As a complete departure from the original story, this adaptation should not sit with the other Branagh offerings despite what you think of any of them. This one was particularly bad, given how Ariadne Oliver is portrayed here. I'm looking at you Tina Fey, but also at the direction. Poirot would have Orient Express level reaction at betrayal from a friend, especially the way Suchet and Wanamaker solidified it in the TV series. Ariadne's character seems like a plot device here, whereas if their connection was deeper, there would have been a little more hope for the unfolding of this version. Brannagh and Fey - your friendship was never believable here.