gwynmoses

This is well worth a watch as a limited series for the humour, hard hitting issues and very good acting. It is essentially a police / detective programme but the format gives time for the characters to develop from a bunch of very problematic people with far too many personal issues into more acceptance of their baggage. The format over multiple episodes allows sub plots to develop, some of which are resolved but others left hanging.

Of particular note is the part of Akram who is quietly sardonic and unassuming, but with an underlying ruthless streak and a penchant for violence, probably gained from his years in the Syrian secret police (although not explicitly stated).

This is an entertaining film with a modern take on the Canterville Ghost, with a bit of a mystery / murder investigation thrown in and obvious callbacks to Ghost Busters and ET. The casting was modern and refreshing and is notable for being centred on a black family instead of the typical white suburban middle class families usually shown in these films.

There are obvious plot points which raise questions such as the Tardis like nature of the house, why they didn't call Ernest by his proper name once they discovered it, why they didn't show any aftermath of discovering the murder and finally why they were moving out of the house at the end on the film.

However, overall it was a good film to watch once but is not a classic to be rewatched again and again. Acting was good enough to sustain the film and the action and plot moved along nicely with definite chapters, despite the plot holes.

The cast is great but the entire film seems to lack soul, which could be due to the lack of plot as it is not a genuine Agatha Christie story but an adaptation of one set in England. The plot moves along slowly, punctuated by a couple of murders (it is a Poirot, after all) and everything just waits for the denouement at the end with extra information thrown into the mix, taking the enjoyment out of the guessing the murderer which is the entire point of watching a murder mystery. Direction is plodding with far too many close ups of Branagh's face and spinning around the room. There also seems to be a lack of joy in Branagh's acting which seems to be against his normal joy de vivre.

It's not a bad film, just that it lacks a heart and soul that you would usually expect from a cast and director of this quality.