TV Show Review - Only Murders in the Building (Season 5)

Season: 5
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Crime/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2025
Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Tina Fey, Meryl Streep, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Cyril Creighton, Téa Leoni, Renee Zellweger, Christoph Waltz, , Dianne Wiest, Keegan-Michael Key, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Logan Lerman, Beanie Feldstein

Description: While investigating the mysterious “accidental” death of their beloved doorman Lester, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) are lead to clues outside Manhattan into some dangerous territory.
 
Review: “Only Murders in the Building” is my favorite comfort show for the fall season, a cozy murder mystery to wrap your head around. At the end of season 4, crime podcasters Oliver, Charles and Mabel, found their doorman Lester dead in the fountain. We pick up the story in the first episode of season 5.

There is nothing new to the formula, another murder in the building and the three amateur sleuths are trying to solve it. This season the world of organized crime is added to it, bringing us a ton of new characters and guest roles. Among these famous actors are Renee Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz (who is underused), Bobby Cannavale, Téa Leoni, Beanie Feldstein, Keegan-Michael Key and Dianne Wiest.

The mix of humor and mystery is still present, one of the reasons why I love this show so much. But the dynamic between Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez is my favorite part. And it’s still strong. They have so much chemistry and it remains the highlight of the series. I also love it when Da’Vine Joy Randall’s character Detective Donna Williams is added to the mix. She is my favorite supporting characters, who we met in previous seasons.

I think the plot of this season is not as strong as previous seasons, but it was still entertaining and the mystery is enjoyable to unravel. And yet again, we are left on a cliffhanger, a set-up for a new season. Which has already been confirmed. Cannot wait. I could watch these three amateur sleuths all day.

Movie Review - Bullet Train

Director: David Leitch
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Thriller
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock, Logan Lerman, Zazie Beetz
 
Description: Five assassins aboard a swiftly-moving bullet train find out that their missions have something in common.

Review: After a small role in “The Lost City”, Brad Pitt is back in a lead role. In a so-called bullet train flying through Japan at high speeds, much more is going on than meets the eye.

Assassin Ladybug is given a seemingly simply assignment: steal a suitcase on a Japanese bullet train and get off with it at the next stop. Everything seems to be going smoothly, until Ladybug finds out that he is not the only hitman sent aboard the train with an assignment.  

“Bullet Train” is a highly entertainment film with not a dull moment in it. Besides the amazing action scenes it contains, in colorful neon lights of modern Japan, the actors get every chance to shine in a film that actually takes place almost entirely in one location. And aside from all the spectacle, the actors especially shine in the conversations their characters have with each other. Brad Pitt infuses his character with a genuine amazement at everything, while as a reborn person he clearly forgets what industry he works in. Tangerine and Lemon make a delightful duo, while Prince makes everything to her liking.

The action and humor that alternate at a high pace make the film a cinematic ride to be fully enjoyed. Towards the end, it doesn’t quite manage to maintain that perfect pace, but that’s forgivable.

“Bullet Train” is a ride you won’t soon forget. The combination of humor and action works perfectly. The great action scenes and delightful conversations follow each other at a good pace. And the cast manages to hold your attention. With Brad Pitt as the stand-out. A movie I didn’t expect to love as much as I did.

Rating: 4,5/ 5 

10s Movie Review - Fury

Director: David Ayer
Genre: Action/ Drama
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Peña, Jon Benthal, Jim Parrack, Jason Isaacs, Scott Eastwood

Description: A grizzled tank commander (Brad Pitt) makes tough decisions as he and his crew fight their way across Germany in April, 1945.

Review: We board a tank with five Americans who are now on German territory. They are trying to conquer the last piece of Germany. The American army isn’t as strong as the Germans, so they have to be inventive to beat their opponent.
“Fury” is a brutal and heroic film about WWII. They show the raw side of a war, the chaos, the many deaths, Germans fearing their lives and Germans being shot for ‘fun’. It’s all visualized well and it’s intense. It shows that the soldiers were done with the war and felt frustrated.
A poignant exampled is when they make a German soldier beg for his life, but shoot him anyway. Terrible, but reality.
The cast is strong, all five of the soldiers in the tank that we follow during this journey are cast very well. But Brad Pitt carries this film.
For fans of war movies, this is a recommendation.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 33: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Director: Stephen Chbosky

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 103 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Paul Rudd, Joan Cusack, Nina Dobrev, Melanie Lynskey

Description: The 15-year-old Charlie (Logan Lerman) is an endearing and naive outsider, coping with first love, the suicide of his best friend, and his own mental illness while struggling to find a group of people with whom he belongs. The introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors, Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), who welcome him to the real world.

Review: Charlie had a rough year and doesn’t have any hope for it to get better this year. He even starts counting down the days he has left going to school.

The American Stephen Chbosky wrote the book with the same title, made it into a script and decided to direct the movie himself. Because who else then the author knows the book the best? And it’s visible, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a fantastic film that makes you remember the John Hughes films from the 80’s. He can’t avoid the typical high school clichés, but because the film has an authentic feel to it, that never bothers you. With that the plot is much more original then other movies in the genre.

It’s hard not to see Hermione Granger when you watch Emma Watson, but she managed to make you forget about her Harry Potter past. It’s obvious that Watson is a good actress. Leading actor Logan Lerman is very convincing as the vulnerable and fragile Charlie and Ezra Miller’s performance is very impressive as the flamboyant Patrick. The three also have great chemistry. All the actors touch you and you can sympathize with all of the characters.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is made with a lot of love, which sometimes gave me goose bumps. That scene in the tunnel especially. A perfect mix of drama, humor and romance with a pleasant nostalgic feel to it.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 29: The Three Musketeers

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz, Juno Temple, Logan Lerman, Mads Mikkelsen, Til Schweiger

Description: The hot-headed young D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman) along with three former legendary but now down on their luck Musketeers (Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans) must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.

Review: There are some stories that have been made into films quite too many times. “The Three Musketeers” is one of them. Paul W.S. Anderson tried to give the classical tale a new life, but he didn’t manage that completely. The director does do what you would expect from him: not a very clever film with a lot of action.
It’s almost impossible to ruin the story about D’Artagnan, who looks up to the three undefeatable musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Each with their own distinctive trades. The book is filled with action, humoristic incidents, espionage, romance and intrigue. Anderson simplifies everything, while the book is a perfect script for a good adventure film. And the characters don’t get the depth they deserve, because I think they were cast very well and they all try their very best. Logan Lerman knows how to be D’Artagnan. Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans don’t even get the chance to act and portray the most important characters of the story. I think the focus is more on Milady the Winter, who is played by Milla Jovovich. And Christoph Waltz, as villain Richelieu, is seriously underused. If you can get an actor like Waltz, you should give him something to do.
The movie is a visual treat. Great special effects, beautiful settings and gorgeous costumes. The movie was filmed in 3D and I can understand that some parts of the movie look a bit better with this addition. I also liked the idea of the map.
“The Three Musketeers” is a bit of a mess, but it was very entertaining. The end scene suggests a sequel, but I don’t think that should happen.

Rating: 2,5/ 5