Mute Movie Collectibles Revealed at New York

I'm sure if I would have seen Murder on the Orient Express upon its initial release in 1974, my reaction would have been much different than it is today. As is, the time has not been the kindest to it nearly 40 years hence. The most glaring flaws are the lack of tension, which is absolutely crucial to a murder mystery set in as confined of space as a train, and subsequently my lack of investment in the characters or who actually committed the deed. The acting is fine for the most part, although in my opinion not worthy of the accolades bestowed upon it, and the writing is serviceable, but for whatever reason, the film really, really drags, robbing a good deal of the enjoyment from it. 

Murder on the Orient Express based on the Agatha Christie novel, is a unique and wonderful murder mystery that will thrill and entertain until its climatic conclusion. Add to this a wonderful all-star cast, and you have one hell of the movie. An American businessman is murdered on... well... the Orient Express and famous Belgian detective Poirot is asked to put his vacation on hold and solve the murder while the train is snowbound. Albert does a stupendous job as Poirot. Poirot is hilarious and quirky, but can also silence a room and frighten. A Pure crime mystery classic and although I haven't read the book you can feel the spirit of Agatha Christie's work come to life. I've never seen a film before that looks and feels like a novel while you're watching it. The little details and side notes that are important features in novels all get some recognition in this adaptation which is only one reason to praise director. Albert Finney's character is certainly eccentric, and it is amusing to see how he methodically cracks the case, while the ending is wrapped up with a neat but unsurprising touch, but again the pacing drains away whatever good intentions it had the building. I'm a huge Sidney Lumet fan, and his shot selections outside the train were kind of cool in an unsettling way, but this far from stands alongside his other classic work.