well to what will probably continue to be considered as the definitive take on the story.
Branagh himself deserves a lot of praise for breathing new life into the figure of Hercule Poirot. Capturing his fastidiousness well but also making him more animated, it is a captivating portrayal. He also deserves praise for his directing. Despite being largely confined to the train, his camera sweeps around the beautifully constructed set, and he uses overhead shots imaginatively. Overall, the film is great to look at, with just one disappointing use of CGI when the train derails.
As for the rest of the cast, Daisy Ridley as Mary Debenham, Derek Jacobi as Edward Masterman, Judi Dench as the Princess, and Lucy Boynton as the Countess are at least the equals of Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, and Jacqueline Bisset from Lumet’s movie. Unfortunately, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruise, and Leslie Odon Jr cannot measure up to Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergmann, and Sean Connery in their equivalent parts, and the film does lack the complete star wattage of the original.
I have seen and heard a number of reviews complaining about Branagh’s luxurious moustache, but Christie herself was not very pleased with Albert Finney’s much more minimal facial hair, and Sir Ken’s is more true to the description in the books. Not that I can claim to be a Christie purist, as despite enjoying this film a lot, Peter Ustinov remains my favourite Poirot although he was more Ustinov than the Belgian detective! A neat coda at the end of the movie suggests that Branagh may soon be following in Ustinov’s footsteps in Egypt.
Whether you are familiar with the story or not, if you are partial to a whodunit you should be satisfied with this film.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10