BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Inadvands Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Alistair Olson After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

cliffsofdover So, I'm not sure what the original Christie version of this is, I'm going to check that out in my local library, however...this was depressing, sad, and just awful. Yes, I think the acting was good (especially Toby Jones), but golly the ending...no justice, vindication, just depression. I've read a lot of Christie, and I never come away with that feeling. I wasted 2 hours of my life on this...and am bummed out!!!

cosmax10 The actress who played the maid reminded me of Norma Shearer when she stepped out of silent movies into talkies, a lot of over acting, wide crazy eyes and hand gestures She was totally unbelievable. The story line was bizarre at best. I am sure most people would of guessed who was faking it and who wasn't. THe endless coughing by one of the main characters had me coughing along with him. The scene in the dark dwelling was so obviously a set up, but all that coughing must of dislodged some of his brains cells and they flew out of his ears. I mean, really, something like that happening to anyone would of been all over the newspapers, especially to this particular character. I don't know, I have some old male relatives that look like the old coughing guy and all they want to do is sip on coffee or beer and read newspapers, and certainly are in no desperation to rip off the depends from their old withered wives for an attempted roll around. The hotel scene and ending was silly, and so was his long walk out to the ocean. He was short enough to drown in a deep bathtub. Was very disappointed in this, However, luckily there is Poirot still on Netflix.

s_imdb-623 In many parts it is 9/10, but in others 2/10.I haven't read the book and, though I'm sure I have, I don't remember seeing other versions. Firstly and primarily this very very slow and plodding. The story is there, watchable and interesting but the scenes are so overly stretched out that they've gone beyond art and into boredom. So, if you like slow moving stories steeped with brilliantly astute and deep vignettes on life, garnished with an excellent but dark period drama, you will love this.The acting is generally very good as is the period feel. The cold reality of life, especially due to the war, imparts the darkness. The twists and turns of the plot are very good, except the final twist of the crime story, which leaves you feeling the whole rest of the story was just 'camera tricks' (as in magic shows) to mislead us. It felt like a big con. The whodunnit part is maintained well throughout.The poignant imprints of war on life are genius, especially the generational statement at the end, but the time spent on them turns parts of this more into an Alan Bennett play than a crime thriller.

vicstevinson This version of Agatha Christie's WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION shakes off what can often be goofy about Christie's stories and treats the characters as fully-formed individuals in an historic setting. It's an impressive effort with a shocking cast who inhabit their characters.This is awards season in the U.S. and studios trot out their best efforts in a last minute bid to garner accolades. Were this a feature film, it would surpass many mega-budget films.Director Julian Jarrold -- THE CROWN (2016), BECOMING JANE (2007) and KINKY BOOTS (2005) -- utilizes the strong talent assembled and tells an intriguing story of characters and conflict.Billy Howle as the accused is convincing, constantly eye-catching, fully immersed and impressive. I've seen him in several other projects, including the miniseries GLUE, and he bares great vulnerability on screen, and it's believable.Toby Jones is reliable at being superior and nuanced, he is a huge asset to this series.Andrea Riseborough is enigmatic and surprising. I am accustomed to seeing her in contemporary dramas, and she delivers this character like placid waters with a shark circling beneath, ready to emerge and strike.This version is so satisfying and memorable, I'm almost dreading the big screen, and likely big budget, version coming from Ben Affleck in 2018. His Oscar-bait 2016 film LIVE BY NIGHT shows a love for period pulp, but an inability to stitch it together. This version of WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION should be the standard against which his is judged.