Film Review: Mustache Has More Than ‘Murder on the Orient Express’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 10, 2017 - 11:42am

CHICAGO – “Murder On The Orient Express” is a movie that is never quite as interesting as the main character’s mustache. Kenneth Branagh directs and stars as Agatha Christie’s most famous detective, Hercule Poirot. While it is a departure from the source novel, Branagh sports silver streak facial hair of audacious eccentricity.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

It’s as though a plume of smoke from the legendary train’s engine had set roots down on his upper lip. The mustache and the train are the best things about this star-studded-but-inert retelling of the famous mystery from author Agatha Christie. Director Branagh took cues from the 1974 film version, as he stocks the train with recognizable stars… including Penelope Cruz as a spanish missionary, Willem Dafoe as a racist Austrian scientist, Judi Dench wearing a permanent scowl as an aging russian princess, Johnny Depp as an art dealer with questionable business practices – along with his valet (Derek Jacobi) and personal secretary (Josh Gad) – and Michelle Pfeiffer turns up as a rich socialite who is seemingly out husband hunting. Eventually one of them turns up dead, and the train becomes stranded on the tracks by an avalanche. Master detective Hercule Poirot agrees to take the case.

”Murder on the Orient Express” opens everywhere on November 10th. Featuring Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., Tom Bateman, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi and Michelle Pfeiffer. Screenplay adapted by Michael Green. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Rated “PG-13”