Death on the Nile
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2022 5:54 pm
As you'd expect Kenneth Branagh's version of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, is a rich explosion of a film - not subtle but rather lovely to watch nevertheless.
Branagh takes the lead role (he normally does in anything he directs) and his Poirot is (as usual) a vain, conceited man full of his own importance. But Branagh leavens him with a splash of vulnerability and uncertainty that makes him more approachable than either Ustinov or Suchet managed, and in a manner that makes you actually quite like him.
The supporting cast did a pretty good job, no-one outstanding, but all putting in serviceable performances (with the exception of Russel Brand who, alas, was dire).
I recently watched the Ustinov version of 1978 which was good - but I thought that the Branagh version pipped it. It might just be the new version was able to convey the richness of the Nile and Egyptian history far better, as well as the sumptuous lifestyle lived by the wealthy elite, in more splendor than the old version - but either way, both films are to be highly recommended and worth springing for if you can't wait for them to appear on Netflix/Prime.
The Branagh version adds in a little extra in respect of Poirot's background, made up for the film rather than taken from the novel I'm thinking, and in particular you get to learn the secrets of his famous mustache. Now if that isn't worth watching, I don't know what is!
Branagh takes the lead role (he normally does in anything he directs) and his Poirot is (as usual) a vain, conceited man full of his own importance. But Branagh leavens him with a splash of vulnerability and uncertainty that makes him more approachable than either Ustinov or Suchet managed, and in a manner that makes you actually quite like him.
The supporting cast did a pretty good job, no-one outstanding, but all putting in serviceable performances (with the exception of Russel Brand who, alas, was dire).
I recently watched the Ustinov version of 1978 which was good - but I thought that the Branagh version pipped it. It might just be the new version was able to convey the richness of the Nile and Egyptian history far better, as well as the sumptuous lifestyle lived by the wealthy elite, in more splendor than the old version - but either way, both films are to be highly recommended and worth springing for if you can't wait for them to appear on Netflix/Prime.
The Branagh version adds in a little extra in respect of Poirot's background, made up for the film rather than taken from the novel I'm thinking, and in particular you get to learn the secrets of his famous mustache. Now if that isn't worth watching, I don't know what is!