Poirot: Death on the Nile (2004)

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Siskoid
The Suchet version of Death on the Nile, having been made for television, is extremely efficient, getting us in and out of the mystery in about 100 minutes, while not cutting any more characters than the big movies did (albeit, different ones). Somehow, it nevertheless sticks closer to the novel and caters to many more subplots than its silver screen brothers. It does mean there's a briskness to the story, and it perhaps introduces its cast a bit too quickly to get a good handle on who's who before the first murder occurs. Linette, played by pre-stardom Emily Blunt, is a much more terrible person, as is Rosalie (Zoe Telford). No Bowers, but cousin Cornelia (Daisy Donavan) brings a similar levity and sparkly spirit. Frances de la Tour is fun too as Salome, not as over-the-top as either Lansbury or Okonedo in the theatricals. And then there's Suchet, the iconic Poirot, protecting what has become HIS character by keeping the eccentricities to a minimum, but also revealing quiet emotional turmoil. This version glosses over fewer cues, as if it wanted to give us a chance to figure it out, but it shows its hand much too early and often by lingering on meaningful looks between characters. That, not its smaller budget, is its real weakness. 2 years 2 months ago