i'm reading some rather negative reviews from critics who CLEARLY do not understand the "all star" Christie formula...
a complaint being, among other things, the talented cast is given "too little to do" and amounts to little more than a "series of cameos".
however that is exactly how most of these play out. and everyone involved goes in knowing that. it is not a "star vehicle" for anyone other than whatever actor is portraying Poirot in that iteration. ALL of the suspects are smallish but colorful roles generally getting only a few minutes of individual screentime before the group gathers for the big reveal. and accordingly as the victim Depp receives even less as they are usually killed at roughly the halfway mark and the second act is the investigation/resolution of the mystery.
these romps are more about imaginative costuming, sets and art direction and exotic locations, peppered with these "all star" appearances, than individual "character development"
