‘ MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS’
Kenneth Branagh ( Hercule Poirot) Alexandra Byrne, costume designer
The players: As both director and star, Branagh spoke with Byrne early on about his character’s costume, working out those details before moving into the rest of the cast’s outfits. “We intentionally talked about the Poirot costumes early in the process, because once he started on the production he would be swamped,” recalls Byrne, who has worked on Branagh’s “Hamlet” and “Thor,” among other films. “Costume forms part of the ritual that helps you assume the character,” says Branagh. “It’s the beginning of playing the part.”
Clothing challenge: Poirot is introduced in evening wear, complete with a coat, cape, hat, patent leather shoes and a cane. “There’s a crispness to the entire ensemble that marks out the silhouette of this famous character,” says Branagh. But Poirot was not a wealthy man, and that meant keeping clothes to his class, which Byrne says was all- important in this 1930s Britain. “We wanted him to have a bit of f lamboyance and an immaculate quality, without it being too wealthy. Everything had to be pared down — functional, but also with personal style.”
Justin Timberlake ( Mickey Rubin) Suzy Benzinger, costume designer
The players: Benzinger says designing for men in movies is often easier than women, and found Timberlake particularly easy to work with. “Guys dress for comfort in the movies and in real life. Justin had a natural curiosity about so many things.” Meanwhile, Timberlake had nothing but praise for his designer: “She’s a master at her craft, and has so many great ideas for my character.”
Clothing challenge: Timberlake warned Benzinger that they might have a costume issue. “I told her I was going to probably lose 10 to 12 pounds before we started shooting,” says Timberlake. “A lifeguard back then was a slender, smaller man. So we had to refit all of my pants.” And pants were surprisingly important to portray a Greenwich Village- living, Coney Islandworking writer/ lifeguard, specifically a wide- leg, high- waist pair of chinos. “They’re cut exactly as they were cut then,” says Benzinger of Timberlake’s clothing. “A designer is lucky to have Justin Timberlake wear their clothes. He
looks so natural, and so great.” That said, there was one particular item of hidden clothing Timberlake suggested really helped keep him in character: “We wore vintage underwear from the actual period,” he says. “Something you’d never know!”