Shankar Mony

Why would you take a great Agatha Christie book and make it so dead in the water? She has the text, just change it to a script and make it. Bloated and sluggish, a ridiculous gun chase that was not needed and too many characters changed. I hope it makes enough money so Branagh does Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which is slightly referred to in this movie.

This is a warm, wonderful movie which is wonderfully acted and skilfully directed. The added bonus is that it brings the work of the genius Anne Tyler to many new people. Hurt and Davis are the biggest names but the whole Leary family cast is stellar. Watch it for a smile. Watch it for a tear and watch it for a lump in your throat that releases into a laugh.

This is a funny movie. This is a wise movie. This is a silly movie. This is a movie that could only have been made by LA. Mocking, loving and crammed with so much humor and insight that I was not surprised to find out that Martin spent seven years on it, its one of the best movies out there. Watch it if you havent. The cast is absolutely stellar, the lines are brilliant (I was deeply unhappy but I never realised it because I was so busy being happy).

The megastars are mostly muted, Depp looks awkward. Kenneth Branagh sports a mustache to make Poirot himself jealous (Dame Agatha's only complaint against Finney's masterly performance in the 1974 original) but the production is exquisite and the movie is not bad. Still, in this day and age, why wouldnt you want to watch that version first.