Murder on the Orient Express

Kenneth Branagh

Overview

In 1930s Europe, legendary detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) probes a murder that occurs aboard the luxury train known as the Orient Express. As the thirteen passengers grow paranoid that the killer will strike again, Poirot realizes there's more to the case than meets the eye. Branagh also directed this adaptation of the iconic murder-mystery novel by Agatha Christie. Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley co-star. ~ Jack Rodgers

Product Details

Release Date:	02/27/2018
UPC:	0024543470069
Original Release:	2017
Source:	20Th Century Fox
Format:	Blu-ray
Sales rank:	13,480

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kenneth Branagh	Hercule Poirot
Penélope Cruz	Pilar Estravados
Willem Dafoe	Gerhard Hardman
Judi Dench	Princess Dragomiroff
Johnny Depp	Ratchett
Josh Gad	Hector MacQueen
Derek Jacobi	Edward Masterman
Leslie Odom	Dr. Arbuthnot
Michelle Pfeiffer	Mrs. Hubbard
Daisy Ridley	Mary Debenham
Marwan Kenzari	Pierre Michel
Olivia Colman	Hildegarde Schmidt
Lucy Boynton	Countess Andrenyi
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo	Biniamino Marquez
Sergei Polunin	Count Andrenyi
Tom Bateman	Bouc
Paapa Essiedu	Young Policeman
Yassine Zeroual	Young Boy
Asan N'Jie	Hotel Waiter
Michael Rouse	Inspector
Elliot Levey	Rabbi
David Annen	Priest
Joseph Long	Imam
Andy Apollo	Armed Policeman
Hadley Fraser	British Military Escort
Ziad Abaza	Arab Shipmate
Nari Blair-Mangat	Waiter
Luke Brady	Waiter
Miltos Yerolemou	Old Turk Baker
Kathryn Wilder	Prostitute
Gerard Horan	Aynesworth
Richard Clifford	Matre d'
Sid Sagar	Sleeping Car Attendant
Adam Garcia	Italian Fan
Harry Lister Smith	Stockman
Darryl Clark	Salon Barman
Anoushka Lucas	Pianist
Matthew Hawksley	Waiter
Crispin Letts	Head Waiter
Yasmin Harrison	Dining Car Sous Chef
Kate Tydman	Chef
Pip Jordan	Kitchen Car Sous Chef
Chris Porter	Station Master
Jack Riddiford	Police Captain
Joshua Lacey	Track Foreman
Phil Dunster	Colonel John Armstrong
Miranda Raison	Sonia Armstrong
Ansu Kabia	Police Captain Newsreel)
Hayat Kamille	Susanne
Rami Nasr	McQueen's Father
Todd Boyce	Judge
Irfan Shamji	Yugoslavian Police Officer
Tom Hanson	British Military Officer

Technical Credits

Michael Green

Kenneth Branagh	Director,Producer
Andrew Ackland-Snow	Art Director
Nathan Aldous	Stunts
Sina Ali	Stunts
Mick Audsley	Editor
Lucy Bevan	Casting
Paulina Boneva	Makeup
Alexandra Byrne	Costumes/Costume Designer
Jim Clay	Production Designer
Alexis Continente	Makeup
Will Coubrough	Art Director
Martin Curry	Asst. Director
Charlo Dalli	Art Director
Patrick Doyle	Score Composer
Jordana Finkel	Art Director
Mark Gordon	Producer
Michael Green	Screenwriter
Phil Harvey	Art Director
Judy Hofflund	Producer
Matthew Jenkins	Executive Producer
Simon Kinberg	Producer
William Moseley	Associate Producer
James Prichard	Executive Producer
Michael Schaefer	Producer
Ridley Scott	Producer
Aditya Sood	Executive Producer
Hilary Strong	Executive Producer
Haris Zambarloukos	Cinematographer

Editorial Reviews

Murder on the Orient Express is arguably Agatha Christie's most famous novel. It's certainly the most celebrated mystery that Hercule Poirot, her renowned Belgian detective, ever investigated, and it contains the author's most illustrious ending. Fans of the book and devotees of Sidney Lumet's star-studded 1974 adaptation will be pleased to know that this latest incarnation is faithful to its source material. But even if you know how it ends, there are still many pleasures to be had in this sleek, stylish ride as it glides smoothly along its revered rails. We first meet Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) in Jerusalem, when he's called upon to probe a theft that purportedly involves a rabbi, a priest, and an imam. Using his extraordinary deductive skills, the dapper detective quickly solves the case and begins looking forward to a relaxing holiday that's "free of care, concern, or crime." But those plans get sidetracked when he boards the Orient Express and is forced to investigate the vicious murder of Edward Ratchett (Johnny Depp), a dubious art dealer who had informed Poirot earlier that he had received death threats and was concerned for his life. Poirot is certain the killer is still aboard the train, which is stranded atop a massive bridge due to a snowy avalanche that is blocking the tracks. And there are plenty of suspects, but which one committed the dastardly deed? Was it the victim's greedy assistant (Josh Gad) or his dutiful butler (Derek Jacobi)? Or perhaps it was the pious missionary (Penélope Cruz), the merry widow (Michelle Pfeiffer), or the cocky carmaker (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo)? Could it have been the pretentious Russian princess (Judi Dench) or her berated German maid (Olivia Colman)? Better yet, it may involve an elusive governess (Daisy Ridley) and her physician lover (Leslie Odom Jr.), who were overheard by Poirot whispering about a mysterious affair before they boarded the train. But one mustn't overlook the racist Austrian professor (Willem Dafoe), or the short-fused count (Sergei Polunin) and his nocturnal wife (Lucy Boynton). Set in 1934, Murder on the Orient Express is an old-fashioned whodunit. As such, it takes its good old time in unraveling the central mystery. Although there's little action, Branagh -- who also directed -- keeps the story humming along with lush, exquisite visuals (the film was shot in widescreen 65mm); long, mesmerizing tracking shots; and crackerjack performances from his stellar cast. Branagh is the best of the lot, leading the investigation with cool, clockwork efficiency, but no less impressive are the dozen other actors who each make the most of his or her limited screen time -- especially Pfeiffer, who follows up her exemplary work in mother! with another supporting gem, and Depp at his most gangsterish. Once the mystery is solved, viewers will likely pick holes in the plot and raise questions about the resolution's plausibility, but readers have been doing that since the book was first published in 1934. As the story concludes, Poirot departs the train to begin his delayed holiday, only to be told that a murder was committed on the Nile that requires his sleuthing skills. Of course, that's a reference to Death on the Nile, one of Agatha Christie's most beloved Poirot tales. Here's hoping that means we haven't seen the last of Branagh's take on the dandy detective.

All Movie Guide - Tim Holland