Hard to believe that nine years has passed since the gang of magic have last been seen. Now they are taking on a new mission. They want to steal a diamond. After Now You See Me: The Second Act, the fun of magic, twists, and illusions reach new levels. I went in with mixed expectations but walked out more dazzled than I had anticipated. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is a film where the cards are shuffled, but the outcome is more successful than audiences might think.
The Horsemen are back! Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas, Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney, Dave Franco as Jack Wilder and Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves. After being on the run from the law and using their magic skills to make bank, they reunite for a mission involving diamond heists, but more want to be part of the mission this time. There are three new young individuals joining on their heist journey. They are Bosco (Dominic Sessa), Charlie (Justice Smith), and June (played by Ariana Greenblatt). The evil nemesis is played by Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike). Can the Horsemen utilize their magic and tactics to help their new proteges stay out of trouble, and maintain their reputation? A lot is on the line in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.
This sequel has a lot of adventures. I loved how the direction goes to places all around Europe and talks about theories to consider when utilizing magic and the mind in creating areas. So many of the tricks are just illusions, but this film creates areas of irony to maintain the adventure and develop meaning. The rapid escapes are still around, and so much of the heists and twists are non-stop.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is a rather joyful continuation. Not amazing, but well worth the time. It is like an interactive escape room that does not end. Also at the same time, it felt good to see the illusion of magic and relativity finding forms of connection, because there is always something to magic that may or may not add up. Three out of four stars for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.
A championship work-of-art that deserves ivory tower status in the works of Jesse Eisenberg. As the director, writer and one of the leads, he explores what it means to find closeness with family in A Real Pain. Eisenberg hits it so hard that his achievement will be remembered for ages. With premieres at Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, New York Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, and more, there is a bright shining light radiating from A Real Pain. The dynamic can be seen in the eyes of Kieran Culkin. For those who love Culkin as Roman Roy from Succession, you will feel his character is back with the common Roman attitude—quirky, opinionated, vocal, and crazy. All those characteristics arelinked to true feelings in this story. The film vividly tests the waters of human emotions in a unique way that is exhilarating and brilliant.
Eisenberg plays David Kaplan and Culkin plays Benji Kaplan. They are cousins embarking on a trip to Poland in honor of their grandmother. Both characters have odd personalities. David has a normal life with a full-time job, a wife, and a son. He lives by-the-book and gets stressed if events are not in order. Benji is the opposite of David. He is always squirmy and loves his marijuana. He does not have a filter and speaks his mind frequently. Is this going to be an issue when David goes overseas with Benji? Their behavior patterns form a bond where love and hate tango like crazy. Eisenberg’s writing and direction result in a joyful flow that is Oscar-worthy in A Real Pain.
Their real frustration and connection happen once they are in Poland as part of a tour group visiting tourist attractions with other vacationers. This is when A Real Pain begins to deliver breathtaking acting. On the tour, David wants to absorb the tour, but Benji always insists on bringing joy to the occasion. When there are facts Benji does not agree with, he speaks up with some harsh tones. David tries to keep his calm given that Benji is his family. Deep-down, however, Benji can be a real pain for Dave.
The issues of culture and heritage cause other pains during the trip. There are many difficulties in the past and the present on this Polish adventure in A Real Pain. The cousins’ relationship has love and hate which is reassessed repeatedly through the experiences of Eisenberg and Culkin. Through their eyes, viewers can feel their pain which spurs empathy and a touch of sadness. Their trip opens many doors to feelings of despair which then find paths to happiness. Ultimately, the film is a mind-blowing reminder to always love family.
The truth hurts and A Real Pain’s compelling subject matter and serious tone are powerful. Eisenberg’s writing creates a pattern in which his own character must learn to step out of his shell to deal with his cousin when they are both thousands of miles away from home. Culkin is the master of unpredictable behavior in his role as Benji. He knocks his performance out of the ballpark. The revolving door of the bond and personality clash between Eisenberg and Culkin sends a message to love, accept, and even help when it is possible. Families may be a pain, but life can be a real pain. Eisenberg’s directing dazzles in a way that sets the film apart.
As someone who has personally struggled with making connections and feeling disconnected, A Real Pain hit me hard. I felt simultaneously emotional and uplifted as I reflected on who and why we love. I have sometimes had challenges getting along with my own family and realize that is a natural part of life. The dramatizations in A Real Pain make complete and honest sense which make it a very relatable film.
I have come face-to-face with both Eisenberg and Culkin. I saw Eisenberg walking from a distance when I was at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, and I told him his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network was brilliant. He simply replied, “Thank You.” I saw Culkin in the play This is our Youth in 2014 at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. This was before his well-known part in Succession. Both men have truly grown as naturally gifted actors. Seeing them deliver this one-of-a-kind masterpiece is something I will always remember.
Eisenberg and Culkin both display a level of acting ability which is purely genius. From my vantage point, Culkin nails it! He will make audiences laugh, cry, and anxious to learn how many joyful surprises he has in store in A Real Pain. How real does the pain feel in A Real Pain? It is quite deep and gut-wrenching, while also extremely heartfelt. It is a mammoth win on many fronts for both Eisenberg and Culkin and tops my chart for the best film of 2024. Four out of four stars A Real Pain.
Movies with Tarek 