I'd heard that from several people and so I was prepared to be wow'd when I finally got the opportunity to go. With a title like "Murder on the Orient Express", I assumed it might have something to do with a murder on a train. I was not disappointed.
And I followed along the mystery pretty well. Okay, I have to admit (even though I didn't have my children with me) I kept guessing what was said. Yes, I'm at the stage of life where I hear better when the subtitles are on. But for the most part, I knew the jist of what was going on in the detective's investigation. I clued into that every suspect was just as likely as the next to be the murderer and it was a conundrum for him. I didn't go so far as to draw my own conclusion because I knew it would be revealed long before I would have a chance at logically deducing the winner - or in this case, the loser.
And then it happened. The climatic moment when the unexpected was revealed. The true identities of the passengers was disclosed as well as their connection to the man murdered. It was impressive the wide spectrum of people whose lives were affected by one incident. Yep, one life has a major influence on so many others.
As the concept was sinking in, I was surprised. I was confused. I was disappointed. And then . . . I was empty. I couldn't put my finger on what was going on inside me but I knew this movie was discussion worthy and I couldn't wait for the ride home.
In that discussion, it was pointed out that this was a group effort of premeditated murder. A staged farce to bring about a revenge. Not one person who was affected by this evil man, had the courage to not be part of such an extremely dangerous plan. Even with the detective on board, they weren't deterred from their dishonorable intentions. Everyone was so focused on their individual pain, that they were willing to put their own lives at risk rather than to pursue legal means. They really felt their intentions were honorable. Everyone of them entered into a secret combination to murder and not tell others about it in order to get what they wanted. Needless to say, I was not impressed with the moral caliber of these people.
And then to add insult to injury, the personification of justice, the detective who unveiled all their lies and foul play . . . joined their combination and became an accomplice to their crime. Talk about compassion gone sour. The combined effort of the passengers to murder a man is portrayed as the victims of crime and not the monstrous deed that it was. Yes it is more than unfortunate for the injustice that was done to them by this man. Yes the pain they experienced was real. But that doesn't discredit the fact that the actions they did was every bit as foul as what the child thief did. I get that one wrong doesn't make it right. And two wrongs don't make it right. So let's throw a third one in there by silencing justice altogether. Geesh.
There is no sorrow for their act. No pleading for mercy or desiring to make restitution. No accountability at all. As if the wrong they had received was all the justification they needed to change the definition of what was right and wrong.
It was pointed out that this movie was a broken story. Where the bad wins in the end. And it was all done with sympathy and compassion for the perpetrators. I remember I had that same sick feeling in my gut when watching "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Ben Hur" or any other movie that took the course of seeking revenge. At least in those, it ended portraying the futility of that pursuit and a changed heart. This movie's ending message honored revenge, glorified the lack of liability, and pulled at the heart strings by blaming and excusing and justifying.
And really such circular logic - a fallacy if you will. Where is the compassion story for the man that was murdered? Apparently murder can be justified if there is a sad story attached to it and so I'm sure he was a victim at some point in his life. Following this philosophy of the end justifies the means, his actions deserved no justice either. With this circular thinking, there would be no justice for any act. Everyone a casualty by another's acts and so not accountable for the choices they make. Free to be acted upon but not free to act. - truly a falsehood.
It is true mercy and justice go together - but this movie depicted a twisted version of it.
I can't help but wonder why my children and friends recommended this movie with such enthusiasm. But I'm going to do the same. Watch it, consider it, discuss at length what the motive and intent of it really is. And then expose the brokenness of it.
