Here are two new drops on our streaming platforms. One is the second season of the much loved Murders in the Building, and the other is the latest film from shock master David Cronenberg.
Only Murders In the Building Season 2 (Hulu - VPN) Season 1 of this mystery Limited series was one of the great surprises of the pandemic years. Steve Martin and Martin Short trading barbs and quips was a lot of fun, and basically carried the series. Serena Gomez, you felt, might have been thrown into the mix just to make the series relevant to a younger audience; but in fairness to her, also drove the narrative forward and held her own with her deadpan comebacks to the two comedy masters. Cameos from the likes of Sting and Nathan Lane were pleasant out of left field elements, and they helped add texture to the enterprise. Giving us a cliffhanger ending, as the head of the Homeowners Association at the Arconia Building was found murdered, was a great way to keep us hanging for the second season.
Well, the second season is upon us (and I hear they’ve been signed up for a third); and none of the first season charm has been lost. The series pokes gentle fun at true-crime podcasts and the people who follow them like a religion. And there’s fun to be had by injecting a true crime, and murderer, into the series. Without straying too far from the formula, cameos from personalities such as Shirley MacLaine, Cara Deleveigne, and Michael Rapaport now keep this second season buzzing. While one could say there’s far too many crimes now being committed and taking attention away from the chemistry between Martin and Short, there’s still enough to go around in making this a worthy follow-up to the first season.
Crimes of the Future (Amazon Prime On Demand) - Back behind the director’s chair after more than six years, this latest from David Cronenberg was heavily anticipated during Cannes last May; and it’s now available on Amazon Prime On Demand. While it did enjoy a standing ovation during its Cannes screening, I have to confess that the film is far from his best, or even among his more intriguing films. There is strong social commentary happening, but it doesn’t coalesce into a riveting narrative. There are characters who should elicit our interest, and they’re portrayed by actors known for their strong performances; but it won’t be for this particular film. Even the special effects look dated and run-of-the-mill. While a potent aspect of the film should have been our disgust or turning away, it doesn’t quite happen that way.
Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux play a team of performance artists, but the act really consists of Viggo’s character undergoing surgery as a public spectacle. Whether it’s to excise some body part, or to add one, he’s put on a stage and the surgery is the performance. At some point, Virgo’s character starts questioning what it’s all about, how far can this take him, and what’s the point. All legitimate existential questions; and given the state of his body, if there’s room for physical love. Kristen Stewart owns a character who, on the outset, seems to hold promise as someone who will resonate with us, but that peters out quickly enough. Soon, we’re just left with token interest as to what will happen to this trio, and I know I was sorely tempted to fast-forward the film, if only to see how it would all end. Not a ringing endorsement, I know.