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Film reviews

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t Review

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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.

 

Film reviews

Good Fortune Review

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Written and directed by Aziz Ansari, this is probably one of the most well-written and cleverly crafted comedies of 2025. Good Fortune is a comedy that is a delight because Ansari knows how to capture reality and fairness from a realistic perspective of how life seems for many individuals. He creates a dynamic of people with interesting lives (including himself), and he adds an angel to make things better. Well…that angel tries. But overall, the concept of the comedy is just genius. I have seen Ansari three times on stage doing stand-up comedy, and I will say his craft as a comedy writer seamlessly crosses over to movies. Good Fortune is a breakout of wonders for sure.

Aziz Ansari plays Arj, and he is a struggling delivery driver in California. He is desperately struggling to make ends meet. Around him, there is an angel named Gabriel, played by Keanu Reevers. Gabriel is an angel assigned to keep people alive by basically making them alert by not texting and driving.  He basically keeps humans alive by preventing them from getting into serious injuries due to obliviousness. Gabriel wants a change as well though. Gabriel’s boss is Martha, played by Sandra Oh. Gabriel wants to make people’s lives better, but his options are limited. Things begin to come around when Arj earns the opportunity to work for a wealthy venture capitalist named Jeff. Jeff is played by Seth Rogen. Once Arj begins to work for Jeff, his life starts to see some light.

There is a twist to this comedy and this is where the entertaining genius lies.  Arj convinces Gabriel to make it possible for him to swap lives with Jeff. This means that Jeff ends up being the one struggling financially, while Arj is rich and wealthy. At the same time, Gabriel is an angel who is trying to navigate the reality of what makes actual humans happy, because he himself is not (technically) a human. A film of moving parts where the rich live for fun, and those who hustle must truly hustle. Ansari creates the dynamics of fairness presented as daring.

The film leads to a path of envy and jealousy becoming the theme. That is seen more by the Angel character of Reeves. Moreover, there is the impression that some have a lavish life and may not deserve it. The creative style of Ansari’s directing is how it creates equality—the portrait that no one is perfect—no matter how rich, poor, or successful. Anyone can have flaws. The “flaws” in Good Fortune have witty misdirection making this one of the best comedies I have ever seen.

The classiness of Good Fortune is in the fact that it makes audiences look at reality. It makes us ask the question, “Are we are truly happy with our lives?”. Would many be happier if they were just rich all the time? Or would some rather just continue to hustle? How many would want to swap their life for another? Despite the good that comes out of rotated lives, the hurdles of change are presented with a reality that has plateaus that are unavoidable. Ansari’s writing has tangents that are spellbinding in that aspect, especially with Reeves as angel navigating making people’s lives better. There is no clear end in sight for Good Fortune. The light of happiness is in the writing, and the funniness is fueled by competitions to get lifestyles back. Four out of four stars for Good Fortune.

Film reviews

The Long Walk Review

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Based on the novel by Stephen King, director Francis Lawrence delivers a breathtaking masterpiece with The Long Walk. In thisfilm, survival and sacrificing everything has depth and meaning in every step of the way. Even though some may find the subject matter disturbing, the displays of connection and keeping those close just to survive is powerful. This is a poetic and moving thriller where emotions tackle each other. Cooper Hoffman is unbelievably good, and Mark Hamill is ferocious. The Long Walk is a ride filled with deaths, curiosities, and questions about what’s been accomplished upon reaching the end.

Hoffmann plays Raymond Garraty. Hamill plays The Major, the commander of this long, treacherous, and unexplainable walk. Raymond meets some friends along the way. The ones he holds close to him are Hank Olson (played by Ben Wang) and Peter McVries (David Jonsson). Some of the others on the walk are questionable characters, but that is something audiences will have to see for themselves. Going forward, Raymond has a mission. He wants to do this walk because he feels the politics in his life have impacted his family, and if he wins, he can change it all. However, as the days go by, more people on the walk die. Raymond and Peter begin to grow a closer bond of brotherhood. Every time someone stops along the walk, they are given three warnings, and if they do not continue, they are shot and eliminated.

The film is mesmerizing because it tests the waters of friendship and tolerance as it builds in intensity. A great deal of focus is on Raymond and Peter who keep at it while trying to help maintain each other’s momentum. Each time someone falls and fails in the race, my jaw dropped and my heart began to race. I felt the pain and the agony, and at the same time, I kept saying in my head, “Keep going!” That is what The Long Walk is all about. Resilience is the spirit throughout the entirety of this treacherous walk.

Despite the harsh subject matter, the encouragement to persist is intense. The film’s dazzling writing takes viewers into uncharted territory. Not only is there an award if the race is won, but walkers build connections which turn into a lasting brotherhood. The performances of Hoffmann and Jonnson, who are blood brothers, make The Long Walk heartbreaking and unforgettable. When one falls, they both will because sticking together goes a long way in The Long Walk. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.