A luxurious train full of refinement. Passengers with various peculiarities on board. Beautiful natural scenery along the way. And in the middle of all this ... A murder. Who would be able to risk committing a crime where the chances of escaping unharmed are minimal?
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This is the plot of "Murder on the Orient Express", one of the best books by Agatha Christie (known in the literary world as the queen of mystery stories).
The eccentric detective Hercule Poirot embarks on an adventure where morals and ethics flirt side by side creating a climate of tension and suspense that leaves the viewer anxious for every step he takes to solve the mystery: the brutal murder of a of passengers, after the train derailed due to an avalanche.
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Although the screenplay is not as effective throughout the plot (mainly because of the over-information presented and quickly resolved ... preventing the viewer from processing in a timely fashion all that is happening), the main core of the film - which is the suspense - it's well built, and it's impossible not to be curious about what comes next because your mind never stops working, haha.
The cast is interesting (with an obvious highlight for the actor - who plays the detective full of strange mania) but is not at all well used, thus wasting the chance to make the characters more interesting and overall, the viewer cares more about them. The direction sometimes is lost... But when it sets the tone, it's very detailed and full of very interesting nuances (mainly in some specific angles of cameras).
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The photograph of the film is beautiful (both the landscapes - especially those of the beginning and end moments of the train trip - as well as the reconstruction work of the time) and very well produced, the edition - although frenetic - can be very effective and the trail sound is of extreme good tone (including, working in harmony with photography).
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Between highs and lows (worth mentioning: more high points), "Murder on the Orient Express" delivers a competent plot (which, after solved, immediately creates a dilemma in the mind of who is watching the movie, making you think about how far people really can go when it comes to morality and ethics), interesting and already makes you anxious for the next mystery that will be solved by the charismatic detective.
