7/10
Uneven, but a good one...
12 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE: Ingrid Bergman in an interesting role for her. Pure acting, not a caricature as are many of the performances in this movie. Gives her "mousy" role some edginess by adding fervent religious undertones.

MOST BELIEVABLE AND NATURAL: Jean-Pierre Cassel. Don't know him but would search out other movies he is in.

MOST NOTICEABLE: Sean Connery (Honorable mention: Vanessa Redgrave).

MOST DISAPPOINTING: Albert Finney. Appears to be working far too hard, to the point of straining. I think his speaking style is too bombastic for this role. An actor can say "he killed five people" multiple times and get the point across without shrieking the line. I didn't really notice his acting because he only looked like someone trying to be a high-powered actor, rather than actually being one.

PERFECTLY CAST: Anthony Perkins.

MISCAST: Martin Balsam (looks like a very American, New York stage actor who has been inserted into this European role for some reason known only to the producers.)

Lavishly produced, beautiful to look at, well-paced. To its everlasting credit (thank you Mr.Lumet) this movie manages to deliver an aura of exciting train travel. Nostalgic, somewhat corny 1930's-tribute musical score.

Very strong plot- almost too strong for movies but good for a book. Makes you nostalgic for the 1930's but not necessarily for the 1970's or 1970's movie-making.
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