My Rating: 3.82/4 (aka Definitely worth it)

One line summary: Two rival magicians in 1890s London compete for supremacy through years of tragedy and deception.

The Deets: With the “Oppenheimer,” “Interstellar,” and “Inception” trifecta, it feels like this 2006 Christoper Nolan work could be overlooked. But as he has steadily created a new film every 2-3 years since 2000, you can see how this excellent movie fits into his portfolio. With a stellar cast of Hugh Jackman (why isn’t he a bigger movie star?), the always stellar Christian Bale, early Scarlett Johansson (yup), Rebecca Hall (makes great role choices), and Nolan regular Michael Caine (I love his brief and cheeky appearance in “Tenet”), this is a powerhouse, laced with trademark narrative time jumps and all kinds of trickery – both literally within the story itself and through the camera, where you’re just not always sure what’s happening (though far less confusing than “Tenet”). The surprising and ominous ending, which I certainly won’t spoil here, leaves a sly smile on your face, knowing that they slid one passed us while leaving big open questions for us to ponder. And the same question that both the magicians and the audience ask with each performance: how did they do that?

Perfect for: If you’re already a Nolan fan, you love a good magic trick, and when you’re in the mood for a bit of cerebral entertainment.

Where to watch: You can rent it on your favorite streaming service, Prime preferred.

Food pairing: Something hearty and enjoyable, whatever that might be; my first thought is a warm rice burrito bowl, even though that’s not very British.