A Good Ol' Murder Mystery

Allow me to address my bias before I begin: I am a passionate lover of murder mysteries, from plays to movies to books. You could say I have a history with them. When I was a freshman, I had the opportunity to perform in the Homer Shakespearean Society’s production of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. I have also enjoyed watching Agatha Christie productions at Cortland Repertory Theater: Cards On the Table in 2016 and Appointment with Death in 2017.

Agatha Christie, the renowned mystery novelist, first wrote Murder on the Orient Express in 1934. The plot (without any spoilers of course) follows Detective Hercule Poirot as he attempts to track down the murderer of Samuel Ratchett. The entire adventure occurs on a train that has been derailed by a snow avalanche.

In 2017, Kenneth Branagh was hired by Twentieth Century Fox to direct a movie version of the novel, as well as to play the role of Detective Poirot. As soon as I heard that Branagh was involved, I was immediately intrigued. I have never been disappointed by a Branagh performance, whether it be in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or a four-hour screen version of The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. In addition to Branagh, the movie includes such other notable names as Dame Judi Dench and Johnny Depp.

I entered the movie theater expecting to see a good movie. Instead, I received a spectacular movie. Branagh was a natural fit for the character of Poirot; every character choice, right down to the heavy Belgian accent, was perfectly calculated to fit the role. In mystery novels, the detective is usually seen as someone who has all the answers, someone who can never go wrong. Branagh’s Poirot was a deeply flawed individual, a man whose worldviews were completely turned upside down by the movie’s resolution.

As with most murder mysteries, the movie had a small cast, allowing time for multiple character developments. Whether the character was from Hungary, Germany, or the United States, it was fascinating to see the mixture of personalities and interweaving of character histories. It should be noted that the movie contains an extensive backstory. It often seems as if there is no end to the characters’ secrets. It you enjoy this kind of drama and suspense, then this movie is for you.

To top it off, the movie could actually be considered historical fiction. The infamous murder of Charles Lindbergh's infant son is often seen as Christie’s source of inspiration for the plot’s backstory. I thought this added a great twist and another layer to the plot.

In summary, with phenomenal acting, a complex backstory, and fascinating historical origins, Murder on the Orient Express is definitely a must-see. You should hurry, however; the movie does not have much time left in theaters. I know I will be going to see it again, and I hope you will consider it as well!