Murder On The Orient Express Review: 6 Ups & 6 Downs

2. Johnny Depp Hasn't Been This Fun In Ages

Johnny Depp hasn't had an easy time lately, what with the recent Alice in Wonderland and Pirates of the Caribbean sequels failing to spark much interest, audiences collectively groaning when he showed up in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and of course, his much-publicised personal issues with ex-wife Amber Heard.

Well, this is easily the most fun Depp has been to watch in years: gone is the over-the-top mugging of roles such as the Mad Hatter and Mortdecai, leaving behind a slyly creepy mobster, taking full advantage of his own undeniable charms.

His smaller role here reinforces that Depp is often best used in supporting parts where he doesn't have the room to become overbearing, and without any over-the-top make-up or daft facial expressions to speak of, he actually looks like an honest-to-God movie star once again.

Nobody's calling this the start of Depp's career revival, but it nevertheless feels damn good to see him doing good work free of gimmickry and overacting.