Diagonaldi Very well executed

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Paul Evans As a definite Agatha Christie addict, I was intrigued to stumble across this little film, offbeat is definitely a word I'd use to describe it. It's an almost comical take on the fact that Christie wrote Curtain many years before it was published. The demand for Poirot novels remained huge, people just loved him, the only fictional character to receive an obituary in the New York times says it all.Dame Peggy Ashcroft is rather charming as Agatha Christie, and Ian Holm does a surprisingly good job as Poirot, very reminiscent of Albert Finney. It's a jolly, frivolous watch, not to be taken too seriously, but it does make you think about Curtain. I've only managed to watch Suchet's 'Curtain' the once, as I hate goodbyes, Christie gave us Poirot, David Suchet kept him alive, now it falls on Sarah Phelps and the BBC to return him this Christmas (2018) and Kenneth Branagh in Death on the Nile (2019.) What this drama shows is that we all love Poirot. Fun, 7/10

TheLittleSongbird Anybody who is a fan of Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot or both will jump for joy at the idea of Murder by the Book. And there is very little to be disappointed by either. The opening and closing scenes are not bad but I agree not as interesting or as relevant as the rest of the film. However, the period detail is evocative and very competently shot, neither cinematic or cheap-looking. Howard Goodall's music is good as well, it is atmospherically orchestrated and has a haunting undercurrent that is perfect for Murder by the Book. What I also liked was that it actually sounds like the sort of music you'd find in an Agatha Christie adaptation. The story makes the most of the great idea it stemmed from, is paced very much an Agatha Christie adaptation- I did like that they made an effort to make a film about Christie and one of her detectives and stick to the spirit of how she wrote and the adaptations of her books- and throughout is very entertaining. The script is knowing, with some nice nods, subtle humour and genuine poignancy. Peggy Ashcroft and Ian Holm(made up to look like one of the more faithful recreations of this iconic literary detective) are respectively wonderful as Agatha and Poirot, and the rest of the cast do solidly. All in all, a very nice film and does a good job with the interesting idea it had. 8/10 Bethany Cox

filmbuff-63 Very simply, this is an obviously fictional tale about what happened the night Hercule Poirot paid a visit to Dame Agatha Christie and accused her of murder.And Hercule Poirot is the victim.Poirot visits the author and asks why she has chosen to write a book where Poirot dies. The book was "Curtain," one of Christies best novels, even after a half dozen reads. He becomes particularly indignant when he reads the novel and finds out Poirot dies of a heart attack, as a man of extremely advanced age, and not in a dynamic, exciting way. He even rants about the style of dress Christie has attired him in for over fifty years.The writing is clever, and the acting is wonderful. Ian Holm is no David Suchet, but it doesn't matter. He is always wonderful, and he seems to enjoy playing this character. He does it very well.Clearly this is a tale that takes place in the mind of Agatha Christie. Fans of this delightful author will enjoy this movie.

Wearysloth Interesting and offbeat look at Agatha Christie and her decision to 'murder' Poirot, who is on hand to question her motives. Not as good as it sounds, but deserves viewing by the faithful. Ian Holm's interpretation of Poirot fits somewhere between Albert Finney and David Suchet's definitive performance.