Murder on the Orient Express
Posted by martinteller on July 29, 2012
Perhaps I’m slipping into old, bad habits, but this is going to be another quick review. I don’t object to the whodunit format, in fact I usually find whodunits enjoyable (though I can’t think of any I would call a favorite). But this one annoyed me in its complexity. I can appreciate how intricately constructed it is, but the solution to the mystery was just too hard for me to swallow. The construction is intricate, but not elegant. I was unsatisfied.
As for the star-studded cast, it’s a lively crew and everyone gets a moment to shine. The problem with a cast like this is that you get neither the brief “Oh wow!” thrill of a quick cameo nor the rich character establishment/development that a larger part affords. For fans of a particular actor (as I am, to some degree, of Widmark, Hiller, Bergman and Perkins) it’s not really enough to quench your thirst. But Lumet manages for the most part to satisfy the viewer with just a taste of each performer.
So I dunno, I suppose most people who love this movie (or this story) enjoy it mostly for the final act, the customary gathering of all the suspects and laying out the discoveries. But I preferred the buildup and was somewhat disappointed by the resolution. Rating: Fair (65)
George Watches Things said
I agree completely that this film’s biggest problem is that its characters aren’t rich enough, but I thought a few performances were quite good. Also, the conclusion was satisfying enough (if not very good) for me.
martinteller said
Yeah, I don’t have a problem with the performances, they were all fine. It’s the lack of characterization that’s the drawback.
Jessica said
Funny that you didn’t like the conclusion. I don’t remember the movie very much, but I read the book multiple times when I was a kid. I remember how my jaw dropped as it should in an Agatha Christie novel and I just LOVED it. I loved it every time I read it, even if I knew what was going to happen. It was probably one of my favorite books when I was 12 or so.
martinteller said
I’ve never read any Christie, but the movie ending was just too farfetched and overly clever.