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"CARDS ON THE TABLE" (2005) Review

Most Agatha Christie fans tend to regard movie and telebisyon adaptations of her novels with a kindly eye. Especially if those adaptations closely followed its literary source. Not all adaptations have done this, including "CARDS ON THE TABLE", ITV's 2005 adaptation of the author's 1936 novel.

I have always wondered how Christie fans regarded "CARDS ON THE TABLE". I suspect many Christie fans would not regard it as a close adaptation of the 1936 novel. Also, the story turned out to be one of those mysteries of the "locked room" variety that many fans sometimes find frustrating. I say . . . almost. After all, the victim was not killed or found in a locked room. Instead, he was quietly killed, while sitting in the same room as the suspects.

The story begins when Belgian-born private detective Hercule Poirot and his friend, crime novelist Ariadne Oliver at an art exhibit, they meet the wealthy art collector Mr. Shaitana, who also has an interest in "collecting" successful murderers. He invites both Poirot and Mrs. Oliver to his hapunan party for the following evening. His guests include two madami "detectives" - military intelligence officer Colonel Hughes and Scotland Yard's Superintendent James Wheeler. Mr. Shaitana has also invited four people that he believes may have gotten away with murder:

*Dr. Roberts - a successful Harley kalye physician who may have deliberately killed a patient
*Mrs. Lorrimer - a well-to-do socialite who may have killed her first husband
*Major Despard - a dashing ex-military explorer and hunter who may have killed a married botanist during his last expedition
*Anne Meredith - an impoverished young woman from a good family who may have killed a former employer who caught her stealing


During supper, Mr. Shaitana expresses veiled hints that the four suspects have successfully committed murder. After the meal, he organizes two bridge games - one with the suspects playing in the main drawing room, and the "detectives" playing in another room. Mr. Shaitana settles in a chair near the four suspects and fall asleep. When the "detectives" finish their game, they return to the main dining room and find Shaitana's body, with a kutsilyo in his chest. The four "sleuths" - Poirot, Mrs. Oliver, Superintendent Wheeler and Colonel Hughes - set about investigating Mr. Shaitana's murder.

For those Christie fans who demand that all movie and telebisyon adaptations be faithful to their literary sources, "CARDS ON THE TABLE" just might disappoint them. Director Sarah Harding and screenwriter Nick Dear obviously made changes to Christie's story. One, they changed the identity of one of the story's murderers. Two, they allowed two of the characters that died in the novel . . . survive. Colonel Race in the novel became Colonel Hughes in the movie, due to James soro (who portrayed Race in 2004's "DEATH ON THE NILE") being unavailable for the production. And they allowed one of the characters that survived in the book to die. Harding and Dear also changed the motives for both main killers in the story. And . . . they allowed one of the investigators, Superintendent Wheeler, to become a suspect.

Did these changes ruin the story for me? pangkalahatang . . . no. First of all, I have to admit that "CARDS ON THE TABLE" is a pretty damn good story. Although I liked Christie's novel very much, there were moments when I found it somewhat convoluted. I cannot say the same about Nick Dear's screenplay. He managed to make Christie's story madami coherent without dumbing down the story. The movie also benefited from Sarah Harding's competent direction. She did a first-class job in maintaining my interest in the story. Not once did her direction ground the movie to a halt. Harding also produced excellent performances from the cast. Contrary to what many may think, even competent actors and mga aktres can have their performances ruined sa pamamagitan ng an incompetent director. But madami importantly, despite the energetic pacing, she managed to maintain the movie's suspense and mystery. This was greatly enhanced sa pamamagitan ng flashbacks of not only the actual murder, but also the characters' meetings with Mr. Shaitana.

I certainly did not have a problem with the movie's production and look. Jeff Tessler, who has worked for both "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT" and "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MARPLE" did an excellent job in re-creating London of the mid-1930s. With the help of cinematographer David Marsh, Denise Ball's art direction and the movie's art department; Tessler's work radiated class and style. The crew's work also benefited from Sheena Napier's costume designs, which I found very stylish and close to what the well-born or successful English had worn during the Thirties. I do not know who worked on the actresses' hairstyles, but I must admit that I was impressed sa pamamagitan ng how close they resembled how women styled their hair eighty years ago. My only complaint was Honeysuckle Weeks' hairstyle, which seemed madami suited to the 1940s, instead of the 1930s.

The performances featured in "CARDS ON THE TABLE" struck me as first-rate. David Suchet was excellent, as usual, in his portrayal of Hercule Poirot. I was surprised that his performance seemed a little introverted and I cannot help but wonder if the presence of three other "investigators" had an impact. "CARDS ON THE TABLE" proved to be Zoë Wanamaker's first appearance as mystery writer Ariadne Oliver and the actress never looked back. Right from the beginning, Wanamaker had a lock on the character. Also, she and Suchet created immediate chemistry on screen, which is not surprising since both had worked on stage together. I also have to comment on Alexander Siddig's performance. Personally, I believe Mr. Shaitana might prove to be my paborito role he has ever performed. Shaitana seemed like such a departure from anything else he has done and he did such a marvelous job in radiating a mixture of mystery, humor and wit from his character.

I also enjoyed the performances from the other cast members. Aside from Suchet, Wanamaker and Siddig; I also enjoyed Tristan Gemmill as Major Despard, who seemed to be a curious mixture of warmth and coldness; Lyndsey Marshal as the charming, yet morally ambiguous Anne Meredith; Honeysuckle Weeks as Anne's domineering roommate, Rhoda Dawes; Robert Pugh as the conservative, yet pragmatic Colonel Hughes; and David Westhead, who gave an interesting performance as the slightly suspect Superintendent Jim Wheeler. But my two paborito performances from the supporting cast came from Lesley Manville and Alex Jennings. Manville gave a very enigmatic performance as the mysterious Mrs. Lorrimer, who seemed to have a passion for bridge. And Alex Jennings gave an entertaining performance performance as the verbose Doctor Roberts, who seemed to have something of a touch of gallows humor.

Was there anything about "CARDS ON THE TABLE" that I did not like or found unappealing? Well . . . yes. I had a problem with the motives of the story's two main killers. Mr. Shaitana's murderer killed the former to hide a homosexual relationship. I could have tolerated this if Dear had not made the segundo murderer in the story a homosexual, as well. The segundo murderer killed due to pag-ibig for another character and the latter's interest in a third party. Both murderers turned out to be homosexual and I cannot help but wonder if Nick Dear, Sarah Harding or even the producers are homophobic. It certainly seems likely. This portrayal of two separate murderers as homosexuals proved to be one of the worst examples of bigotry I have ever encountered in any movie or telebisyon production in kamakailan years.

Even though I found the homophobia tasteless, I otherwise enjoyed "CARDS ON THE TABLE" a lot. Nick Dear madami or less did an excellent job in adapting Agatha Christie's novel. I was very impressed sa pamamagitan ng Sarah Harding's energetic, yet atmospheric direction. And I was especially impressed sa pamamagitan ng the talented cast, led sa pamamagitan ng David Suchet. Despite a major setback, "CARDS ON THE TABLE" still proved to be a first-rate movie.
"MRS. McGINTY'S DEAD" (2008) Review

Since it first aired on television, I must admit that I have paid scant attention to "MRS. McGINTY'S DEAD", ITV's 2008 adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1952 novel. I find this amazing, since the novel has always been a paborito of mine. I am not claiming that the 2008 movie is terrible. I was simply distracted sa pamamagitan ng other matters during my last two viewings. This third viewing proved to be the nalugod and I finally was able to ascertain the movie's quality.

Unlike its literary source, "MRS. McGINTY'S DEAD" was not set in the early 1950s. Because the television...
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"THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN" (2005) Review

Although considered one of her most famous novels, 1934’s "Murder on the Orient Express" was not the first of Christie’s novels that featured a famous luxury train as a setting. The taon 1928 saw the publication of another novel called "The Mystery of the Blue Train", which told the story of a brutal murder aboard the famous Blue Train.

This story had its origins in Christie’s 1922 novella, "The Plymouth Express", which told the story of the murder of an Australian heiress. Christie took that story and expanded it into a full-length novel,...
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"SAD CYPRESS” (2003) Review

Adapted from Agatha Christie’s 1940 novel, ”SAD CYPRESS” is a story about Hercule Poirot’s efforts to discover the truth behind the case of a young woman facing conviction for the murder of her ailing wealthy aunt and a lodge keeper’s daughter who has become her aunt’s companion. Directed sa pamamagitan ng David Moore, this 90-minute movie starred David Suchet as the Belgian detective.

The story began with a doctor from a small town named Peter Lord who hires Hercule Poirot to clear the name of a young woman Elinor Carlisle. Elinor is facing trial for the murder of...
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"PERIL AT END HOUSE" (1990) Review

I just realized something. I have never read Agatha Christie's 1932 novel, "Peril at End House". I find this ironic, considering that I have seen the 1990 telebisyon movie adaptation of this novel at least three or four times. One of these days, I will get around to pagbaba Christie's novel and comparing it to the telebisyon adaptation. Right now, I am going to focus on the latter.

Directed sa pamamagitan ng Renny Rye and adapted sa pamamagitan ng Clive Exton, "PERIL AT END HOUSE" is the first full-length telebisyon movie aired on "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT". It is also about Belgian-born...
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"HICKORY DICKORY DOCK" (1995) Review

Every once in a while, Agatha Christie wrote a novel in which she used a nursery rhyme as its title. This turned out to be the case for her 1955 novel, "Hickory Dickory Dock". Forty years after its publication, ITV aired an adaptation of the novel for its series, "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT".

"HICKORY DICKORY DOCK" began with a rash of thefts committed at a student hostel in 1936 London. Since her sister is the hostel's warden, Miss limon recruits her boss, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, to investigate what appears to be a case of kleptomania. It does not...
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"HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS" (1994) Review

I have been a tagahanga of Agatha Christie's 1938 novel, "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" aka "A Holiday for Murder" for years - ever since I was in my early adolescence. When I learned that the producers of the "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT" series aired its adaptation of it back in 1994, I looked pasulong to watching it.

Written as a "locked room" mystery, "HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS" focused on Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot's investigation of the murder of Simeon Lee, a tyrannical patriarch of a wealthy family. The mean-spirited Lee, who had made his fortune in...
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