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Movie reviews and ratings by two married people (Z)ach and (E)llen and their third wheel (J)ordan. Scroll for the latest reviews or check out our ratings table to find our favorites.
Warfare
The best part of Civil War was the military sequences, and that made me really intrigued that Alex Garland was going to turn around a military movie a year later, and wow, the man did not disappoint. Warfare depicts the true story of Garland’s co-director Ray Mendoza’s Iraq unit during one particular assault on them in 2006. One particular member of the unit, Elliott Miller, had no memory of the incident, due to injuries sustained from the event, and that was the impetus for Mendoza creating the movie in the first place, so as to give his fellow soldier a feel for the events of that day. And I think that’s really important context for the movie. As Jord says, it’s not propaganda. Nor is it trying to say anything explicitly. It’s just a memory. And it’s a harrowing, intense, and emotional one. I won’t watch it again, but if you can stomach some gore, I think it’s an important watch, and will definitely be one of the best movies produced this year.
-Z
I did not expect this film to be so closely focused on one true event, which helps this stand out from other war movies. The most impressive piece for me was the film’s ability to demonstrate the logistics of battle in real-time without any of the characters overexplaining their actions. It all felt incredibly real! Devoid of any score, but excellent sound design. I hope this sees some award nominations come next Oscars season.
-E
I had no intention of a 9. Even after the film, I thought it may be close but it won't be a 9. Now that I am sitting here having to put my thoughts down, we got 9. I have not stopped thinking about this film, and I traditionally really dislike war movies. Something about this is very different and is leaving a lasting impression on me. This has no propaganda feel towards war and the military, which I kind of thought was impossible to do for a film like this. It is just an intense realtime story that had me fully engaged. How they did this with the only back story being a group of guys watching a workout film for 3 minutes to start the movie and ended with me having actual feelings for the characters is just crazy to me. As Z said to me, that he will never watch it again andmost likely I won't either, but it did really leave a stamp on me. Hopefully this is in the Oscar run for audio and I hope anyone who can handle a grim and intense story gets a chance to watch it themselves. (also, I could watch a show of force 100 times and still love it)
-J
Z 8.75
E 8.75
J 9.0
ZEJ 8.83
The Conversation
The Varsity Cinema, one of ZEJ’s favorite local Des Moines theaters, played this recently after Gene Hackman’s death, and E added it to our list as a result, but I would have been okay if she hadn’t. We tried to watch this twice, and both times I fell asleep. Amazingly, it was nominated for Best Picture in 1974, and it’s a wonder people could make it through this one, but I guess I chalk it up to this was pre-internet and boredom drove people to more tedious forms of the cinema medium. If despite all that, the Gene Hackman / Francis Ford Coppola still intrigues you, this movie does have a good premise, and the ending is amazing. But hats off to you if you can get there.
-Z
This score might be somewhat impacted by the fact that Z and I had to split this up over two viewings due to the movie putting us to sleep, but I truly do not understand how The Conversation is so well regarded. I found much of the movie incredibly slow - and that is not a complaint I often make! The intensity of the last few scenes save it a little, but not nearly enough to warrant its critical acclaim I’d say.
-E
Z 6.5
E 6.0
J n/a
~ZEJ 6.25
Movie Fantasy League 2024 - End of Season Update
With the Oscars officially over, our inaugural season of the Movie Fantasy League has come to an end.
Here’s the final standings:
The rank on the left is globally and score on the right is final points.
Jord already had a big lead, but he dominated at the Oscars, racking up 9 wins, including Best Picture with Anora.
Not that it did much for me , but I (Z) had next most, with 3 Oscar wins, followed by E and Austin R with 2.
It’s pretty clear Jord got super lucky and I don’t think the ZEJ Reviews Movie Fantasy League will ever let something like this happen again.
Mr Richards (J) - 4676 pts
Anora ($25) - 6 noms, 5 wins
Emilia Perez ($25) - 13 noms, 2 wins
Wicked ($20) - 10 noms, 2 wins
The Room Next Door ($8)
Here ($8)
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl ($5) - 1 nom
Juror #2 ($5)
Piece by Piece ($3)
ecrhodes (E) - 3319 pts
Wicked ($20) - 10 noms, 2 wins
Joker: Folie a Deux ($20)
A Complete Unknown ($15) - 8 noms
The Wild Robot ($15) - 3 noms
September 5 ($10) - 1 noms
Babygirl ($10)
Will & Harper ($5)
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga ($5)
Austo (Austin R) - 3102 pts
Sing Sing ($25) - 3 noms
Joker: Folie a Deux ($20)
Wicked ($20) - 10 noms, 2 wins
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ($10)
Saturday Night ($8)
Smile 2 ($5)
The Apprentice ($5) - 2 noms
Longlegs ($3)
runningwolf (Z) - 2493 pts
Dune: Part Two ($35) - 5 noms, 2 wins
Sing Sing ($25) - 3 noms
Blitz ($20)
A Real Pain ($10)
Oh Canada ($3)
Love Lies Bleeding ($3)
No Other Land ($3) - 1 noms, 1 win
Kneecap ($1)
MaxC (Max) - 2198 pts
Gladiator II ($40) - 1 noms
The Wild Robot ($15) - 3 noms
We Live in Time ($15)
Challengers ($10)
A Real Pain ($10)
Nosferatu ($8) - 4 noms
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim ($5)
Transformers One ($2)
TheFearedDoctor (Tony) - 1736 pts
Gladiator II ($40) - 1 noms
Moana 2 ($30)
Nightbitch ($10)
Nosferatu ($8) - 4 noms
Deadpool & Wolverine ($5)
Joy ($3)
In the Summers ($2)
Exhibiting Forgiveness ($2)
StShuffles (Austin T) - 1625 pts
Gladiator II ($40) - 1 noms
Moana 2 ($30)
Nightbitch ($10)
Nosferatu ($8) - 4 noms
Saturday Night ($8)
Speak No Evil ($2)
Lisa Frankenstein ($1)
Ultraman: Rising ($1)
The Monkey
“Everybody dies. Some of us peacefully and in our sleep, and some of us... horribly. And that's life.” -Lois
I rarely like to say that I know more than others in movies, but I truly believe that I do know more seeing the reviews. The number one thing that needs to be understood is that this is a comedy, not a horror film. I know it is marketed as such and if you go into it wanting to watch a horror film, specifically like Oz Perkins’ last film Longlegs, you will be disappointed. If you go in with the right attitude, you are in for a hoot. It's not a traditionally great film with deep themes and fantastic acting that would make an 8, but it all worked so well for me. I just had a lot of fun and if you can deal with gore I think you need to watch it.
-J
Z n/a
E n/a
J 8.0
~ZEJ 8.0
The Gorge
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.” -Levi
Snipers. Action. Love. Anya Taylor-Joy. Miles Teller. Add to the quote, the fact this is a bad movie also cannot be long hidden. A movie that has almost no redeeming qualities and would have got the rare turn off early if I didn’t watch it with friends. The concept is really interesting. It was marketed as a great movie for all movie lovers. A true action thriller with a true love story behind it. If done well, I think that could make a fun movie for all, but this just did each part forgettably. If I had to say something nice about it, I would say there are a few cool action shots with some decent CGI. Beyond all that, you do not need to find time to watch it and I would recommend you don’t.
-J
Z n/a
E n/a
J 5.0
~ZEJ 5.0
Paddington in Peru
“Embrace the risk” -Henry
As a Paddington truther, this is one that I had to get in right away. The Paddington series is going for a perfect trifecta so there is a lot on the line. Did it hit it perfectly like Paddington 2? Sadly it fell a little flat to that, but you shoot for the moon, you may hit some stars. It was still a great film, that most won't believe, but had arguably too much Antonio Banderas. The charm was still there and is a must watch for all lovers of the series! Paddington 2, followed by Paddington in Peru, and then Paddington.
-J
Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75
~ZEJ 7.75
Black Bag
Well, last Tuesday, the ZEJ team saw the best movie of 2025 so far, and it’s not even close. I’m a sucker for spy thrillers, but Black Bag is objectively amazing. Steven Soderbergh is a legend, and you can see all the cleverness of the Ocean’s films in this. Fassbender and Blanchett are perfect, as always, but the supporting cast really make this movie work. Tom Burke is particularly compelling, and between this and his emergence to me in Furiosa, he’s definitely somebody to watch out for in the future. He has one of those faces that just screams cinematic, like an Adrien Brody or Cillian Murphy. Don’t want to spoil anything for you, so I’ll leave it at that, but this is a must watch.
-Z
Ocean’s Eleven is my favorite movie, and I was not surprised to hear afterward that this film had the same director. I loved the intense, dialogue-driven plot, which, similar to Ocean’s Eleven, packs so much information into each conversation, your attention is commanded. You are rewarded for paying close attention by being able to piece everything together, making you feel like you are part of the heist.
-E
“When you can lie about everything, when you can deny everything, how do you tell the truth about anything?” -Clarissa
Mr. and Mrs. Smith, am I right?? You watch the trailer or describe it to anyone that's what you hear them say, and in perfect spy fashion it is completely different. A movie I was not really excited to see and convinced to go based on Z and E giving me a push, and I thank them for it. It has been a long time since I have seen a true spy movie that I loved. This wasn’t action focused, but truly spy focused. A lot to pay attention to and a lot of faith put on the audience to follow along. I have tried to explain it to others and I still give it that Mr. and Mrs. Smith tie, but it is so much more in my opinion. If you enjoy spy movies with twists and strong dialogue, this is a must watch. I don’t foresee any awards, but I wouldn’t be mad if it wins some!
-J
Z 8.75
E 8.75
J 8.75
ZEJ 8.75
Thelma
Thelma is a sneaky good movie, that as it turns out, is also the most clever Mission Impossible satire you could imagine. June Squibb, who at 95 years old, carries this movies effortlessly, with the grace that only a nonagenarian could. The relationship her and her grandson Fred Hechinger have in this is really sweet. June reminds me a lot of my great grandmother, and her daughter, my grandmother Sandy, and that added a special layer of poignancy for me. Definitely recommend this for a good time, a a laugh and maybe a cry?
-Z
Quite funny, but also quite introspective. Thelma has the mindset and attitude I hope to have at 93! The Mission: Impossible themes were hilariously enjoyable. I don’t have any grandparents left, and I was never very close with any of them, so that relationship dynamic probably didn’t hit as close to home for me as Z and J, but I still loved this one.
-E
“I didn't expect to get so old.” - Thelma
I also didn’t expect to like this movie as much as I did. This is one that I saw a trailer for and decided that it wasn’t for me. Then through movie articles and podcasts, I was convinced to give it a try. This was a much more heartfelt movie than I was expecting with a ton of subtle humor throughout. It definitely isn’t a perfect film and it never had a chance to win any awards, but if you are looking for a nice feel good comedy, definitely give it a chance!
-J
Z 8.75
E 8.5
J 8.0
ZEJ 8.42
8 Mile
E had never seen this cornerstone of my childhood, so we gave it watch, and it’s impressive how it’s largely held up. Of course, as was the case then, the magic of this movie is Eminem. I didn’t realize until Ellen read the trivia afterward, but Eminem is in every single scene, and it takes a special performance to make you forget that. I wasn’t old enough to be aware of the Oscars at the time, but it’s somewhat shocking now he wasn’t nominated. The film certainly has some bizarre pacing, scenes, and directorial choices, none bigger than why they just didn’t make this a full-on biopic instead of semi-biopic, but if you’re a fan of acting, and/or Eminem, then this is must watch.
-Z
After Z’s constant disappointment with musician biopics, I realized that this is a movie that (kind of) fits that genre I had never seen, and Z confirmed that I probably needed to see it. The acting and dialogue felt a bit over the top for most of the film, but I definitely enjoyed the fact that Eminem played (basically) himself - this is something I knew, but didn’t fully appreciate until watching it happen. Not being a huge Eminem fan myself though, this was just okay.
-E
Z 7.75
E 7.0
J n/a
~ZEJ 7.38
Mickey 17
As a Bong Joon Ho truther on the basis that I’ve seen two of his movies, and Parasite is in my top 5 best movies of all time, I was really looking forward to Mickey 17. Robert Pattison is must watch, and he does his best to carry this film, but unfortunately Bong Joon Ho was just all over the place with this one. He had a really interesting premise to work with from the book, but he tried to stretch this in about 10 different directions, and it glossed over the more interesting avenues this was taking. Good film to watch on a plane perhaps? Or something to fall asleep to? Certainly don’t go out of your way to watch this, lest you enjoy disappointment.
-Z
While there are definitely a few plot issues here, this movie was very fun and kept me engaged throughout! There were definitely some Don’t Look Up vibes with some of the exaggerated characters, but overall this was really entertaining. My take on The Batman is highly disputed I know, but it’s undeniable: Robert Pattinson is a gem.
-E
“One time in fourth grade, I messed around with a lab frog. I figure this is my punishment.” -Mickey
And the fact that I didn’t finish the book before watching the film may be mine (or a blessing in disguise). What feels like the first important movie of 2025 carries some weight, and I regret to inform you it is a bit flat. I think describing this movie as flat is the best way to go about it. I wanted it to be great and it did have a lot of potential, but I feel it went silly over serious, which was disappointing to me. The next issue is that most movies have a lack of plot issues, but this one runs into too many plots issue. WIth that being said, its biggest issue is that I wanted it to be great but it was just good. The acting was great and the themes were successful, so it’s not bad, but felt more like a straight to stream than a blockbuster. My biggest advice to you is to do just that, wait to stream and see if it’s not your cup of tea. Overall good, but sadly waiting for that first big film of 2025.
-J
Z 7.0
E 7.75
J 7.75
ZEJ 7.5
ZEJ Oscars Votes
It’s Oscars weekend, and it’s time to unveil the ZEJ team’s Oscars vote results! Check out each category below, ordered by ranked choice voting. First place votes are in parenthesis with the initial of that voter for each category.
Interestingly, there is just a single unanimous first place choice among the 21 categories this year - the Substance for Best Makeup and Hairstyling; whereas last year the ZEJ team agreed on 9 of the 21 categories. Live action shorts is missing below, as the ZEJ team is going to see those tonight, we’ll update this post tomorrow morning.
The ZEJ team had the most love for Dune: Part Two with 4 wins (Best Picture, Visuals, Sound, & Production Design), followed by Anora with 3 wins (Best Actress, Film Editing, Original Screenplay), and several movies had 2 wins, including The Brutalist, The Substance, and Nosferatu.
Best Picture
Dune: Part Two (Z,E)
Anora (J)
Conclave
The Brutalist
The Substance
Wicked
Nickel Boys
I'm Still Here
Emilia Pérez
A Complete Unknown
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (Z,E)
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice (J)
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Best Actress
Mikey Madison, Anora (Z,J)
Demi Moore, The Substance (E)
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Supporting Actor
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice (E)
Yura Borisov, Anora (Z)
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (J)
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Supporting Actress
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez (E,J)
Ariana Grande, Wicked (Z)
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Best Animated Feature Film
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (E)
The Wild Robot (Z)
Memoir of a Snail (J)
Flow
Inside Out 2
Best Cinematography
Nosferatu (Z,J)
The Brutalist (E)
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Best Costume Design
Nosferatu (Z,J)
Wicked (E)
Conclave
A Complete Unknown
Gladiator II
Best Directing
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance (Z,E)
Sean Baker, Anora (J)
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
Best Film Editing
Anora (Z)
Conclave (E)
The Brutalist (J)
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Best International Feature Film - (Jord barred from this category, for only seeing 3/5 films)
The Girl With the Needle (Z)
I’m Still Here (E)
Flow
Emilia Pérez
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
The Substance (Z,E,J)
A Different Man
Wicked
Nosferatu
Emilia Pérez
Best Music (Original Score)
The Brutalist (E)
Conclave
Wicked (J)
The Wild Robot (Z)
Emilia Pérez
Best Music (Original Song)
“Like a Bird,” Sing Sing (Z,E)
“Mi Camino,” Emilia Pérez
“El Mal,” Emilia Pérez (J)
“Never Too Late,” Elton John: Never Too Late
“The Journey,” The Six Triple Eight
Best Production Design
Dune: Part Two (Z,J)
Nosferatu
Conclave (E)
The Brutalist
Wicked
Best Animated Short Film
Yuck! (J)
Wander to Wonder (Z)
In the Shadow of the Cypress (E)
Magic Candies
Beautiful Men
Best Live Action Short Film
I’m Not a Robot (Z,E,J)
A Lien
Anuja
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Best Sound
Dune: Part Two (Z,E)
Wicked (J)
Emilia Pérez
The Wild Robot
A Complete Unknown
Best Visual Effects
Dune: Part Two (Z,E)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (J)
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Wicked
Best Adapted Screenplays
Conclave (E)
Sing Sing (Z)
Nickel Boys (J)
Emilia Pérez
A Complete Unknown
Best Original Screenplays
Anora (Z,J)
The Substance
September 5 (E)
The Brutalist
A Real Pain
Maria
Alas, an Oscar nominated film so boring I fell asleep. I didn’t miss much according to E, and that’s my loss, as I would have gladly traded in more naptime for less of my life having been given to watching Maria. Moving forward, when people want an example of a film that exists purely as a vehicle to give an acting nomination, this is the one. Wrap it up, Hollywood, you did it, nothing can top this. Jolie’s performance is GREAT, no doubt, but that’s it, and sadly, she was NOT nominated for an Oscar. Bizarrely, this was given a cinematography nomination, which it’s not that the cinematography isn’t good, but there are far more deserving films in my opinion.
-Z
Just an incredibly boring movie. And after seeing all of the other Oscar nominated movies, I do not think it deserved its cinematography nomination. I'm sure if you were a big fan of opera music, this would do more for you, and it's always at least somewhat interesting to learn about a real person's life, but I felt let down on several levels and can't say I'd recommend this one.
-E
Z 6.25
E 5.75
J n/a
~ZEJ 6.0
The Girl with the Needle
Google doesn’t label the Girl with the Needle as a horror film, but it absolutely is one. Some mild spoilers ahead... This has a very similar vibe to the masterpiece that is the Witch, with out the supernatural elements, of course. In the Girl with the Needle, the evil is all of human doing. This was nominated for Best International Film, but it SHOULD have been nominated for cinematography over Maria, and could have easily grabbed Best Actress and Actress in supporting role noms, nay SHOULD have grabbed those noms. Trine Dyrhom, who is apparently the Danish Meryl Streep, absolutely COOKS in this, and makes the weak nomination of Isabella Rossellini for Conclave particularly glaring. If you love cinema, dark films, or psychological horror, then this is a must watch and borderline masterpiece.
-Z
While I always expect the international picture nominees to be depressing, this one felt downright macabre, but I couldn't look away. Something about the style of this film is very inviting and alluring. While it is inspired by true events, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the timelessness (or, maybe, timeliness) of the root of this story. I think I'll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers. This film definitely deserves more attention than it is getting!
-E
Z 8.75
E 8.5
J n/a
~ZEJ 8.63
Better Man
Between the awful trailer, the weird monkey component, and my hatred for biopics being bigger than ever, I fully expected to loath Better Man, but like any good movie subversion, I was pleasantly proven wrong. Better Man is amazing. If you’re like me and thought the CGI monkey interacting with real humans in all the forms that that entails would be bizarre, it just somehow isn’t. That weirdness fades away almost immediately, and instead the metaphor for what it represents becomes actually really profound. Michael Gracey, who was a producer for Rocketman, is one of the few people apparently that understands biopics should be more like a musical, and not 15 recreations of various concerts and performances that serve nothing but nostalgia. Obviously the other faux pas with biopics, is when there's direct involvement from the artist, it typically becomes so safe and unrevealing, but despite Robbie Williams literally voicing himself, this actually is a really vulnerable and honest look at his life, the good, and the mostly bad. It’s brilliant. Must watch.
-Z
Now THIS is what I want from a biopic (ahem, A Complete Unknown, take notes). A celebrity willing to share their cringey, unflattering past while telling their life story? Refreshing. Musical numbers that feel earned because they are a true spectacle? Rare for me. The main character is portrayed as a monkey but you kind of stop questioning that about 10 minutes into the movie? Unheard of. I’m so glad its (definitely earned) visual effects nom added this to our list, and I’m a little disappointed to have missed it in theaters.
-E
Z 8.75
E 8.75
J n/a
~ZEJ 8.75
Captain America: Brave New World
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has hit a new low, and I’m sad to say it’s with my favorite character, Captain America. I feel so bad for Anthony Mackie, as this is the worst dialogue the MCU has ever put to screen, and he deserves better. Tying into the oft forgotten Incredible Hulk movie was cool, but Leader was one of the most unsatisfying villains of all time, and as a Tim Blake Nelson stan, that is truly heart-breaking. The changes in process Disney enacted last year to improve the quality of the movies begins with Thunderbolts, thus Captain America: Brave New World is hopefully the last of horrible scripts, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
-Z
Please, Marvel, hire me to help your writing room. Good lord. Despite the abysmal dialogue, the story here was entertaining overall and somehow kept me wanting to know more. In the end though, this film felt pretty uneventful compared with other Marvel movies that seem to usually drive the universe forward more.
-E
“You may be Captain America, but you're not Steve Rogers.” -Ross
“You're right. I'm not.” -Sam
Is Marvel dead? We may be getting closer and closer to that reality. A movie which may have been written by AI at points, created a really corny watch. The more I think about it, the worse it gets. Marvel has been slipping slowly over time since it can cut - costs and still get viewership, but we may be getting closer to the last straw (at least for me). Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four have to be better or I may be off the ship. The dialogue in this was horrible, the action was decent, and the CGI was hard to watch at times along with confusing villains and connections to a movie that came out when I was in high school. Overall, if you are down on Marvel this should be a skip, which isn’t fair to the new Captain America, because it isn't Anthony Mackie's fault. Please be better Marvel.
-J
Z 6.25
E 7.0
J 6.75
ZEJ 6.67
Best Picture Rankings
With the Oscars just a week and a half away, here’s the ZEJ team’s rankings by rating for the Best Picture nominees:
#1 Dune: Part Two
ZEJ Rating = 9.58
The ZEJ team didn’t begin writing reviews officially until after this movie came out, so nothing to link to on this one, but Dune: Part Two surpassed all of our wildest expectations for the sequel to the beloved Dune: Part One. While Part One had some heavy lifting to do as the setup, Part Two didn’t suffer from such shackles, and is truly a masterpiece. Futhermore, Austin Butler’s shocking performance opened our eyes to his range. Lisan al-Giab!
#2 Anora
ZEJ Rating = 9.25
Hairless men - so hot right now. A surprisingly fun film with unbelievably good performances from Mikey Madison and the unsung hero Yuriy Borisov. Jord has this as his vote for best picture, as this was a tie with Dune: Part Two at a 9.25/10. The ZEJ team would be delighted if this sneaks in as the Best Picture winner.
#3 Conclave
ZEJ Rating = 8.92
Bald men - so hot right now. Conclave is certainly the dark horse of the nominees, as the whole ZEJ team was shocked at how good it was. E’s 2nd highest rated movie this year - and her personal favorite of the group. The storytelling and dark political mechanizations of the Vatican are so compelling, as is Ralph Fiennes, per usual. This shares the same score as the Brutalist, but is edged out 2 to 3 in votes among the ZEJ team.
#4 The Brutalist
ZEJ Rating = 8.92
This year’s marathon watch, The Brutalist, was kind enough to give us an intermission and honestly that earned it a quarter point. It was an extremely ambitious, and unique film. Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce are incredible.
#5 The Substance
ZEJ Rating = 8.83
The most creative and stylish movie we saw this year, and also the most surprising to be nominated - The Substance, a brutal body-horror film. It’s only fault is it’s very nature, the difficulty to watch it, and maybe a bit too metaphorical at times. Demi Moore is must watch in her performance here, if you can stomach it.
#6 Wicked
ZEJ Rating = 8.75
Looking at our individual ratings, I’m shocked Jord didn’t go higher on Wicked (J = 9/10), as obsessed with it as he was. E and I were reluctant to love the cultural phenomenon, but it’s undeniably good, and while it gets a little drawn out in the final act, they largely nailed bringing the musical to the big screen.
#7 Nickel Boys
ZEJ Rating = 8.67
Based on the historic Dozier School, a highly abusive reform school in Florida, Nickel Boys depicts a few of the atrocities there, but through an extremely unique first-person perspective. You, the viewer, are literally in their shoes, and it makes for an uncomfortable and powerful watch.
#8 I’m Still Here
ZEJ Rating = 8.42
Also an International Film nominee, I’m Still Here is also the true story of Eunice Paive and her family, who is ripped apart by the Brazilian dictatorship in 1971. Also a tough watch, but powerful depiction of family, and motherhood. Fernanda Torres delivers an exceptional performance.
#9 Emilia Pérez
ZEJ Rating = 7.58
And at #9, according to the ZEJ team, this is where we get into why was this nominated territory. And sadly, Emilia Pérez was the most nominated film of the year. The best that can be said about it is its unique take on the musical genre. The worst, well that’s a long list. But E and Z’s main gripe is the third act, which was one of the worst of any movie this year. At this point, the only reason to watch this, is out of morbid curiosity. But don’t say we didn’t warn you at how spectacularly it falls apart.
#10 A Complete Unknown
ZEJ Rating = 7.25
And finally, much to Big Brett’s dismay, A Complete Unknown. According to ZEJ, there were 50 movies better than this in 2024 that were not nominated for Best Picture. Clearly the Bob Dylan nostalgia blinders are real. Such a boring, safe movie, that as Jord puts it, teaches us virtually nothing about one of the most unique musical artists of the 20th century. Super skippable lest your a Bob Dylan truther, then I guess enjoy it for the Timothée Chalamet concert.
Companion
“The days of you controlling me are over.” -Iris
My first 2025 release comes on Feb 1st, and I thought it was a blast. Felt like the old days before ZEJ where I had some time one night and went to the theater on my own. Now, is that what I prefer? Not even a little bit, and Z and E were busy so that's where the solo review is coming from. Now, was this a great and polished film? No. Did I think it was extremely fun and well worth the time? Absolutely. The charm of this movie comes from going in blind which I have said before, but if you know what it is about I do think it would water it down. Some great acting and I am excited to continue to see Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid in more! If you enjoyed Barbarian, this is a must see and much better in my opinion!
-J
Z n/a
E n/a
J 8.0
~ZEJ 8.0
Seed of the Sacred Fig
Seed of the Sacred Fig felt like two 90 minute movies sewn together. The first movie is really interesting and well done, the second just becomes bizarre and foresakes where the first was headed. The themes are important and worth exploring, but the plane wasn’t landed here.
-Z
The genre here felt a bit disjointed, starting out as a feminist anthem of sorts and ending up as a bizarre thriller. The length was also not justified at all. In my mind, this is taking the place of Kneecap as an International Picture nominee, which is not cool.
-E
Z 7.5
E 7.0
J n/a
~ZEJ 7.25
Small Things Like This
“If you want to get on in this life, there are things you have to ignore.” -Eileen
This was a movie that snuck its way in. My girlfriend is quite the reader and she and I had the idea to read some books together and then watch the movie, which is obviously more my way to take in art. We landed on this first and it was a great short story. One that makes you think and you can finish in a day (took me a week but that is neither here nor there). First off, I do think the book is essential if you want to enjoy the film. For a book that is mostly internal monologue, it is kind of hard to believe a film adaptation was possible. I think they did a great job and I will never complain about Cillian Murphy on my TV screen, but I was a little disappointed. If you have time to read the story then give it a watch. Otherwise, it may be a skip!
-J
Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5
~ZEJ 7.5
I’m Still Here
I’m Still Here is the true story of Eunice Paiva’s life after the disappearance of her husband in 1970s Brazil. It’s well directed, and extremely well acted, and all the accolades for Fernanda Torres make perfect sense, but all the actors were fantastic. While not as gratingly sad as the international film nominees can often be, it’s still plenty sad, and as will always be the case, it makes for a harder watch for me. Doesn’t make it any less important, and there’s a lot to appreciate in this film. The pre-sad parts of this movie are particularly charming, showing the liveliness and cohesion of Brazilian family. A good watch, and having now seen all but the Girl with the Needle, this is probably the 2nd best International behind Flow for this year’s nominees.
-Z
I really enjoyed the true story of this film. Yes, it was hard to watch at times, but it all felt so realistic. What stood out the most to me was Fernanda Torres’ ability to portray a mother shielding her children from her grief, confusion, and anger by suppressing emotion and choosing to maintain their stability over her own. That’s some real motherly strength.
-E
“Everybody's in danger, Eunice.” -Martha
A international film that I realized was international about 5 minutes before the film started. The thing I am learning as I become more and more involved in watching movies in a more serious sense, that means buckle up. Last year we watched what I think was the most jaw dropping, mood killing, gut wrenching, depressing, yet great movie, Io Capitano, which has become an unofficial scale of how dark a movie is. This did not get there, but all three of us agreed it had the vibes. This movie is not light hearted, but it does have some great performances. Is it a must watch, not for me, but I do think it was an objectively good film.
-J
