TV Ramblings: Poirot

Agatha Christie's 'Third Girl'
Hercule Poirot is back taken names and kicking ass. Well, kicking ass in his own way.
When Norma Restarick comes knocking on Poirot's door claiming that he might be the only one to save because she thinks she committed murder. She then promptly runs away before Poirot can get some answers. Low and behold, Norma's childhood nanny is found dead, possible suicide. Norma is tormented by her mother's own suicide when she was just a child and is convinced she committed this murder. Poirot along with Ariadne Oliver, who's back for another adventure, make sense out of this whole mess before Norma ends up dead herself.

So, this was a decent film. Zoe Wanamaker is back as the crime novelist Ariadne Oliver, she's always good. Jemima Rooper plays the ever tortured Norma and she's well, she's a pass on the acting front. I was distracted by everyone's way to heavy caked on makeup. Holy smokes, those painted girls could give babies nightmares. I'm not totally in love with this production, need to watch it again. But as always, good costumes, great sets. There were kinda off on some of the actors and way off on the makeup, which is a surprise for a Christie adaption, usually top notch. I loved that we got to see Poirot's apartment again. It was a treat.


Agatha Christie's 'Appointment With Death'
Poirot is in Syria on an archaeologist dig with Lord Greville Boyton, his nasty wife and her kids. A travel writer, some doctors, a nun, a nanny, a whole bunch of crazy people, per usual. Nasty, and I mean nasty Lady Boyton gets killed, found stabbed to death while taking in some sun. Poirot leaps onto the case, sensing something right away and using those sleuthing skills to solve this murder of a most hated woman. Suspects galore.

Definitely a good film to end the the Poirot season this year. They filmed on location so everything looked beautiful, the sets, costumes, makeup, hair. Just really a top notch production all the way around. A good cast, but some of those American accents were brutal. Still, a lavish production, a good story and just a great watch.

The best part was that John Hannah played Dr. Gerard. Love him, he was great. I also like Christina Cole, she played Dr. Sarah. I loved her since 'He Knew He Was Right'. Tim Curry who played Lord Boyton was Tim Curry per usual. Elizabeth McGovern also stared as Celia Westholme. I've been a fan of hers since I saw 'She's Having a Baby'. She's been appearing in allot of British productions of late, it's always nice to see her on my screen. The cast was pretty good, near perfect.

I loved that in these three films, they touched a bit on faith. It didn't bother me in the least, Poirot could of been any faith and I could of cared less. It was just something different to show in these ongoing films. 'Murder on the Orient Express' had Poirot praying and we found out he was Catholic, the 'Third Girl' had a cross hanging on Poirot's wall in his apartment and in 'Appointment With Death', Poirot gifts a rosary to a much needed soul. I'm amazed that all three films kept that up, showing a bit more about Poirot by showing us a softer side, maybe, threw his faith.

TV Ramblings: 'Murder on the Orient Express'

Well, life is good when Agatha Christie's Inspector Hercule Poirot is on screen. The first of three new Poirot films that will be airing/aired on PBS as part of this seasons Masterpiece Mystery. Let us begin.

Murder on the Orient Express starts out with Poirot solving a case in Istanbul when he's called back to London. Off he goes and encounters Xavier Bouc, who manages the Orient Express and gets Poirot a last minute ticket to board. Characters galore appear and introduce themselves. Well, if you know the drill by now a murder happens. Pretty gruesome one in fact, what a way to go. Inspector Poirot is on the case and taking names. I want to add more but I'd be giving away some major spoilers and it would just kill the story for anyone not familiar with it. Overall this was the best Poirot movie to date. It doesn't matter that their was a motion picture done before, that this is a remake or that you know the story or read the book a hundred times before. It matters on how you tell that story on the screen and how it's presented that makes or breaks it.

What was Good: Every new Poirot film looks better than the last. This film looked incredible. The cinematography, direction, the color were excellent. The coloring I especially loved, it was rich but subdued at the same time, gave such an eerie feel. The look was fantastic. The costumes, makeup, hairstyles all looked period correct and weren't over done. The cast was phenomenal. As always for a Christie adaption the casting directors go all out and get well known faces or hire newbie actors that hit it out of the ball park. Susie Parriss did an excellent job with casting, can't stress that enough. On a totally not important note but made me happy, the American accents were spot on. I must give huge credit to the screenwriter Stewart Harcourt who wrote and excellent script and colorist John Claude. I think I love that man, I was in love with the color.

Let me go into a bit more about the cast members that stood out for me because I can't express enough how excellent the cast was. David Suchet as Poirot was excellent as always but he even out did himself. There is this scene were Poirot is praying, something new to show about this man that we haven't seen before in previous films, it was so moving. Suchet really opened himself up at showing and hiding Poirot's feelings. His beliefs on whats right/wrong and how a person should act upon that knowledge of right and wrong. The last scene of this film, the way the shot lingers on his face and his emotions that he's subtly expressing, amazing. My dream wish would be that he gets an Emmy nomination for his performance. Hugh Bonneville, David Morrissey, Eileen Atkins and Toby Jones were all spot on and just as excellent as they always are.

Actors I'm not to familiar with such as Canadian actress Marie Josee Croze and American actress Jessica Chastain were excellent. I was so drawn to them. There scenes were so good they stood out above some of the seasoned pros. Croze had a dozy of a scene with Suchet about protecting children, Chastain had a hell of a dozzy scene again with Suchet about whats right/wrong and how it's unfair when everything just blows up. A very international cast, as is always in most Christie adaptions. Shout outs to French actors Denis Menochet, Serge Hazanavicius, and Stanley Weber, American actors Brian J. Smith and Barbara Hershey, German actress Susanne Lothhar, and the rest of the cast Elena Satine, Samuel West and Joseph Mawle. The entire main cast needs to be named, everyone brought their A game.

What was Bad: Nothing. My one and only complaint is that Hugh Bonneville and David Morrissey didn't have more screen time.

My Last Words: Best Agatha Christie Poirot film made to date starring David Suchet as the brilliant sleuth. A must watch for Christie fans, Suchet fans, Poirot fans and for everyone who loves good drama, good mystery and just plain old good television.

More info about the program can be found here
http://http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/poirot/orientexpress.html

Ramblings About Miss Marple

I have a love for Miss Marple and I truly enjoy Agatha Christie. I also have a love for PBS Masterpiece Theatre, er I mean Masterpiece Classic/Mystery/Contemporary. I'm also a self confessed costume drama whore. Naturally I'd tune in to the new adaptions of my favorite sleuth, Miss Jane Marple. Well, they've all aired by now but I thought I'd put something up. Spreed the word. Mainly cause I'm bored and can't sleep. I should point out that I'm not a purist who never enjoys film adaptions of novels because they aren't pure to the book. What's exciting on the page sometimes does not translate well in visual media. I still love 'em. Onwards bloggers. I swear nobody cares. 8D (Yes, it's a happy smiley face.)

First up, 'The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side'
Marina Gregg, a glamorous but fragile Hollywood starlet, has settled in St. Mary Mead with her dashing husband - the young director Jason Rudd. Gregg has captured the fancy of the quaint English village, even Miss Marple, who along with everyone else is eager for a party at Gregg's stunning home. The hospitality turns horrific when a guest drops dead due to a poisoned daiquiri. Was Gregg herself the intended target? Miss Marple's friend Dolly Bantry has lots to say about the case (and everything else), even offering up some surprising clues. But the high drama isn't over - another murder grabs the spotlight, leading to a shocking conclusion far beyond what even Hollywood could concoct. (Synopsis from the official PBS Masterpiece website. www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/marple/index.html)

The film opens up with Marie Antoinette. Well, it's the film Marie Antoinette that American actress Marina Gregg is in. Of course, who's watching it in the theater, Jane Marple and Dolly Bantry. What's the first thing I notice, the costumes for the Marie Antoinette were gorgeous. As always the Miss Marple films look really good. The rich colors, the cinematography, the sets, the scenery, the costumes, everything is so lush. The acting was good, though some of those American accents were scary. Marple and Dolly even go to a film set where Marina is filming Cleopatra, of course she's the star. Again, I liked the change of costumes.

As always with an Agatha Christie adaption, stellar well known British actors are abundant. Julia McKenzie is settling in much better as Miss Marple. This is her second series after taking over from Geroldine McEwan (my fav Miss Marple). Lindsay Duncan plays Marina. I love Lindsay Duncan (check out HBO's Rome, stellar, she was awesome) and she was good, she played that vulnerability so well you really did feel sorry for Marina. She's trying to rebuild her career, she has a disabled son in a nursing home, she's icy, she's both sides of the coin, she's married to a younger man, she's got it all and she's got nothing. Joanna Lumley reprises her role as Dotty, last seen in The Body in the Library. She was great, the comedy relief at times but not over the top. Hugh Bonneville plays Inspector Hewitt, you can't say a bad word about Hugh Bonneville, seriously.

I have no complaints. The story was well told. if you've never seen this adaption before or read the novel you'd enjoy the twist. In fact I enjoyed it knowing what I knew. I put the book aside and just enjoyed it for what it was. Not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.

Next, 'The Secret Of Chimneys'
History has been written within the walls of the stately Chimneys estate. But Chimneys luster was tarnished after a grand party that ended in the theft of a revered Indian diamond. Now, more than 20 years later, Miss Marple is accompany Virgina Revel to Chimneys, her family home, for a weekend with Virgina's father Lord Caterham, Austrian count Ludwig van Stainach and an odd array of other guests. But when Count Ludwig is found shot, it seems scandal has come again to Chimneys. Is there a coded message in the dead man's pocket? An esteemed chief Inspector arrives from Scotland Yard, and with the clear thinking of Miss Marple, the two will uncover decades old secrets, and navigate through the smokescreen of perplexing clues to the truth of what happened at Chimneys. (Synopsis from the official PBS Masterpiece website)

This isn't a Miss Marple story. It's a stand alone novel. Though Inspector Battle appears in four other Christie novels. The Secret of Chimneys being his first appearance. He also appears in the Poirot novels Card's on the Table and Murder on the Links, plus stand alone novel Murder is Easy. (Which was adapted for last years series of Marple films, story changed, still good. Go see the version with Olivia de Havilland, she's awesome, it's out on dvd.)

Because of the addition of Miss Marple the story is of course different. It had to, you have to accommodate for Marple being included. Of course it looks good, the colors are lush, good acting, the norms for a Christie adaption. I have to say I felt this adaption was flat. I can't put my finger on exactly why. I don't really care that the story is different or that they added Miss Marple. I was just lelt feeling a bit, oh that was it. Feeling that in a story your familiar with is strange, even with the changes. It was rushed in some places but not rushed in other aspects. I'm going to say that the script was lack luster and if you were new to this story you could of figured out a major twist very easily early on. It 's worth watching simply because these films always look good and the cast is usually spot on. I don't really think it's something you would want to see twice.

And lastly, 'The Blue Geranium'
Mary Pritchard, disliked even by the village reverend, is panicked that she is about to die, and a visit by a veiled fortune teller only fuels more paranoia about her fate. But when the wealthy Pritchard is actually found dead, reportedly from the shock of seeing a pink geranium in her wallpaper turn blue, the tensions and accusations in Pritchard's small village blossom widely. Is it possible that Pritchard was scared to death? Miss Marple, in town visiting an old friend, mingles with the villagers, uncovering any number of people who share in the hatred for Pritchard and also harbour their own deadly sins. More deaths occur in short order, leading Miss Marple in a tangled case rooted in desire, deception and greed. (Synopsis from the official PBS Masterpiece website)

Well, this was adapted from a short story, for those who wanna know or don't know. I was happy with this adaption. All the usual beats were there, looks great, well known cast, costumes. I especially liked Toby Stephens as George Pritchard. The cast is bloated, in a good way, so not everyone has longer scenes then the others but Toby Stephens stood out in his role. (Still swoon worthy in 2006 Jane Eyre). The cast is absolutely spot on. Also excellent was Claudie Blakley, per usual, as Mary's sister Philippa.

What I love most was the WTF that was the killer outcome. After a good start, a so so middle, this Miss Marple series went out on a very good note. I especially loved what the director, David Moore, did. It was defiantly the most stylish of the three. It wasn't the usual bright Marple movies, everything was toned down, giving it a more somber ton. Plus the story is creepy, the reason for the murders, it's like why go threw all that. The story is a stand out. I really really enjoyed, no loved it. Even though I knew the specifics, I was still invested, which is a plus in my book. Out of the three, by far this was the best acted, better told films. It was well paced, so much story was packed into 90 minutes. This is a must see if your new to the revamped, rebooted Marple series of films.

Pardon my incoherent ramblings. my insomnia makes me a weirdo. Don't let the ramblings turn you off, check out the films, read Agatha Christie.