Cinema Crusaders Review: Death On The Nile

Nemesis

3 years ago

Death on the Nile (2020 film) logo.png Death On The Nile is a masterpiece of mystery fiction written by Agatha Christie. It is one of the holy grails of mystery cinema. Much like another one one of Christie’s stories, Murder On The Orient Express, bringing the story to the screen successfully is a much sought after prize that is difficult to achieve and rarely attempted. Director Kenneth Branagh, who also reprises his role as Hercule Poirot, has attempted it twice now with this movie and Murder On The Orient Express (2017). He has been successful both times.

I would be remiss if I did not note this at the very start, this movie departs from the established characters and roles in several instances. Much of the first half of the movie is used to establish these new takes on old characters, provide a semblance of back story for Poirot that will fold nicely into the second act, and to establish a tie to Murder On The Orient Express though Xavier Bouc and his mother. Bouc was originally written by Christie and was part of Murder On The Orient Express. It is always perilous to rewrite the source material when making art based on that material. It’s doubly so when you do so with a luminary like Agatha Christie. However, in this case, screenplay writer Michael Green, has done a clever and masterful job of blending Christie’s work with his own plot lines. He brings them together masterfully in the final act of the movie and the misgiving I had, and I did have them, in the first half of the movie were put to rest with finality by the time the credits rolled. Green has also brought a modern twist to the story. In one instance he erased the dowry plot line for Lousie Borget and instead pinned the dissolution of the engagement on Linette Doyle’s (played by Gal Gadot) selfishness and capriciousness. This further cements the fact that Linett Doyle is not a sympathetic character no matter what happens to her. While the plot takes a circuitous route it finishes at the destination Christie wrote and the movie is better for it. This is not a knock on Green but rather a tribute. Green did what all good screenwriters should do, he adopted the story to the screen while staying true to the source material. NOMINATE THIS MAN FOR AN AWARD.

The cast of this film is simply wonderful. There are so many standout performances and I can’t possibly mention them all. Kenneth Branagh is very good as Hercule Poirot once again. Some more backstory for this character and Branagh and he performed admirably and perhaps indulgently. Personally, I didn’t think Poirot needed that sort of treatment but what was offered was very good. Russel Brand was excellent as Windlesham. He was believable, understated in a very good way and entirely empathetic. I never knew he has this sort of performance in him and would like to see more. Rose Leslie, of Game Of Thrones fame, was remarkable as the Linett Doyle’s maid, Louise Borget. Her appearance, mannerisms, French accent, and suppressed emotional range here are outstanding. Arnie Hammer and Emma Mackey as Simon Doyle and Jacqueline de Bellfort are also wonderful. I do not want to spoil the plot but will say that these two play their parts to perfection and Emma Mackey has managed to rival Mia Farrow who playing the same role in the 1978 film of the same name. As I said, there are too many performances to list here though I would be remiss if I did not mention the performance of Gal Gadot. Gadot played her part professionally but is the weakest link here in a very strong cast. That does not mean she turned in a poor performance however, far from it.

I’ll finish this review with a brief look at direction, cinematography and effects. I’m a big fan of Kenneth Branagh but I think a few of his choices at the beginning of the film were odd if not inappropriate. Notably, there is a scene involving Jacqueline de Bellfort, Linette Doyle and Simon Doyle at the beginning of the move that borders on perverse. It felt out of place both for 1937 and for the movie. Branagh’s direction improves as the movies goes away from shocking melodrama and into high stakes tension and mystery. It is here that Branagh truly shines and his Shakespearean mentality comes to the fore. The movie looks beautiful and the sights and scenes of Egypt are quality. My only complaint, call me old school if you will, is that we substitute on location photography for CGI’ed landscapes and impossible that scenes that can only be accomplished through the use of computer imagery. It has become so commonplace in modern cinema that I accept it when watching a move. However, I think it’s worth nothing that it is enjoyable, if not cost effective, when you can film on location and see The Nile instead of generating it. None of this subtracted from my enjoyment of the move but it stood in stark contrast to the 1978 film certainly.

In summary, this film is entirely enjoyable and a well done piece of cinema. The acting performances are first rate, the screenplay excellent, the film is beautiful and the story is faithfully recreated from the original work. I can’t recommend this movie enough. If you are a fan of mystery, Agatha Christie or high drama this is a must see.

Direction – 3.5 of 5 Stars
Writing – 4.5 of 5 Stars
Acting – 4.5 of 5 Stars
Cinematography – 3.5 of 5 Stars

Final Score – 5 of 5 Stars

Produced by Kenneth Branagh, Ridley Scott, Kevin J Walsh
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Written by Michael Green, Agatha Christie
Released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through the 20th Century Studios label

Starring
Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot
Gal Gadot as Linette Doyle
Arnie Hammer as Simon Doyle
Letitia Wright as Rosalie Otterbourne
Sophie Okonedo as Salliemae Otterbourne
Tom Bateman as Bouc
Annette Benning as Euphemia
Russel Brand as Linus Windlesham
Dawn French as Mrs Bowers
Rose Leslie as Louise Bourget
Emma Mackey as Jacqueline de Bellefort
Jennifer Saunders as Marie Van Schuyler

Author Profile

Nemesis

Nemesis is a poet, writer and author of the upcoming novel The Long Game. He is a writer of science fiction and supernatural thrillers. Besides novels and short stories he writes for UK based ASAP Comics developing new stories for Level 8 and OPSEC. Nem is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and tries to bring those experiences into his writing.

He lives and works out of his home in Riverside, California with his wife and three children. When not writing he enjoys reviewing comic books and graphic novels for ComicCrusaders.com and living the Southern California life with his family.