What happens when you have the screenplay adopted from the most revered crime story writer in the history? To top of it off, this screenplay is adopted and enacted by a bunch of accomplished people? Then, you would say it has to come out splendidly superb, right?
Well, not so much if you are watching this recent adaptation of the great Agatha Christie’s famous book of the same name. The original book and it’s storyline is indeed superb and mixes various elements of the classic characters from British society. Although, the same doesn’t transpire so much successfully to the silver screen.
Then of course, you would talk about the stellar cast playing all the notable characters with so much elan. Yes, they are there but still their wonderful joint efforts are not that much impressive and we can’t recall any particular performance beyond the scheduled run time. And I think that is the major reason why this film about a dysfunctional upper class British family didn’t gather all the praises that it was hoping for.
Talking about the family in the centre- the Leonides is a wealthy famous family who has lost its patriarch under suspicious circumstances. Police has already ruled out any possibility of foul play but still finding something amiss, the said patriarch’s granddaughter- Sophia takes the matter in her own her hand and appoints her long lost friend from the Cairo days, Charles Hayward as a private investigator.
Charles Hayward is plain and simple investigator. Young, handsome and pining for lost love for sure, but still quite no-nonsense kind of guy. He definitely lacks the wit of Ms. Marple or the charm of Hercule Poirot. That reflects in his no-holds-barred style of investigation too, which obviously ruffles more than few feathers in this wealthy set of people.
Ultimately comes the shocking discovery of who was the murderer, totally taking viewers by surprise (readers would have of course known this all along!!) and with it brings a tragic end to this sordid saga. Not without our leading detective getting the much needed encouragement and timely help from Edith de Haviland- portrayed brilliantly with natural wit and much gumption by Glenn Close.
Of course, we have to mention other great actors who fit splendidly in the entire set up of this murkier household. Christina Hendricks as the sultry dancer from Las Vegas who is the current Mrs. Leonides to the much despair of her extended family members, Gillian Anderson as the suffering Magda because of her art and her useless husband and Honor Kneafsey as the youngest but brilliant beyond her years are certainly memorable performances out of this ensemble cast.
The loyal readers obviously know who, what and why, still this adaptation is worthy of a one time watch.