thoughts about Murder On the Orient Express

I had high hopes for this film. I thought it would be a bright spot for the serious season in the movies. I was a little more satisfied then disappointed. I liked the charactetrs, the period decor and costumes. I liked how it was set on a train and several scenes were shot from outside the train as characters walked through. At first I liked the high angle shot of characters scurrying about over Johnny Depp when he is murdered. But it was a little disorienting and I didn't like it so much afterwards. The story is rather roundabout too. Johnny Depp is linked to a heinous murder that he avoided trial for. By the end of the film everyone is implicated and as Piorrot uncovers everyone on the ensemble cast had a role in his murder. I didn't like this ending. I was hoping it would be a classic whodunit with a vile villain on which to hang the odious crime on. I was rather disappointed by the ending.

I don't have any knowledge of Agatha Christie or her books. In fact this is the first exposure I've had of her in my life. Maybe this makes me rather young? I get the impression that her novels are sort of like Murder She Wrote. But maybe she is deeper then that. The film is full of tension, especially as Piorrot interviews each of the passengers on the train to see who is the killer. The tension is built and built. I was exhausted after an hour and a half. I just wanted to find who did it. Who was the killer? The black doctor was a false ending. Piorrot finally reveals all in a big finish with the entire crew at a dinner table in a train tunnel. It seemed very theatrical to me. Finally the train is repaired, it is put back on it's tracks and the film ends.

The film really didn't inspire me to check out Agatha Christie more. In fact I was sick of the film with about a half hour left. I just wanted to go for the exit. It did have a strong conflict and very clear resolution. I liked these qualities. I suppose it would have been better if I were an Agatha Christie fan. After all the bluster about the cast, costumes, and shots Istanbul and the mountains I was left without much enthusiasm for the rest of the film. A good film, but not one that I would watch again.