"I know. Wonderful, isn't it?"
Branagh's delayed follow-up to his reasonably successful Murder On The Orient Express finally got a release, and whilst overshadowed by his award-winning Belfast and negative publicity attached to one of the stars, it also proves to be a considerably lesser film from mediocre source material. After opening with a superfluous wartime flashback sequence and an indulgent musical number, the clumsy first act and unsparkling dialogue does not bode well, although the film picks up a little once the real mystery begins. The cast is strong - Gal Gadot and Armie Hammer in particular play well - and although Branagh clearly directs with confidence and the occasional interesting flourish, the film feels rather bloated overall, meanders about and is content to revel in its extensive and not-always-convincing CG visuals, whereas tightening up the narrative would have possibly made the story play better and make the film a better viewing experience.
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