Only Murders In The Building
released 2021
www.ink2quill.com

“Only Murders In The Building” is an American, comedy, murder, mystery, streaming mini-series created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman who also contributed with the writing along with Madeleine George, Stephen Markley, Ben Philippe, Kristin Newman, Thembi Banks, Matteo Borghese, Rachel Burger, Kirker Butler, Kim Rosenstock, Ben Smith and Rob Turbovsky. It was directed by Jamie babbit, Cherien dabis, Gillian Robespierre and Don Scardino. It stars Martin Short, Nathan Lane, Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, Tina Fey, Aaron Dominguez, Amy Ryan, Jackie Hoffman, Teddy Coluca, Jayne Houdyshell, Vanessa Aspillaga, Julian Cihi, Russell G. Jones, Ryan Broussard, James Caverly, Michael Cyril Creighton, Zainab Jah, Da´Vine Joy Randolph, Jeena Yi, Maulik Pancholy, Olivia Reis, Esteban Benito, Sting, Daniel Oreskes, Adina Verson, Ali Stroker and many more fine actors.

Only Murders In The Building IMDb webpage

“Only Murders In The Building” is an American, comedy, mystery, crime thriller based on the simple premise of the goings on in their large Manhattan, New York City building called in the story the Arconia. More precisely a string of murders that take place in the building on Broadway and 79th Street. It must be said that the building is huge and takes up the whole block so the world that this story takes place in is bigger than what you might think. This isn’t a small, tenement walk. After a series of murders take place the three main characters Charles-Haden Savage played by Steve Martin, Oliver Putnam played by Martin Short and Mabel Mora played by Selena Gomez create a crime podcast and set out to solve the mystery of the murder that turns into many. The story might at first sound too simple to be anything more than a half hour show but the twists and turns turn this story of murder in a luxury building into a maze of discovery and possibilities. The three crime sleuths rub up against the police investigation at one point and are even suspects but this does not stop them from their investigations. They crawl around little known parts of the building, discover the history of residents from days past and history of the building itself. This show is a fun ride.

Let me start by stating the obvious that Both Steves and Selena are a brilliant unlikely trio of crime sleuths that work so well together. Their chemistry really works. It’s not too far a stretch to believe that there were unsolved murders going on on the Upper West side and that this group of podcasters was fumbling their way to solve them. They all have their backstories of career achievements failed relationships, this simple theme really works. I liked the way Charles prepared an egg every morning only to throw it out after it was done. The story behind that is touching. They all had such interesting social lives and I was also surprised how good of an actor Selena Gomez is. She really is fantastic. Martin Short is a Hollywood and stage veteran and he does not disappoint as a wacky, fumbling but likable resident of the Arconia. He’s great. They’re all great.

“Only Murders In The Building” reveals one truth about storytelling that you don’t hear mentioned often. That truth is that a story doesn’t have to start off complicated to develop into a more complex story and that simple stories can be just as good as complicated ones. Here you have the story of a trio with a podcast who try to solve a crime and the circuitous path that endeavor leads them down. They are clearly in way over their heads but trudge on and it’s fantastic. It’s a fun watch to see the characters fumble through their private lives and then create a public life that they fumble through as well.

If you’re looking for a good watch in the sea of content that is often so similar check out “Only Murders In The Building” because it’s unique and fun.

John Ink2Quill

I2Q Blogs / The Visual Medium apthorp / arconia / comedy / gomez / ink2quill / john / martin / mystery / quill / short /