From the very start of this film (for this is what it is), it is fairly apparent that something has changed since the previous season – but even more so since the days when Poirot was a season of 8 or so 1 hour long episodes. Here we have something that looks like event television and is much more of a film made for TV than it is a TV episode.
The visual appearance is the first clue, but the darker tone and significantly reduced comedy element also come into this as well. The plot is a bit stiff at first; being used to more preamble, the device of a woman asking Poirot to investigate the murder of her father, and the conviction and execution of her mother for the crime – well, it seems a bit pat and rushed at first. What it does allow is a mystery that is still about Poirot investigating and deducing, but is also about the people in the mystery – they are not just characters acting as a prop for Poirot, but they are within their own story, separated from him. This approach means that we have the unusual situation of the majority of the supporting cast having more screen time than Poirot himself it seems, but yet it works. And, as much as I like Hastings and Japp, thankfully there was no attempt to force them into this story where they did not fit (although the success of that approach here makes me wonder if they will return soon).
The mystery is nicely layered and delivered so that we have multiple versions and perspectives, all with some unique detail and presentation that may or may not be true. It is engaging and satisfying to have the picture built up, but even more satisfying to see Poirot see the trees from the wood. The conclusion is well handled and, although it has a bit of melodrama, it is satisfying and convincing. Less convincing are some aspects that I did think could have done with a rethink or more work. The dark tone and the "importance" of the film is perhaps a bit too laid on, particularly in the early stages before the story gets going. The flashback sequences are also delivered in a way that lacks refinement – the different color palette I understand (although it is obvious as a tool), but I disliked the hand-held camera within this – luckily it is worst early on, so later uses do not feel so bad. I guess it is meant to put us in the moment – but it does not.
The cast are very good. Although I missed Suchet's very deft comic touch, he is very sharp here, and I liked the return of his indignation – something not seen for a while in this way. The supporting cast are roundly good and features a surprising amount of famous faces (and, crucially, a member of the cast of The Wire, which always makes me take note). Gillen, Stirling, Stephens, Warren, Mullins, Winkleman (Big Suze!), Jones, Cox, and generally everyone is very good; there are some aspects where I thought they could have played it harder or different, in order to make some plot aspects work (less attraction between the couple for example) but it all works, and there are nice interesting subtexts to some characters that the cast bring out.
So a more serious outing, with more cinematic approaches in location and design, but also one that comes with a strong mystery which is well structured and delivered. It may not produce some of the aspects I like about the ITV series thus far, and not all that it does really works as it should, but overall it is one of the more engaging and satisfying for what it does.
The visual appearance is the first clue, but the darker tone and significantly reduced comedy element also come into this as well. The plot is a bit stiff at first; being used to more preamble, the device of a woman asking Poirot to investigate the murder of her father, and the conviction and execution of her mother for the crime – well, it seems a bit pat and rushed at first. What it does allow is a mystery that is still about Poirot investigating and deducing, but is also about the people in the mystery – they are not just characters acting as a prop for Poirot, but they are within their own story, separated from him. This approach means that we have the unusual situation of the majority of the supporting cast having more screen time than Poirot himself it seems, but yet it works. And, as much as I like Hastings and Japp, thankfully there was no attempt to force them into this story where they did not fit (although the success of that approach here makes me wonder if they will return soon).
The mystery is nicely layered and delivered so that we have multiple versions and perspectives, all with some unique detail and presentation that may or may not be true. It is engaging and satisfying to have the picture built up, but even more satisfying to see Poirot see the trees from the wood. The conclusion is well handled and, although it has a bit of melodrama, it is satisfying and convincing. Less convincing are some aspects that I did think could have done with a rethink or more work. The dark tone and the "importance" of the film is perhaps a bit too laid on, particularly in the early stages before the story gets going. The flashback sequences are also delivered in a way that lacks refinement – the different color palette I understand (although it is obvious as a tool), but I disliked the hand-held camera within this – luckily it is worst early on, so later uses do not feel so bad. I guess it is meant to put us in the moment – but it does not.
The cast are very good. Although I missed Suchet's very deft comic touch, he is very sharp here, and I liked the return of his indignation – something not seen for a while in this way. The supporting cast are roundly good and features a surprising amount of famous faces (and, crucially, a member of the cast of The Wire, which always makes me take note). Gillen, Stirling, Stephens, Warren, Mullins, Winkleman (Big Suze!), Jones, Cox, and generally everyone is very good; there are some aspects where I thought they could have played it harder or different, in order to make some plot aspects work (less attraction between the couple for example) but it all works, and there are nice interesting subtexts to some characters that the cast bring out.
So a more serious outing, with more cinematic approaches in location and design, but also one that comes with a strong mystery which is well structured and delivered. It may not produce some of the aspects I like about the ITV series thus far, and not all that it does really works as it should, but overall it is one of the more engaging and satisfying for what it does.