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    Movie Review

    Murder on the Orient Express tries hard to find a clue

    Alex Bentley
    Nov 9, 2017 | 3:10 pm
    Murder on the Orient Express tries hard to find a clue
    play icon

    When done right, murder mysteries can be some of the most effective stories told on film. The confidence of the detective, the subtle and overt clues sprinkled in throughout, the cycling through potential suspects — each of these and more often make for riveting viewing.

    Mystery writer Agatha Christie is renowned for her ability to spin a good tale, so it seems difficult to mess up one of her most popular stories, Murder on the Orient Express. And yet director Kenneth Branagh and writer Michael Green (who is wrapping up an extraordinarily busy year that also included Logan, Alien: Covenant, and Blade Runner 2049) never get a handle on the material.

    Branagh does double duty as detective Hercule Poirot, who’s in demand all over the world because of his unique skills. After receiving a message asking for his help in Europe, Poirot, at the last minute, boards the Orient Express train traveling from Turkey. It’s a fortuitous turn of events, as he’s in place to try to solve a murder that happens during the first night of the journey.

    Naturally, everyone is a suspect, including Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley), Dr. Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom, Jr.), Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad), Caroline Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Princess Dragomiroff (Judi Dench). Poirot methodically interviews all of them, slowly but surely deducing exactly what happened that fateful night.

    Early on, a smattering of funny scenes suggests that Branagh and Green will try to keep the film light while dealing with something deadly serious. Once on the train, though, the story loses its sense of humor almost completely, leaving the audience with the intricacies of the mystery as the only source of entertainment.

    That wouldn’t be an issue if the story was suitably thrilling. Unfortunately, at least the way Branagh stages it, the film is almost devoid of any suspense. It appears the plot has barely been updated, if at all, and as it stands, it’s too convoluted and stuffy to be entertaining.

    Much of the fun of a good mystery is being able to figure things out alongside the detective or other characters. Branagh keeps us mostly in the dark about the process, choosing instead to focus on the all-knowing intellect of Poirot. When he figures out the meaning of a clue, there’s no great sense of discovery; it’s a simple building block toward the solution.

    If you’ve read the book, you know that the murder is just one of the mysterious things Poirot discovers on the train. For the other to be effective, it requires us to actually care about the rest of the characters. Unfortunately, we never get a sense of who anybody is but Poirot. Each of the other characters might as well be a mannequin given the emotional impact they have on the story.

    For all the star power in the film (Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Derek Jacobi also make appearances), Branagh is the only one who’s halfway interesting. Even then, Poirot’s glorious mustache is most of the appeal, as the feat of hair engineering runs roughshod over anything Branagh is saying.

    This version of Murder on the Orient Express demonstrates the danger of revering source material too highly. It may have been crackling good entertainment in 1934, but it leaves a lot to be desired in 2017.

    Kenneth Branagh in Murder on the Orient Express.

    Kenneth Branagh in Murder on the Orient Express
    Photo by Nicola Dove
    Kenneth Branagh in Murder on the Orient Express.
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    Weekend Event Planner

    These are the 17 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

    Alex Bentley
    Apr 9, 2026 | 6:00 am
    Cirque du Soleil: ECHO
    Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil
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    A big slate of events will take place this weekend in and around Dallas, with multiple categories vying for your attention. Choices will include six theater productions, two big-name comedians, the return of Cirque du Soleil, three festivals, two dance events, a symphony concert, a Latin music concert, and a special event featuring two notable gospel singers.

    Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out our calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

    Thursday, April 9

    MusicalWriters.com Productions presents The Scarlet Letter Musical
    The Scarlet Letter Musical is a bold adaptation of the classic book that tells the story of Hester Prynne as you’ve never seen her before. Branded by rigid Puritan society, she turns her scarlet letter into a badge of survival and a spark for rebellion. The production will run at Rosewood Center for Family Arts through April 18.

    Kitchen Dog Theater presents Dream Hou$e
    Two Latina sisters are appearing on an HGTV-style reality show to sell their family home, hoping to capitalize on the gentrification in their “changing neighborhood.” As they perform for the camera, the show starts to slip into the surreal: one sister grapples with turmoil in the family’s ancestral past and the other learns how much she’s willing to sacrifice for the family’s future. The production runs through May 3 at Kitchen Dog Theater.

    Majestic Theatre presents Vir Das
    As India’s biggest stand-up comedian and a Bollywood star, Vir Das has now crossed over to become a global comedy sensation, filling an international vacancy for an authentic Indian perspective. He was the first comedian from India to have a stand-up special on Netflix, and has been seen as an actor in Whiskey Cavalier, Fresh Off the Boat, and the Netflix series Hasmokh. He'll perform for one night only at Majestic Theatre.

    Cirque du Soleil: ECHO
    Cirque du Soleil's latest touring show, ECHO, features a story of connection, intention, and the symbiotic unions between humans and the animal kingdom. It follows an inquisitive young woman named Future as she wanders into a fantasy world that explores our sacred bond with animals and nature. When Future and her best friend the Dog encounter a mysterious cube, they quickly learn how their actions have the power to shape this world, and if we come together, we can create the world we all want to live in. The production will be in a big top outside Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie through May 3.

    Friday, April 10

    Breakaway Music Festival
    The Breakaway Music Festival will feature performances by over 20 different electronic music artists, including Angrybaby, Disclosure, Fisher, Mary Droppinz, Sofi Tukker, Trace, and more. The two-day event takes place at Fair Park through Saturday.

    Kathy Griffin: New Face, New Tour
    Kathy Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy Award-winning comedian, television star, best-selling author, and advocate known for her biting satire and fearless comedy. She best known for her hit Bravo series, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, and she also starred on NBC's Suddenly Susan and guest starred on Seinfeld, Law & Order: SVU, Glee, You, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She'll perform for one night only at Majestic Theatre.

    Dancing with the Stars Live
    Dancing with the Stars Live is a stage spectacular that will feature fan-favorite professional dancers from the hit television series in a mix of standout routines from Season 34 and fresh performances created just for the stage. The tour will feature co-host Emma Slater, special guest co-host Danielle Fishel, and an all-star cast of professional dancers like Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Jenna Johnson, Ezra Sosa, Britt Stewart, and more, under the direction of choreographer Mandy Moore. The event takes place at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

    Company of Rowlett Performers presents The Comedy of Errors
    The Comedy of Errors tells the story of two sets of identical twins who were accidentally separated at birth. Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, arrive in Ephesus, which turns out to be the home of their twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant, Dromio of Ephesus. When the Syracusans encounter the friends and families of their twins, a series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identities lead to wrongful beatings; a near-seduction; the arrest of Antipholus of Ephesus; and false accusations of infidelity, theft, madness, and demonic possession. The production runs through April 19 at Plaza Theater in Garland.

    Repertory Company Theatre presents The Producers
    Max Bialystock, a washed-up Broadway producer, and Leo Bloom, his neurotic accountant, cook up the most outrageous get-rich-quick scheme in showbiz history: stage the worst musical ever, pocket the investors’ cash, and run. What could possibly go wrong? The production runs through April 26 at Courtyard Theater in Plano.

    Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "America 250"
    The United States Naval Academy's men’s glee club is considered one of the top men’s choral ensembles in the country, while the women’s glee club is the world’s only all-female military choral ensemble. They will join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to sing favorite patriotic music in celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary. The United States Naval Academy Pipes & Drum Corps will round out the all-American extravaganza. There will be three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

    Peso Pluma in concert
    Mexican singer and rapper Peso Pluma has been gaining increasing popularity on both sides of the border since his 2020 debut album, Ah y Qué?. His third and fourth albums in 2023 and 2024 saw him reach No. 1 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart, and his latest release, the collaborative album Dinastía with Tito Double P, went to No. 6 on the overall Billboard 200. He'll perform at Dos Equis Pavilion on Friday and Saturday alongside Tito Double P and other friends.

    Richardson Theatre Centre presents Over The River And Through The Woods
    Nick is a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey. His parents retired and moved to Florida, but that doesn't mean his family isn’t still in Jersey. In fact, he sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. This is routine until he has to tell them that he's been offered a dream job. The news doesn’t sit so well and begins a series of schemes by his family to keep Nick around. The production runs through May 3 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

    Lewisville Playhouse presents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
    Tom Stoppard’s play takes two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet — Rosencrantz and Guildenstern — and explores their lives and perspectives as they navigate the confusing events of Hamlet, highlighting themes of existentialism, fate, and the nature of reality through their often absurd and comical situations, while also grappling with their predetermined, tragic end as pawns in the larger drama of Hamlet. The production runs through April 26 at Lewisville Playhouse.

    Ballet North Texas presents Cinderella
    A timeless tale of kindness, courage, and magic comes to life in Cinderella. With elegant choreography, whimsical characters, and a sparkling score, the beloved fairy tale ballet is perfect for families and dreamers of all ages. There will be three performances through Saturday at Moody Performance Hall.

    Saturday, April 11

    Commemorative Air Force presents Warbird Weekend
    Warbird Weekend takes visitors back in time to see vintage aircraft and vehicles up close. Legendary aircraft on display will include the B-29 FIFI, B-24 Diamond Lil, A-26 Invader, R4D Ready 4 Duty, C-45 Bucket of Bolts, and more. In addition to the aircraft, there will be living history re-enactors, hands-on activities, food trucks, and more. The event takes place for one day only at Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center in Dallas.

    Dallas Reggae Festival
    The Dallas Reggae Festival features arts, crafts, and jewelry vendors, Caribbean-inspired food and various artists, and local reggae bands. Performers will include The Wailers, Maxi Priest, Kabaka Pyramid, Duane Stephenson, Etana, Artikal Sound System, Anuhea, Arise Roots, and more. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Levy Event Plaza in Irving.

    Sunday, April 12

    David and Tamela Mann: Love & Relationship Tour
    At this special event, gospel singers David and Tamela Mann will share insight into their 37-year marital love story. The couple will share their signature blend of love, laughter, and lyrics, inviting the audience to experience an evening filled with heartfelt wisdom, uplifting music, and the hilariously comedic moments that have defined their journey together. The event takes place at Majestic Theatre.

    Cirque du Soleil: ECHO
    Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

    Cirque du Soleil: Echo will be in a big top outside Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie through May 3.

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