"Death on the Nile" is a beautiful but lengthy detective story based on Agatha Christie, which you can skip

On February 10, a new film by Kenneth Branagh with him in the title role is released in Russian cinemas. This is the second work of the director based on the novels by Agatha Christie about the adventures of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.

Like Murder on the Orient Express, released in 2017, Death on the Nile is one of the most famous plots in the history of the detective genre. Both novels have been filmed many times, and many viewers probably already know in advance how it will all end.

"Death on the Nile" took a very long time to get to theaters. First, the release was postponed due to a pandemic, and then due to an unpleasant scandalLA police: Armie Hammer under sexual assault investigation / The Associated Press, which effectively destroyed the career of the film's key actor, Armie Hammer.

Disney was faced with a dilemma: reshoot all the scenes with Hammer or release the picture later, when the discussions subsided a bit. As a result, the studio bosses chose the second option. During this time, Kenneth Branagh managed to direct his most personal and, according to many critics, the best film - the autobiographical drama "

Belfastwhich is now nominated for an Oscar.

Plot changes and sentimental Poirot

Events take viewers to the 1930s. Detective Hercule Poirot goes on a long-awaited vacation in Egypt. Rich and incredibly beautiful socialite Linnet Ridgeway turns to him for help. She asks the detective to save her and her husband Simon from the persecution of her ex-girlfriend Jacqueline de Belfort. The girl was Simon's fiancee, but he left her for Linnet.

To hide from Jackie, the newlyweds board the luxurious Karnak motor ship, which makes a seven-day journey along the Nile. There, apart from Poirot, they are accompanied by numerous relatives and friends. But stalker also somehow ended up among the passengers. Very soon, a murder occurs on board, and the famous detective will have to get to the bottom of who committed it.

Considering how many times the story has been adapted for screen and stage, it's clear why screenwriter Michael Green introduced additional characters to the narrative and generally came up with many innovations. For example, in the original, Poirot's friend, Monsieur Bouc, did not participate in the events, and his mother Euphemia was not at all in the books. In addition, Green thoroughly reworked some of Christie's other heroes.

Another novelty - the character of Poirot has changed a lot compared to the books and previous film adaptations. From a detective who knows no mistakes, he has become a tragic and reflective figure. But he has not lost his trademark self-irony and playful charm.

To add even more depth to the familiar image, the authors even decided to use flashbacks to tell why the detective wears a mustache. By the way, a fun fact: compared to "Murder on the Orient ExpressFor some reason, they have become less impressive (just look how grandiose they looked in the previous picture and how they now seem modest and neat).

Less stellar than last time cast

Like last time, Branagh has gathered an impressive cast around him. Although, in fairness, the stars of the first magnitude really starred in The Murder: Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Olivia Colman, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer.

The cast of "Death on the Nile" is somewhat more modest. In addition to the disgraced Armie Hammer, the mass audience will definitely recognize the beautiful Gal Gadot, known for her role wonder women. Another hit for Branagh is Sex Education's rising star Emma McKay. She recently shone in the elegant melodrama "Eiffel".

Among the secondary characters, Letitia Wright stands out - Shuri from Black Panther. And by a strange coincidence, her reputation was also tarnished, although not as seriously as in the case of Hammer. But due to criticism of the COVID‑19 vaccine, social networks have long called for the actress to be fired. However, this did not stop her from continuing to act.

In any case, all the actors, even less famous than Gal Gadot, play beautifully. And here you involuntarily recall Branagh's theatrical experience: nevertheless, he knows how to work with emotions very well and arranges the actors in the frame as if on a stage in the beams of spotlights.

Incredibly long first act and eye-catching CGI

But for all the merits of problems, the picture still has enough. The first and most important is unjustified procrastination. It takes Branagh about 70 minutes to show the first murder (despite the fact that the film runs a little over 2 hours).

Here the director can be justified by the fact that during this time we are thoroughly introduced to each of the many characters. But still, it does not leave the feeling that Branagh is too distracted either by the atmosphere of the glamorous 30s or by Poirot flashbacks. Because of this, closer to the middle you start, if not nodding, then certainly a little bored. And only with the first murderwhen the tiring plot ends and the detective actually begins, the action revives and interest returns.

The film itself is very beautiful: luxurious Egyptian views and beautifully filmed historical sights are reminiscent of classic peplumah, the 1930s-inspired hero outfits are adorable, and the Tiffany jewelry is literally dazzling.

But at the same time, the authors abandoned the idea of ​​shooting a real invoice in Egypt (probably, the decision was again influenced by restrictions due to the pandemic). And all the grandiose monuments and endless expanses of water that appear in the frame are scenery and graphics.

Moreover, the chroma key in most frames is really noticeable. Pay attention to the scene in which the alligator hunts birds: CGI is especially striking in it. And this is not the only such moment.

"Death on the Nile" turned out to be ambiguous. On the one hand, this is an aesthetic movie with talented actors, no matter what scandals the latter are involved in. On the other hand, in the first half the film is terribly boring, and the denouement is unlikely to surprise the audience.

It's okay to go to the movies for Branagh's new work, but you won't lose anything if you wait for it to come out online. In the meantime, it is better to evaluate another film by the director - Belfast, which is predicted to succeed at the upcoming Oscars.