TV platforms / The recommendations of the week

Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short investigate yet another murder in a postmodern “Mousetrap”, genius John Wilson captures the big city with his camera, and ex-couple Johnny Depp and Amber Heard take the Internet by storm with their legal battle .

Only murders in the building

Available from Disney+

Steve Martin has stated that “Only murders in the building” will be his swan song. Really, he couldn’t have ended his long-running career in a better way, as the tender, charmingly old-fashioned and genuinely smart (not witty) series triumphs in its third season. Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short are joined by Meryl Streep as a wasted acting talent and Paul Rudd as a quirky star making his Broadway debut. Oliver (Short) is preparing to direct a play at the theater called “Death rattle,” in which the witness to a murder in Nova Scotia is a baby. Unfortunately, on the day of the premiere the protagonist drops dead and the mystery must be solved.

The chemistry that the amateur detectives have developed with each other makes the episodes highly enjoyable. At their best, the star trio exudes an old-school jazz quality. The script jumps around in time, providing information on the theater production crew, and the mismatched friends try to find out who the real killer is and possibly get material for yet another true crime podcast. Meryl Streep plays Loretta beautifully, capturing the anguish of a woman who faces a lifetime of rejection but somehow keeps her dream alive. We can only hope that there will be many more seasons of well-written, old-fashioned fun and that Martin’s career gets an extension without having to formally break his promise to retire.

How to with John Wilson

Available from HBO / Vodafone TV

Just when you think the narrative avenues have been exhausted and everything has been said, along comes a guy like John Wilson and rewrites the rules from scratch. Wilson is much more than just another documentary filmmaker. It’s about a man who walks around New York with a camera in his hand and records everything. Through the six episodes of each season (now in season 3) Wilson creates stories through simple observation and editing gives structure to his spineless musings. The lens becomes an extension of the mind and the narrative resembles an inner monologue of a restless man who moves unseen in the metropolis. Wilson offers practical advice and information in a surreally comic way that is not preconceived and evolves unexpectedly. Through everyday things explored with pure curiosity (“how to exercise”, “how to find parking”, “how to find a public toilet” are typical episode titles) a reflection on urban culture emerges. All episodes in the series turn into a paradoxical diary of life with existential dimensions, where random events are lined up with humor. And where you expect cynicism to prevail, a rare tenderness emerges.

Indulge in the quests, naïve musings and paradoxical urban pursuits of this dysfunctional man and the next day you will see the world with a different eye.

Depp V Heard

Available from Netflix

The high-profile legal battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was broadcast over the Internet and a circus was next set up around their depositions. The case went beyond gossip and became a landmark for MeToo, much as the OJ Simpson trial had become a landmark for racial bias in murder cases.

Netflix presents three parts of the ridiculousness that happened during that time, but the documentary is only for those who have not been exposed to the trial material at all and want a rough summary. “Depp V Heard” stands on the highlights of the depositions, the impact on the social media jungle and the vanity of the two enlightened stars. During the process the hatred for Amber ran high, with furious attacks from coordinated armies on TikTok and cyber bullying of the manipulative kind. Behind Depp were all the “now he remembered”, the alt-right orators, Trump’s sons, but also hordes of smitten girls. The court’s decision fueled misogyny, suppressed after Weinstein’s thunderous downfall, which paved the way for many victims in Hollywood. Those who wanted a rematch found it in the face of one of the most charming stars. Of course, Amber also got caught up in the feminist trend, and as a result, her inflated story backfired on her, while Johnny, of course, thinks that he did little for her. The two will be fine after the divorce. They and those who will not be well will be the next victims who will choose to publicly mess with a powerful and photogenic star.