Entertainment
Margot Robbie's Sexy Netflix Crime Thriller Is One Ridiculous Twist After Another
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Margot Robbie exploded onto the scene with 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street and held her own on screen with Leonardo DiCaprio. It could have been a thankless role as a trophy wife, but Robbie’s charm and talent made it memorable beyond her stunning looks. For a follow-up, Robbie went up against another award-winning A-list star, Will Smith, in 2015’s Focus, now available on Netflix, a twisty heist thriller that overcomes a thin plot thanks to the effortless charm of its two leads.
Margot Robbie And Will Smith Sizzle On Screen
Will Smith plays Nicky, a con artist, when he winds up in bed with Margot Robbie’s Jess, and then can’t help but laugh at her partner’s inept attempt at the “jealous boyfriend con.” Impressed by her part in it, he uses her for a con at the Super Bowl that stretches the limits of believability only 20 minutes into the film. Focus picks up again three years later, when they cross paths in Buenos Aires while both targeting the same mark: Rafeal, a billionaire F-1 team owner.
Working against each other, then with each other, and then against each other again, Nicky and Jess spend the rest of Focus’s run time betraying everyone in sight. As with all great heist films, it’s leading up to a reveal at the end with one final twist, but by that point, it doesn’t really matter. In fact, the plot of the film is largely inconsequential as an excuse to have Smith and Robbie share the screen in a wealthy, tropical location, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
An Old-School Con
Like any good con artist, Focus won’t stick in your memory for weeks after seeing it. You’ll have the hazy recollection of a film that was a fun watch, but if you can’t remember where Jess was standing when she slipped a watch, or how Nicky planted numbers in the mind of a mark, it’s alright, because in the moment, it was fun. After clearing $158 million at the box office, but stumbling with critics (55 percent on Rotten Tomatoes) and the general public (53 percent audience rating), it’s clear that your enjoyment of the film will rest entirely on how you like your escapism.
The current generation of heist films is still being influenced by either Ocean’s 11 or Fast Five, but Focus is more of a direct throwback to one of the best crime movies of the 70s, The Sting. How the small cast reacts to each other as the situation around them devolves gets the focus instead of Ocean’s expansive team or Fast Five’s action sequences, resulting in a slower-paced, character-driven story than most modern movies.
Focus isn’t the best heist movie, but it’s also not the worst. What it is is another showpiece performance from Margot Robbie in only her second major movie role. Going from Leonardo DiCaprio to Will Smith in her first two films is a testament to her talent. After watching the two try to outdo each other in Buenos Aires, it’s especially fun to rewatch their second pairing, Suicide Squad, which lacks all of the charm and spark they brought to Focus.
Entertainment
Seth Meyers has a blunt response to Elon Musks email to Epstein
The latest batch of Epstein files have caused some uncomfortable questions to be asked of Elon Musk, who — despite asserting on X that he “always declined” invitations to the convicted sex offender’s island, reportedly also emailed Epstein about a potential visit, writing in one message: “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”
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“You know sometimes I think Elon Musk is a lump with no charisma, but then he writes a line of poetry like ‘What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?’ and I stand corrected,” says Seth Meyers in the Late Night clip above. ‘What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?’ is not a question you should ever ask anyone, but especially not a guy who, at that point, was already a registered sex offender.”
Elsewhere, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert also unpacked the latest Epstein files.
Topics
Late Night With Seth Meyers
Entertainment
Sony WH-CH520 headphones are down to under $50 at Amazon — save over $20 right now
SAVE OVER $20: As of Feb. 3, the Sony WH-CH520 headphones are on sale for $48 at Amazon. This is $21.99 off their list price of $69.99.
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at Amazon
$69.99
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If you’ve had a new pair of headphones on your shopping list this year, but don’t want to drop a lot of cash on something fancy, there are plenty of great budget options to consider. The Sony WH-CH520 headphones are included in that bunch — we even consider them the best on-ear budget headphones — and they’re on sale right now at Amazon.
As of Feb. 3, every available color of the Sony WH-CH520 headphones is discounted to $48 at Amazon. Considering they’re usually listed for $69.99, this deal allows you to save just over $20. On top of that, some colors are even back at their lowest-ever prices right now, such as the blue and white models.
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The Sony WH-CH520s boast solid sound quality and a battery life that can last up to 50 hours on a single charge. Our review from writer Alex Bracetti said they’re the “best headphones under $50 — period.” He continued on to say that they “surpass expectations by delivering broad connectivity, energetic sound, and longer playtimes than most luxury models.”
While they don’t come with noise-canceling features, and our roundup of the best budget headphones notes they feel “quite flimsy”, they are worth grabbing for their sound alone. In that regard, the roundup states that the “the audio quality of this Sony pair certainly packed a punch.”
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If you’re looking for headphones that offer great sound with a lighter price tag, this deal on the Sony WH-CH520 headphones is worth a look.
Entertainment
The Pokémon TCG: Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box is $15 off at Amazon
TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box is now just $91.80 at Amazon. That’s $15 off its usual $106.89 list price.
Credit: The Pokémon Company
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Elite Trainer Boxes tied to high-demand Pokémon TCG expansions don’t tend to hang around at discounted prices for long, and Phantasmal Flames has been no exception. As of Feb. 3, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box is down to $91.80 at Amazon. That’s $15 off its usual $106.89 list price.
Currently undercutting the cheapest listings available at TCGplayer by over $52, a Phantasmal Flames ETB at this price — compared to current market demand — is offering solid value for Pokémon trading card collectors and players alike.
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Like other Elite Trainer Boxes, this contains nine Phantasmal Flames booster packs, along with a full-art foil Charcadet promo card. You’ll also get 65 themed card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide to the expansion, six damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, and a sturdy collector’s box with dividers to keep everything organized.
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Considering that individual Phantasmal Flames booster packs on Amazon currently cost $9.87, you’re essentially getting the Charcadet promo card and all the other bonuses from the ETB for only an extra $2.97 — a great deal if you’re both aiming to get caught up on the expansion and be equipped for real-life play at the same time.
While shopping for Pokemon TCG deals, you can still get the Mega Venusaur ex Premium Collection Box for almost $22 off at Amazon. For multiple packs, eight-pack lots of Pokémon TCG: Journey Together boosters are on sale at Amazon.
Topics
Pokemon
Trading Cards
Seth Meyers has a blunt response to Elon Musks email to Epstein
Sony WH-CH520 headphones are down to under $50 at Amazon — save over $20 right now
