Murder on the Orient Express

[Rev Jones]

You might not expect me discussing this movie.

But as some of you know I am a member of a society that (re)publishes the works of a deceased Belgian writer, Jean Ray. While he wrote a lot of works in the fantasty genre, he also had various detective novel series going like the 'Harry Dickson' series (over 170 stories, well known in French speaking countries)

That in itself along with the fact that Poirot is a 'Belgian' detective sent me and some club member on the trail of 'Orient Express'. One of us had seen 3 earlier movie versions, along with the double episode baqed on the book in the David Suchet starring show from the 90s.

The movie gets off to a good start in portraying the epoch the surroundings and Poirot's quirks.

The story sticks close to the novel, but there's some extra physical action thrown in. The director also made sure it's not a claustrophobic movie inside a train (which it actually is in the book), by adding extra outside shots (landscape views and some light CGI) and oinventive camera angles inside the train

If you are familiar with the book you know there are a lot of characters. They are introduced rather briefly (it had to stick to a 2 hour running time I guess(, but tbh it isn't much different in the book.

It's Agatha Christie so some of you will need some suspension of dusbelief for the denouement lol.

If the plot is not too your interest as it develops (or for those who know the plot) there's still the star studded cast. They do reasonably wrll, but tgey are all campy performances. Brannagh himself overdoes it a bit too as Poirot, but I guess that goes along wih the character.

The set design and costumes are lavish.

It's a good attempt but it lacks some punch in that you are not really sucked into the hunt for the killer.

I'd say this is a 6/10 movie for me, it's definitely not a must see. Good family movie for the holidays though.

PS : Good to see Michelle Pfeiffer in a movie again. Her performance was over the top though.

If anybody's seen it I'd be interested in your opinion.

[Mister Yo]

ive always been interested in mysteries... and michelle pfeiffer.

and im a big fan of movies that stay in one room or one general area for the duration.

saw a commercial for this and was intrigued, never read/heard of the book let alone author.

will hopefully get around to giving it a watch and reporting back here

[Rev Jones]

Mister Yo are you familiar with Hitchcock's 'Rope'? IIRC it plays out in one single room.

[The Hound]

Hercule Poirot is pretty cool, I’ve got a Homburg hat just like his it’s pimpin af

[Rev Jones]

Is Arsene Lupin (the gentleman burglar) known in the English speaking world? The author is French. 27 stories, some involving 'Herlock Sholmes' (Conan Doyle had objected against the French author using 'Sherlock Holmes') as his opponent. Pretty famous in the French speaking countries. I just got the first 2 books in the mail, I wanna practise my French

[Mister Yo]

Mister Yo are you familiar with Hitchcock's 'Rope'? IIRC it plays out in one single room.

will def check this out if its on netflix as that is where i have been watching a bunch of movies lately.

Circle stays in one room the whole film. Cube is real cool but they move from room to room trying to escape from a cube that is on some sort of geometrical grid.

and The Bar stays in one general area the whole film as well, a bar, its basement and then the sewers.

The Similars stays in a bus station for its duration.

Hateful 8 for the most part minus the long ass beginning.

Breakfast Club, Clerks, Phone Booth.

The Invitation which i found on netflix.

been meaning to watch 12 Angry Men as well.

idk anything else off the top that stays in one place the whole film.

very cool concept imo. really makes you feel like part of the film.

[ShaDynasty]

I've been watching 'Inside No. 9' which is a whole series from the League Of Gentlemen where every episode is set in one location, almost every episode is fantastic.

The greatest single location movie is 'My Dinner With Andre' though, that has to be one of the realest movies ever, I think about that fucking movie all the time in daily life which is amazing because its just 2 guys talking.

Not sure about this Murder On The Orient Movie, I know the plot from reading the book at school, the plot is far fetched to me.

[Rev Jones]

Yeah the plot is definitely far fetched
I'll watch 'My Dinner With Andre´' on Friday, you make it sound like a very interesting movie

[Mister Yo]

intrigued about My Dinner with Andre will get to ASAP hopefully tonight, if its on netflix. if not on netlix, very soon.