OMITB vs TMC
The title is kept as such to to kelari vittufy the curiosity in Thalai..hehehe.
OMITB is Only Murders in the building, a famous drama series which is into its 5th season, currently playing in Jio Hotstar and TMC is Thursday murder club a movie in Netflix. Renduthukum enna common? Well, both deal with elderly lead characters trying to solve murders. Selena Gomez elderly listla sertha paavam. But that crew involves Steve Martin and Chris short who are not exactly teenagers. The reason for this post being, i happened to see Thursday Murder club the movie on Netflix and couldn't help but wonder how such a stellar cast had been put to waste as compared to sterling attempt by the drama series crew!!
The other reason why i was drawn to the movie being, it was a novel by Richard Osman, which came in a book recommendation list. I tried reading the novel and gave up midway as it was neither too thrilling for a murder mystery nor was it funny. But when i saw the movie cast involving the best James Bond ever Pierce Brosnan, Mahatma Gandhi pugazh Ben kingsley (oct 2nd anniki ipdi oru statement!! Godse ku kooda adukkathu!!) and above all the lady who didn't just acted as the "Queen" but looks every bit as regal - Helen Mirren. You wouldn't even have to guess the kind of characters she might've portrayed on screen across her career, for one look at her, you know she is of a different mold!!! The way she carries herself as a character and as a performer is amazing!!! But not even such a stellar casting could save the otherwise bland movie!! It falls miserably short in both the thrills department as well as the humor, but can't blame them. Sattila iruntha thaan agappaila varum. When the original book itself was bland wonder how they chose it to make it as a movie!! Oru vela en taste thaan mokkaiya irukko enamo. But i neither liked the book much and not the movie. But the crew keeps the story engaging with their performances and you cannot take your eyes away from their performances. Ben kingsley is slightly under cooked as a character and the rebel union leader role somehow doesn't fit the guy who played ultimate capitalist weapon and how had the license to kill.
As a comparison attempt, the second episode of current season in OMITB, stands heads and shoulders in comparison. It weaves the story of the doorman across all the seasons, linking the characters and imbibing them organically into both their stories as well as the events in the building. It was perfect in every sense. But again, they have a strong base, literally, for it is a multi storied building and with Steve Martin at helm, the humour is not just infectious but at perfect level alongside the whodunnit portions. I didn't like much the previous season, but again, this one is more than making up for it, so far!! Those who enjoy a quirky murder mystery with a dose of humour will relish it for sure.
Comments
I am not going to comment on the intricacies of the OMITB/TMC comparison. But I am going to thalai kuttify you vigorously for daring to say that Pierce Brosnan is the best James Bond ever. Sacrilege. Maha kodumai.
It will always be Sean Connery :)