Murder On The Orient Express: 7 Reasons To Hop Onboard

With a cast full of former nominees, stylish sets, and a remarkable storyline, Oscar pundits believe the remake's final destination during awards season will be at the Academy Awards.

The recent Murder on the Orient Express is poised to capture the same acclaim as the original film. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the first movie adaptation garnered six nominations in 1974. Ingrid Berman won a Best Supporting Actress statuette for her role as Greta Ohlsson. Though Ohlsson's character fails to appear in the latest Orient Express, Oscar winner Penelope Cruz will play a Hispanic version of the Greta figure.

Other cast members might secure their next nominations when voters exit the screening rooms. Seven-time Oscar nominee Judi Dench plays a princess passenger and could waltz off with her first Lead Actress award if the stars align. Michelle Pfeiffer receives a baity part as the widow Mrs. Hubbard, a chance for the underrated actress to finally score the coveted golden man.

The construction of the train itself was a pain-staking process that should earn the Academy's attention. Branagh and his crew recreated the original Orient Express' train set from the carriages to the windows. Their efforts were so effective that most of the cast experienced motion sickness throughout filming.

History, hard work, and determination could be a winning formula for Murder on the Orient Express if it careens towards the Oscars.