Kinberg Genre, Mark Gordon Pictures, Scott Free Productions and TSG Entertainment’s Death On The Nile (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is a murder mystery based on Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name.
Newly-weds Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle (Gal Gadot) and Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer) have an exclusive party for friends. The party moves to a cruise but the fun and celebrations on board are destroyed when one of the passengers is found murdered. Who is the murdered victim? Renowned Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), who is also one of the passengers, has to identify the murderer but before he can do so, more murders are committed.
The story is like any other suspense drama. Michael Green’s screenplay is not very engaging because the characters don’t endear themselves to the viewers. In other words, the audience doesn’t really care whom to root for and whom to not. Also, the screenplay is a bit too long-drawn.
Kenneth Branagh performs ably as detective Hercule Poirot. Gal Gadot does a fine job as Linnet. Armie Hammer is so-so as Simon Doyle. Emma Mackey gives a good account of herself as Jacqueline. Tom Bateman is fair as Poirot’s friend, Bouc. Annette Bening is impressive as Bouc’s mother. Russell Brand has his moments as Linnet’s ex-fiancé, Linus Windlesham. Ali Fazal is okay as Linnet’s cousin and lawyer. Dawn French has her moments as Mrs. Bowers. Sophie Okonedo makes her presence amply felt in the role of jazz singer Salome Otterbourne. Letitia Wright is natural as Sophie’s niece, Rosalie. Rose Leslie is quite good as Linnet’s maid, Louise. Jennifer Saunders leaves a fine mark as Linnet’s godmother. Ann Turkel lends fair support as Meredith Wilson.
Kenneth Branagh’s direction is good but he has not succeeded in making a breathtaking whodunit. Patrick Doyle’s background music is fair. Hariz Zambarloukos’ cinematography is very nice. Úna Ní Dhonghaile’s editing is sharp.
On the whole, Death On The Nile is too routine to appeal to the Hindi film-going audience.
Released on 11-2-’22 at Movie Time Goregaon (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Fox Star Studios India Pvt. Ltd. Publicity & opening: weak. …….Also released all over. Opening was dull everywhere. The original English version has also released simultaneously.