The Bikeriders

“I’ve been thinking, I can’t run this club forever. I built this from nothing. This is our family. You and me, kid” - Johnny

This quote from The Bikeriders hints at the film's look into loyalty and brotherhood. While the trailers showcased thrilling motorcycle sequences and battles between clubs, I will say I was surprised by the actual product. I was expecting a lot of Austin Butler and Z and I agree, every second that wasn’t used showing Austin Butler riding was a wasted second of the movie. This movie was definitely not what I expected. The film focused on the story within the story, where I went in expecting it to be an action thrill ride. Now, I can’t say there wasn’t action, but sadly if you saw the trailer, you saw basically all of it. Along with that, I did not expect it to follow the writer of a book in the 60’s instead of focusing on the story of Johnny, Benny, and Kathy. The grainy, documentary style cinematography adds to the film's authenticity and I think it does work, but you have to be expecting that type of movie to enjoy it to the fullest.

As stated above, Austin Butler from the moment he is shown leaning against a pool table had me fully… engaged… but the movie went a route that almost wrote him out at times. It leaned on Jodie Comer, who I did think was great, but left me wanting more of Butler. I think they also had two great performances from two great actors, but decided to tell us about the love between them instead of letting us experience it. Maybe I am focusing on the wrong things, but I know what I want! It may seem like I hated it, but I definitely didn't. I thought the story did captivate me at times with the changing dynamic of the Vandals. I also hate motorcycles, so the fact I am saying anything positive means the movie had to do something right. Despite my initial disappointment at the lack of action, I did find myself invested in the story of the Vandals. Period piece and motorcycle lovers will undoubtedly enjoy The Bikeriders, and fans of slow-burn character studies with a historical twist may find themselves surprised and engaged, but overall I was left wanting.

-J

The trailers had E and I pretty hyped for the Bikeriders, but as it turns out the marketing geniuses managed to shove every single action sequence, of which they were only about 4 or 5, into that trailer. That meant what we were left with to fill in the rest of the movie was, frankly, just a whole lot boring nothingness. A rather tame tale of a romanticized bike club. This tale’s pacing was strange too, as it was chopped up repeatedly by Jodie Comer’s character, who is being interviewed and is the one telling the story. So you have this kind of slow burn of disappointedly few action scenes, that is constantly interrupted by this interview that just really did not work. Aside from that, Tom Hardy and Austin Butler were phenomenal, as expected. It’s not every day you get two of your “Must Watch” list actors in the same movie, and they did NOT disappoint. As Jord mentioned, Austin Butler was criminally underused, and we got surprisingly little of Butler on a bike? Like that’s what we were here for people. If this had been marketed a bit differently, I may have been a little more generous to this movie, but even giving it the benefit of the doubt, it disappointed.

-Z

Z 7.5
E 7
J 7.75

ZEJ 7.42

Suspiria (2018)

“Love and manipulation, they share houses very often. They are frequent bedfellows.” -Dr. Josef Klemperer

This unsettling quote perfectly captures the atmosphere of Suspiria (2018), a visually stunning and psychologically disturbing film. Going into this movie, I had been told 3 things. My buddy Austin likes it, it's messed up, and there are things that you have never seen in a horror movie before. That went three for three. From the moment the film opens with the anxiety-filled coaching from the mothers, the use of vibrant yet unsettling colors throughout creates unease. Even with all of that, you do notice right away that this is going to be somewhat of a slow burn which I was not expecting. I found myself wondering, beyond the artistic cinematography, what was so captivating about this film? Then all the sudden some of the most brutal and unexpected scenes showed up on screen and I don’t think that I will ever be able to unsee them (if you have seen it you know exactly what I am talking about). I will say, that scene brought me back, but overall you are left with what I believe is too much dialogue. Dakota Johnson does deliver a captivating performance, which we at ZEJ have never said before. She showcased the transformation of her character Susie with depth and believability, while aiding the mystery of the story.

Now, I have never seen the original, but I will say that this is not a typical horror film. The movie leans towards being an overly confusing horror movie that goes for a lot of shock value instead of jump-scares like traditional slasher horror. I understand why it is adored by viewers, due to the incredible visuals that will give you chills and being terrifying not due to jump scares, but due to the eerie vibes it gives off. With all that said, I personally do not love this kind of movie and had to do the “ending explained” Youtube route when it finished just to realize I did understand the film, it just added so much to make it seem deeper than it is. Horror fans it's a must see, but the regular fan can skip.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

There Will Be Blood

“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people.” - Daniel Plainview

If you are interested in phenomenal acting in a story-driven film, I don’t know if there is anything better than this film. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an all-time Oscar winning performance that may never be replicated. A story about Daniel Plainview, who shows a ruthlessness that is unmatched. Every second that he is on screen, he controls the scene and shows you that he will stop at nothing to be successful, as given in the iconic quote above. When talking with Z and E, I cannot believe I hadn’t seen it before. They sold it to me along with the 9 Oscars it won. Better late than never!

I have read that some say it is better than No Country for Old Men, which in my opinion it's not really close since No Country is one of my favorite films of all-time, but they are also really different films. You can get lost in the western feel and the fact you have two iconic anti-heros, but they have two completely different themes. What There Will Be Blood does so well is it engulfs you in the ruthless ambition of success, and the darkness that comes with it along with the exploitation of religion and entwines them perfectly. The tension between Daniel and Eli is so strong it created so much anxiety for me on who would win this battle and the movie brings a conclusion that fits perfectly once it all boils over in the end. This movie is a slow burn and forces you to look within the story it's trying to tell. For me, at times it dragged a little, and that is really my only complaint of the film. Overall, if you're looking for an Oscar winning film, look no further than There Will Be Blood. Daniel Day-Lewis's performance is a revelation, and the film's exploration of greed and faith is both disturbing and thought provoking. This is a movie that I missed, but don’t let it be one that you miss!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 9.5

~ZEJ 9.5

Drive

“You give me a time and a place, I give you a five minute window. Anything happens in that five minutes and I'm yours. No matter what. Anything happens a minute either side of that and you're on your own. Do you understand?” - The Driver

At that moment, I was absolutely hooked on this movie. That line is the beginning of one of the greatest cold openings I have ever seen. The mix of synthwave music and the instant dive into an intense car chase shoots your heartrate up instantly. Obviously, most people's minds go to The Dark Knight for the most iconic opening, but I think Drive takes the cake. Another strong reason for why this movie is elite is two simple words, Ryan Gosling. I do not know if he could have played this role any better. Somehow Ryan takes a nameless character that has minimal dialogue and creates a perfect mysterious getaway driver that you can’t help but be intoxicated by. A lot of complaints can come from the fact he really has minimal dialog, but that is exactly what the movie is calling for. Bryan Cranston even brings up his background and just says that he found the kid and he is different from anyone he has ever met, and that is exactly what Gosling gives the movie.

Beyond Gosling, the rest of the movie is also star studded. Now, when you look up reviews, there are a lot of complaints because of this stacked cast. A lot of watchers wanted a Fast and the Furious type film instead of a true cinematic piece. It almost has an anime feel with how The Driver dresses along with the stylistic shots that are produced. I also think instead of leaning into constant action, it makes the limited scenes (for example the motel room) so much more iconic and give them so much more meaning. It creates a story that you believe could be happening right now. This type of film is definitely preferred by me over The Fast and the Furious, but I can empathize with those who were disappointed. My only picky issue with the film is the ‘bad guy.’ I think the antagonist gets somewhat gunked up throughout the movie, but it also helps keep you guessing instead of a traditional one-on-one between hero and antagonist. Drive is more than a car chase film and is a film that's stayed with me long after the credits rolled. A neon soaked fever dream fueled by an incredible performance from must-watch Ryan Gosling and a maybe perfect soundtrack.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 9.75

~ZEJ 9.75

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Rounding out E and I’s Mad Max universe watch was Beyond Thunderdome, and we finally came to understand the title. This movie was bizarre on a couple levels, but the biggest is that they basically merged two movies together into one. The first - the classic Mad Max wasteland and citadels, in this case Bartertown, and its gladiator arena Thunderdome, both of which Max survives, as our champion always does. We could call this first movie - Surviving Thunderdome. The second movie - an 80’s Mad Max Peter Pan, in which we never see Thunderdome again, and you could call that second movie…. Beyond Thunderdome. The first movie is what we came for, the second, is just kind of bizarre. And amazingly, the fact this movie was cleaned up all the way to PG, to make it even more Hollywood, further amplifies the Peter Pan-ness of the Beyond Thunderdome plot, and it does not benefit from the lack of violence and death which Mad Max had become known for in films 1 & 2, and obviously in the modern entries. It was fun, in its wacky 80’s way, and definitely glad we watched it after seeing all the other movies in this universe.

-Z

Z 7.5
E 7.25
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.38

Blue Streak

A nostalgic film for me. I watched this a lot growing up and the Bad Boys watch through had me thinking about this a lot where to scratch the itch I just had to watch it. For a movie that has very little realism, it is easy to forget all that and enjoy the ride. It is exactly as fun as I remember and I found myself laughing a lot. Martin Lawrence is a treasure and I am finally mature enough to realize his greatness.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 6.0

~ZEJ 6.0

Twister

This was another first watch for E, which is amazing considering Twister’s climactic scene was filmed just 45 miles from where we grew up. Thanks to this being in our DVD collection growing up, I probably watched this a dozen times as a kid, and upon re-watching this I learned that this was the first feature film to ever be released on DVD. I had not seen this in close to twenty years, but was surprised at how well it holds up. Yes, it’s kind of campy and the physics are jarringly wrong at times, but the heart that shines through in this movie is undeniable. The writing is surprisingly good, and good vibes of the entire storm chasing crew is so infectious that you can’t help but get swept up in all the chaos. E thought it was a lot of fun and also surprised at the quality. This won an Oscar for visual effects, and amazingly the CGI looks pretty realistic nearly 30 years later. I don’t know if the soon-to-release sequel will hold a candle to this but I am excited to see some more Glen Powell screentime.

-Z

Z 8.5
E 8.25
J n/a

ZEJ 8.38

The Idea of You

Rom-Com minus the Com. I feel like this is a movie I have seen before growing up on the Hallmark Channel, but you actually put good writing and good actors in it. Now, I actually think I may have enjoyed this movie more than Hitman, but Hitman had a few more unique aspects which lead to a slightly higher score. Anne Hathaway is a really great actress and definitely allows you to feel emotion from the movies, which would usually lead to a really corny film. Is this something you need to go and watch? No. Is this something you could throw on and find yourself getting drawn in? Of course. Also, August Moon is on Spotify and surprisingly has millions of streams. I am none and will not add to it.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

The Hangover

E had somehow never seen this so we threw it on to see how it may or may not have held up and despite some elements of the classic 2000s era homophobia that was considered “comedy”, everything else was still actually funny in 2024. Amazingly, E not only hadn’t seen it, but the plot had also not been spoiled for her, which is half the fun of this movie. The mystery element that drives this movie, trying to uncover what happened to them elevates this a bit beyond the fraternity humor. Amazing to think this was the breakout movie for Cooper, Galifianakis and Helms, and see the paths they’ve all taken. They all play their roles well, but Galifianakis is certainly the best part of the movie, as every line he utters remains funny to this day. E enjoyed it more than she thought she would, which is a win you’ll take for this 15-year-old movie.

-Z

Z 7.25
E 7.75
J n/a

ZEJ 7.5

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

As it was in the first three movies, the life blood of this movie is how well Will Smith and Martin Lawrence work together. If I had to rank movie pairs, I think after watching all four of these they need to be in the conversation. Now the problem with it is I think I have seen this plot 100 times before in other action movies. Very predictable and easy to see where it's going.That being said, this had a great mix of humor and action. This is my favorite of the four and was extremely fun. Overall, I think we all learned that Reggie is the true Bad Boy.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

Knock at the Cabin

I will start with now that I have watched it, I wish I found some time to see it in theaters. I think from the beginning to end, Dave Batista was in his element. Give me more Batista in serious roles! Along with that, the unease was felt instantly, but sadly in some ways it never got anywhere. Also, I think it would have been nicer if they trusted the audience instead of hand holding the entire movie. This though is an example of you can’t always trust reviews, definitely worth the watch!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

Stars at Noon

A24 + Margaret Qualley = a must watch for me. I had never really heard of this movie before, but I am glad I watched it. It is definitely a topic that I know very little about, but the human element was easily followed based on some great acting. I do think that this movie was a little too long and a little too slow to keep it from being really good, but it has some really captivating moments. It is also missing some clarity on what exactly is happening and how we got there, but that may be something I wanted that isn’t needed. Overall a really solid movie.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

Inside Out 2

Talking with Z & E, I was surprised to remember that the first of this movie came out in 2011. I did not see it in theaters, and I think I saw it a few years after its release. I remembered loving the first one and it definitely put me in my feels. Now that we got to a second one that has more emotions to make it more relatable, it sadly fell a bit from the original. I feel like the story followed the same path as the original, and not in a great way. We got away from headquarters and had to find our way back, with what I feel like was less ‘side quests’ to keep the story moving. With that being said, it is a good story and a great concept. This is a movie that will be extremely helpful I think for every kid growing up. It did fall a little short of the original, but it is still a great movie!

-J

This universe of Inside Out is a tough one for me. As much as I love animation in general, the animation aesthetic of Inside Out 2 is my least favorite. The colors and character’s visual design just doesn’t do anything for me. And that’s tough considering how ingenious the premise is, and how delicately they showcase the emotional development of a child. The sequel is certainly a re-hash of the first movie, with perhaps less care, but again, the lesson from this movie, on that all parents and children can greatly benefit from, that all emotions have their purpose and learning to give them all a healthy balance is so poignant and relevant that it’s still deserving of a watch.

-Z

Z 8.0
E 8.5
J 8.75

ZEJ 8.42

Hit Man

Glenn Powell season is here! Now due to hype, I was really excited for this film. I have a soft spot for good Rom-Coms, even though all of us at ZEJ would not agree. Recently I have become a Glenn Powell believer. I think that despite it being a cornier Netflix movie, the amount of costumes and fun situations they put Glenn in allowed us to see his acting range. Overall, this is an extremely fun movie, but I do think it moved too fast at times. My two biggest issues with this movie are its speed through plot and that the ending was terrible. I have been known to give flack to Z and E about overreacting to endings, but I have to be on their side on this one. In no way do I regret watching and actually this may be one of the most recommendable movies of the year for anyone I talk with.

-J

Hit Man subverts a lot of expectations. What I though was going to be yet another but welcome movie about a hit man was in fact about a … SPOILER … pretend hit man stuck in a rom com. And as a rom com, it’s pretty entertaining. The ending however, and for once, Jord agrees, RUINS this movie. They wrap the climactic ending up in a basically fairy-tale ending and it does a huge disservice to the rest of the movie. That said, the acting is excellent, and Glen Powell is the real deal. E was skeptical of Glen’s abilities going into this, but she came out a believer. He was great in Top Gun 2, Jord said he was great in Anyone but You and he was great in this. He shows a lot of range, both dramatic and comedic, and it makes me really look forward to Twisters.

-Z

Z 7.0
E 7.5
J 7.75

ZEJ 7.42

Bad Boys for Life

Now, it's crazy that 16 years have passed and we thought that we should make another but we did. Bye Michael Bay, and I think that does help the plot progression in some ways, but hurts it in others. Mike Lowry has gone from cool guy to this untouchable figure, and I really wasn’t about it. I did enjoy the give and take again from both WIll Smith and Martin Lawrence, and has to be really the only reason that these sequels can exist. I thought this story was easier to follow than the first two, but that also made it decently corny and predictable. This one and the first should be watched, the second one I would save some time!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

Bad Boys II

Now, I thought the first one was apparently Michael Bay, but holy cow, this one there is no way you wouldn’t know it. I think it did some fun things to expand both characters, but in a lot of ways it was just a ‘lets run this back’ kind of situation. Very similar give and take with some very similar action that is even more over the top. I didn’t think a second one was needed, and after watching it, I stand by my words. Overall, the Reggie bit is by far the best, the rest can be forgotten.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 6.5

~ZEJ 6.5

Bad Boys

As I watched this film, I realized two things. The first thing is that I have never seen the original and secondly that it is a Michael Bay film. You realize really quickly that Michael Bay was all over this film. Now, I will say I am extremely surprised that there was a sequel after this… and then another… and then another. It is a weird movie to continue in my opinion, as I didn’t think it was phenomenal. I think the saving grace is that you have some amazing give and take from Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Now, it is a product of its time, but I also think the story is unique in some ways, but mostly pretty cookie cutter. Overall if you haven’t seen it, it could be worth the watch.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

At its core, it has some really amazing animation. Now, I don’t know if I was ready for this movie to be as heavy as it is. An extremely somber movie, with some beautiful moments, but definitely need to be ready for what you are about to watch. It did get a little long, but I do think that is part of the story that is trying to be told. Technically, hard to say it isn’t a masterpiece, but for me, it is a tough watch.

-J

We watched this in a special screening that showed Don Hertzfeldt’s new animated short, ME, and then It’s Such a Beautiful Day. In between the two, Don Hertzfeldt apologized for what we were about to watch, calling It’s Such a Beautiful Day “exhausting”. And that has never been more true about a movie. It tells the story of Bill, who suffers from severe memory loss, from some kind of dementia or brain tumor, and while telling that story also simulates what it’s like to have said memory loss. Knowing absolutely zero information about this movie going into it except for the fact that many critics consider this one of the best animated movies ever made, I was not at all prepared for just how exhausting and depressing this was. Having three grandparents that suffered and succumbed to the horrors of dementia, this was a deep look into what may have been happening inside their minds. I cannot say I enjoyed what I saw or the exhausting ride I took. The animation was amazing, no doubt, and utterly unique, and it will certainly stick with me. In fact, I dreamt the night we watched this that I was Bill, and I was stuck in a kind of continual memory lapse loop as he was in the third act. That was a particular kind of nightmare. I can’t say I recommend this movie, but if you have been affected by someone suffering memory loss or are curious, it will be an exhausting illumination.

-Z

Z 8.0
E 8.5
J 8.5

ZEJ 8.33

Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland

Now that the TV series Blue Mountain State is back on Netflix, I gave it a re-watch. Has it aged well, not really, is it still worth some laughs, absolutely. Now, after finishing its three seasons, I felt like I should watch the movie that they put out. It was… something. They really tried to hit a lot of nostalgia from the show, which is a little weird as they look a lot older but are still in college. Also, as it has aged like whole milk in some ways with the jokes and what BMS is on the whole. Though it was a bad movie, I did laugh and would watch another version of Blue Mountain State, so I guess I am the problem.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 5.0

~ZEJ 5.0

Shrek

This is obviously a rewatch for me. As the Shrek series has been in theaters again, I have been thinking over the summer that I should watch them all again. I am a Dreamworks > Disney if you want to know, so I think Shrek is most likely my favorite animated movie ever, and has a good chance of staying there. The story is good, the jokes are funny, and the music is phenomenal. As we move on, I know some will argue the later ones are better, but they are not nearly as good in my opinion, but we will see through my rewatch if I keep that opinion. Overall, my favorite animated movie ever and always worth a rewatch!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 10.0

~ZEJ 10.0