Agatha Christie’s famous Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) is en route to London on the Orient Express when one of the passengers is murdered. Derailed in the snow and waiting to be dug out Poirot must solve the crime.

Branagh’s Orient Express is as glorious to look at as his fabulous mustache. The film looks pristine from start to finish with some fantastic tracking shots and clever camera angles to break up the monotony of being trapped on a train. The all-star cast are also very good in their archetypes and it is a nice change to see Johnny Depp acting in a role without relying on a costume or make up to provide his character.

Interestingly I am completely fresh to the story, having never read the book or seen an earlier adaptation and I have to say I enjoyed it immensely. This is an old-fashioned murder mystery and it is great to watch the detective unravel it piece by piece as each suspect comes in and out of focus. My understanding is that Branagh is mostly faithful with the addition of scene at the beginning to set up Poirot’s character and the end to suggest possible sequels.

A journey worth taking.