Review: Branagh's gorgeous 'Death on the Nile' is more quaint than it is thrilling

Death on the Nile
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writers: Michael Green, Agatha Christie (based upon the novel by)
Starring: Gal Gadot, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Bateman
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Crime
Rated: PG-13 for violence, some bloody images, and sexual material

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) – Synopsis: Hercule Poirot finds himself a guest on a lavish riverboat honeymoon celebration that is quickly undone by a series of murders.

Review: Intended to be released in December of 2019, “Death on the Nile,” the hotly anticipated follow up to 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” finally arrives in theaters.

Initially, the audience is treated to an early look at Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) as a young soldier fighting in World War I. This scene is followed by an older, accomplished Poirot visiting a nightclub to watch jazz singer Salome Otterbourne (Sophie Okonedo) perform. It is here that we are also introduced to friends Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Godot) and Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey), and Bellefort’s boyfriend Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer).

We next find Poirot vacationing in Egypt. By chance he finds his friend Bouc (Tom Bateman) flying a kite on a pyramid. This leads to Poirot being invited to attend the wedding celebration for Ridgeway and Doyle who have fallen madly in love. Bellefort has been discarded. She isn’t pleased.

Eventually the party boards a riverboat where they will spend the following week slowly navigating the Nile River and visiting a handful of historically significant sites. Poirot is asked by Ridgeway to come along and keep his eye on her guests.

And then there is a murder. And another. And another. And so, it goes.

“Death on the Nile” is a beautiful, exotic film with a fantastic cast that also includes Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Rose Leslie, Jennifer Saunders, Ann Turkel, and Letitia Wright. The performances range from good to exceptional. There’s a little more depth to this version of Poirot. The opening and closing scenes are particularly poignant. Not that you’d expect anything less from Branagh in front of the camera or behind it. That said, Michael Green's script feels a bit thin when it comes to character development. Outside of Poirot, there's not much here. This keeps the audience at a safe distance. I'd rather feel a sense of danger.

Nevertheless, If you like Agatha Christie, pulp fiction, or murderous vacations, I don’t see why you won’t enjoy this adaptation of “Death on the Nile.”

Unfortunately, Hammer is a distraction. This has little to do with his performance (which isn’t anything special) and more to do with his off-screen behavior. Recasting the role would have required that most of the film be reshot. With a cast of this size and in-demand actors, that option was not feasible.