Babygirl

Fascinating that this year two Christmas Day releases - Nosferatu and Babygirl are both marketed as such and are both two of the most erotic movies of the years. In Babygirl, at least, it’s consensual. Neither I would sit down with your kids around the fire on Christmas morning though. If sex scenes make you uncomfortable, you’re definitely going to want to skip this movie, but for us cinema junkies, this is worth a watch not only on the acting dimension - Nicole Kidman is a leading contender for Best Actress from this movie - but the movie has some interesting commentary on consent and communication in relationships that I think is worth merit. The soundtrack, while not Trent Reznor’s The Challengers-level, is also BUMPING. Maybe #2 for the year.

-Z

Oof - this was a tough one for me to review. My initial reaction leaving the theater was that I did not fully enjoy it, but it was hard to explain why. This movie left me feeling pretty uncomfortable. To me, the numerous, exaggerated sex scenes were a bit gratuitous and unnecessarily long, leaving me feeling like the movie got quite repetitive by the end (we get it already), but as I predicted, upon further reflection, I really do appreciate the intense thriller energy and underlying story here. Not sure this one was meant for me, but I do acknowledge its merits.

-E

“ Hey, how’d you get that dog to calm down?” -Romy

“I gave it a cookie.” -Samuel

“Do you always have cookies on you?”  -Romy

“Why do you want one?” -Samuel

One of my favorite things to do is going into a movie with no expectations or knowledge. Judging a book by its cover, I will say I was not very excited to see this movie. Right when it started that did change. I caught where it was going and I was extremely engaged. It may be similar to a Poor Thing/Sanctuary thing where you are a bit weirded out to tell people you saw it and even weirder that you really enjoyed it, but I am who I am. I thought the acting was great and the story was pretty unique. I could feel it building and it was refreshing to not really know where it was going. It is easy to focus on what you are watching and talk about its shock value, but I think if you look deeper into it, it has some deep themes that can relate to non-ceo’s and ‘power balance’ lovers. I think if you can handle the visuals and intense scenes, this is definitely worth the watch and one of my top movies of the year. Will be interesting to see where it lands in terms of the Academy Nominations. Kidman is most likely the only true candidate, but I think it would be earned.

-J

Z 8.5
E 8.25
J 9.25

ZEJ 8.75

Movie Fantasy League 2024 - New Year Update

2024 is done and dusted, and we thought we’d give you an update on the current ZEJ Reviews movie fantasy league standings.

Here’s where we’re at:

The rank on the left is globally and score on the right is current points.

Our current leader Austin R (Jord’s brother) is buoyed by 4 box solid box office picks, Wicked (#6 of 2024), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (#19 of 2024), Joker: Folie à Deux (#22 of 2024) and Smile 2 (#30 of 2024).

Wicked is doing most of the heavy lifting there, as it has not only grossed 651 million, it got points for its high reviews and Golden Globe nominations, which is also why you see Jord and E following closely behind.

Austin T, Max and Tony all went for highest priced movie on the list, Gladiator II and while it didn’t do too bad at the box office (#11 of 2024), the reviews are poor and there’s not much award buzz, so it’s safe to say that that $40 was overspent.

Then there’s Z, and while it may look bad for me now, award season is right around the corner, Golden Globes tomorrow, and Oscars two months away, and I put all my eggs in those baskets. Sing Sing racked up the most points at the Gotham Awards (40 points) and only myself and Austin R picked those, and my documentary pick No Other Land has basically every award it’s up for, so maybe there’s hope for me yet.

Here’s a look again at all the movies we picked.

Austo (Austin R) - 1985 pts

• Sing Sing ($25)

• Joker: Folie a Deux ($20)

• Wicked ($20)

• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ($10)

• Saturday Night ($8)

• Smile 2 ($5)

• The Apprentice ($5)

• Longlegs ($3)

Mr Richards (J) - 1959 pts

• Anora ($25)

• Emilia Perez ($25)

• Wicked ($20)

• The Room Next Door ($8)

• Here ($8)

• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl ($5)

• Juror #2 ($5)

• Piece by Piece ($3)

ecrhodes (E) - 1827 pts

• Wicked ($20)

• Joker: Folie a Deux ($20)

• A Complete Unknown ($15)

• The Wild Robot ($15)

• September 5 ($10)

• Babygirl ($10)

• Will & Harper ($5)

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga ($5)

TheFearedDoctor (Tony) - 1377 pts

• Gladiator II ($40)

• Moana 2 ($30)

• Nightbitch ($10)

• Nosferatu ($8)

• Deadpool & Wolverine ($5)

• Joy ($3)

• In the Summers ($2)

• Exhibiting Forgiveness ($2)

MaxC (Max) - 1292 pts

• Gladiator II ($40)

• The Wild Robot ($15)

• We Live in Time ($15)

• Challengers ($10)

• A Real Pain ($10)

• Nosferatu ($8)

• The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim ($5)

• Transformers One ($2)

StShuffles (Austin T) - 1281 pts

• Gladiator II ($40)

• Moana 2 ($30)

• Nightbitch ($10)

• Nosferatu ($8)

• Saturday Night ($8)

• Speak No Evil ($2)

• Lisa Frankenstein ($1)

• Ultraman: Rising ($1)

runningwolf (Z) - 1252 pts

• Dune: Part Two ($35)

• Sing Sing ($25)

• Blitz ($20)

• A Real Pain ($10)

• Oh Canada ($3)

• Love Lies Bleeding ($3)

• No Other Land ($3)

• Kneecap ($1)

Fly Me to the Moon

“The last thing that we need around here is a black cat.” -Cole

No one may ask, but I am going to answer the question the best that I can. Why was this my first movie of 2025? My answer, no clue. I was scrolling Apple TV and the poster popped up. When it came out I was interested, and honestly I am not disappointed in my decision. A feel good movie that is predictable, but sometimes you need it. Unlike Carry On, this was exactly what I thought it would be in a good way. I like Scarlett and Channing and together I thought they had believable chemistry. Again, is it a great film? No, but if you want a good film to watch that brings no baggage, throw this on and finish happy with your decision like me.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

Carry-On

 “It's over, pal. It was over the minute I met you.” Traveler

I used to watch all the junk Netflix would put out, and then once I started watching multiple movies a week these are the types of films that dropped off first. The reason this one didn’t is the fact I had so many different people ask me, “Oh, you love movies. You have to see Carry On,” so I found some time. I don’t regret it, but man it is EXACTLY what you think it is going to be. That is great for a lot of people, but it’s not for me. If you suspend your disbelief, it does get a lot better, but a B cat-and-mouse chase is not my favorite. I will say, if you think you will like it, you will and if you don’t I bet you won’t. Not a lot of surprises, but I do love me some Bateman! Find some time if you want or let its time die in a few weeks and never hear about it again!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 6.75

~ZEJ 6.75

It’s a Wonderful Life

E and I watched the first half of It’s a Wonderful Life a couple weeks ago with her family for our Christmas get together, and decided to finish the second half of it Christmas Day, and I speak for both of when I say it’s a PERFECT movie. 2026 will make this movie 80 years old, and its extraordinary how timeless it is, and particularly how timeless the comedy is. It’s effortlessly funny, and while much of that has to do with the brilliance of James Stewart, there’s a charm to the story and all of the characters that Frank Capra just so poignantly nailed in a way, that clearly, will live on forever. Love, love, LOVE this movie. Happy holidays to you reader, and remember: “no man is a failure who has friends”.

-Z

Z 10
E 10
J n/a

~ZEJ 10.0

A Christmas Story

Jord says this is the best Christmas movie, and yet, It’s a Wonderful Life exists, which was curiously missing from his Christmas Movie Bash. 🤔 The humor is mostly timeless, though as a clever satirization of 1940s America to a 1980s audience, it was never meant to be as timeless as it was. The scenes that didn’t age well, maybe you chalk up to it being “a different time”, but they have to be acknowledged. There’s a bit of randomness to this movie as well, and some bizarre pacing to it, but I guess as a narrative told through the eyes of a kid, there’s also a magic to it. As a fellow blonde haired, blue eyed kid, and one who avoided shooting his eye out with his own beloved BB gun, this a movie that will always be near and dear to my own heart.

-Z

Has been for years and will continue to be the best Christmas movie out there. Every year I get older, every year I find it funnier. 

-J

Z 9
E 9
J 9.75

~ZEJ 9.25

Nosferatu

“We are here encountering the undead plague carrier... the vampire... Nosferatu.” -Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz

When I landed on break this year, I was excited for some time off, some family time, and the Nosferatu release date. Robert Eggers is doing a lot in the movie scene that no one else is doing. From the first shot to the last, it is a beautiful movie. Cinematography wise, I have zero critiques and would not be surprised if it gets some nominations. To go through an entire movie not scared, but unnerved is a feat in itself. After the logistics though, I don’t know if this story is that interesting to me. I think the movie was about 20 minutes too long and I found myself bored at times, which is never great in a movie theater. I have not seen the original, but it sounds like Eggers stayed true to the original and that kept a lot of watchers happy, but for a non-traditionalist for Nosferatu it didn't hit great. A must watch for any movie lover and if you are a fan of Eggers, buckle up, because it doesn’t get much more perfect than this for him. Hopefully we see some love come award season and find some time to watch.

-J

Between The Lighthouse, the Northman, and the Witch, Robert Eggers is 2 for 3 for E and I, and for the 2 that hit, the Northman and the Witch, which are near-masterpiece level movies, we were highly anticipating Nosferatu. It fell somewhere in between the grating bleakness of The Lighthouse, and the captivating brilliance of the Northman and the Witch. As Jord said, the film is absolutely beautiful, and there are a few shots that will stick with me for a long time, if not forever. It’s biggest fault is that it was too long, and I think perhaps 20 minutes cut out of it may have taken it to the near-masterpiece level of Eggers’ previous work. If you’re a horror fan, this is must watch, and I think any cinema enjoyer will appreciate this, but for the casual movie goer may find this a bit much.

-Z

Z 8.5
E 7.75
J 8.0

ZEJ 8.08

A Real Pain

“It's the principle of the thing. We shouldn't have to pay for train tickets in Poland. This is our country.” - Benji

“No, it's not, it was our country. They kicked us out 'cause they thought we were cheap.” -David

This is a movie that I waited a long time to write a review! (Sorry Z and E) The longer I wait, the more I don't think about this movie. That may sound harsh, but I do remember leaving the theater thinking it left a lot on the table and as time went on, I stand by my thoughts. The acting was great and I was reminded how much I like Jesse Eisenberg and how I need to give Succession another chance, but I was sadly left wanting. I am not sure what genre they were going for and they were definitely experimenting with multiple deep themes. Sadly, to me all the things they tried fell flat. When the ending came, I was a bit confused and not sure what I was supposed to be feeling. Overall though, the movie was well acted and had some very funny moments and situations, but if you aren’t a dry indie film fan, this one may not be for you. 

-J

An extremely well acted, but otherwise boring buddy road trip genre film. For a topics is handled - the Holocaust, suicide, mental illness, etc., it felt very safe all things considered. Too safe. This is Jesse Eisenberg’s sophomore directorial debut, and hopefully he keeps at it, as I think he has potential, to be sure, but hopefully can display a bit more personality in subsequent ventures. Kieran Culkin is a good in this as he is Succession, and can’t wait to see him in more projects. Very skippable, but good for a plane ride, maybe?

-Z

Z 7.5
E 7.25
J 7.5

ZEJ 7.42

Jord’s Christmas Movie Blast

5 / 5 - 

• Christmas Vacation - Nostalgia, laughs, a top Christmas movie of mine since I can remember

• Elf - One of the rare Christmas movies I think about watching outside of December, a lot of my families go to movies

• A Christmas Story - Has been for years and will continue to be the best Christmas movie out there. Every year I get older, every year I find it funnier. 

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas - I would always argue with my buddy Brady growing up that this was overrated. Turns out it's just a masterpiece. 

4 / 5 -

• The Grinch (animated) - One of the more slept on movies, great soundtrack and a fun take on the Grinch.

• 4 Christmases - Watched for the first time last year with my Step Dad and it is his favorite. Now I have learned why, it definitely has some great laughs!

• Home Alone - I have never loved this movie, so I avoided it. I watched it to give it another chance and it turns out there is a reason it is revered.

3 / 5 -

• Frosty the Snowman - A movie that is not even a half hour, but a fun classic.

• Deck the Halls - Danny DeVito is a national treasure! A fun holiday movie I always recommend to anyone looking for a fresh Christmas flick. 

• Christmas with the Kranks - Another underrated movie that a lot of people haven’t seen! Very funny and a great change of pace from the classics.

2 / 5 - 

• Polar Express - Just not a good movie. Annoying characters and annoying music

• Bad Mom Christmas - This is a movie that exists. I laughed some, but definitely not for me.

• Red One - I will be honest, I was expecting a train wreck. Now, it wasn’t good, but it wasn't the worst thing I saw this year. 

1 / 5 - 

• A Christmas Switch - The Freaky Friday Christmas movie you never knew you needed. Hallmark Movie vibes (which I will watch all day every day in December)

• Hot Frosty - This definitely has an audience, that I am not!

Nightbitch

“Do you ever feel like the big secret is that we are gods? We fucking create life. We make life. We are so powerful. I bet men are terrified of us. I mean, look at you. You are this miraculous goddess growing bones as we speak.” - Mother

A movie I went to without Z and E (a rare occasion). I was definitely more excited and intrigued by the unique story while Z and E were skeptical. Sadly, I am going to tip my hat to them. The movie was a bit slow and had a few issues with what it was going for. I will also be honest, I think this would hit a lot better if I was a female, specifically if I have had a kid. The theme was on the nose and not in a bad way, and gave a unique take on the struggles of mothers. It helped me look at a lot of things through a new lens and hit it well. The part I was most excited about was the dog portion, and for me it became very weird and not in a good way. I was hoping for more ‘A24’ vibes and it just didn’t hit. A movie that I think anyone could enjoy, but I was sadly not extremely impressed!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.0

~ZEJ 7.0

Gladiator II

As much as I have lived and loved Gladiator, the sequel has compelling reasons for its existence and I think anyone who enjoyed the first will enjoy this. That said, it is HIGHLY flawed. The lack of character development is jarring. By the end of this movie, the only character you care about is Lucius, and that’s because his character benefits from the previous movie having given you context for his existence. Every other character in this is just purely exists and maneuvers, but the story gives you no feeling towards any of them because there is no history given for any of them. And that sucks, because the acting here is phenomenal. Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel all deliver A-performances, but they’re just not given much to chew on, and that leaves a lot to be desired. As much as I love Joseph Quinn, he and Fred Hechinger’s Joaquin Phoenix impersonation was bad. It’s likely not their fault though, as they were terribly written characters, and I’m sure, directed poorly. Ridley Scott showed he was cooked after Napoleon, so I’m not really sure why I got my hopes up again, but I will say, at least, that this was better than Napoleon. Again, if you enjoyed the first, you’ll enjoy this too, just temper your expectations. For what it’s worth, E didn’t think this was as far off as the original as I did.

-Z

Z 7.25
E 7.75
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.5

Wicked

“Pink goes good with green” -Glinda

And I will say it… Wicked goes good on the big screen. This is a review that has taken too long for me to write, especially since I loved this movie. I saw the musical over a decade ago and I remember leaving thinking it was a great show and was borderline obsessed with the music for a short period of time. Now, I get to relieve that whole experience with the movie being released, and will get to one more time in a year with part 2. Anytime that you take a major show, book, or play and make a movie adaptation there will be some anxiety from me. Expectations are always high and it seems that, especially in book cases (which this also is which people forget), people are left disappointed. This is a movie that went all in on the attempt to be cinematic, and I think it nailed it. The imagery was awesome and the performances from everyone were top tier, especially with Cynthia and Ariana being close to perfect for me! For an easy flop and money grab from a beloved musical, I think they did about as good as you could do with a blockbuster musical. This is one I will most likely see again and I think anyone who has any thought of going needs to find time, especially in theaters!

-J

I am writing this now mostly overjoyed that I will finally get a brief respite from the dreaded Wicked trailer that got shoved down our throats so many times that it will forever be a part of me. I may be the only person on the planet that did not see the musical, and was probably the least excited for this as a result, but I was pleasantly surprised. The music itself is pretty underwhelming, in my humble opinion, but the acting is phenomenal. Cynthia Erivo is brilliant as Elphaba and Ariana Grande, who I was quite skeptical of, was PERFECT as Glinda. Acting nominations for either of them wouldn’t surprise me. The colors and the set design were A-tier, and the pacing they largely got right, but it was much too long overall, and they really dragged out the final third of this movie in a way that I really struggled with. Despite its issues, it’s infectiously fun and endearing and really just impossible not to love. I will soak up the few months we have now before we get completely hammered by Wicked Part Two trailers.

-Z

Z 8.5
E 8.75
J 9.0

ZEJ 8.75

Gladiator

“Are you not entertained?” -Maximus

Was there really any other quote that it could have been? For a movie lover like myself, it seems to always come as a surprise that I have never seen the movie Gladiator and with the second coming out this week, what better time? Now I will be honest, the reason I didn’t watch this sooner is because I felt like I knew what it was going to be. After watching it, I feel like I was right. Now, it is objectively a great movie and directed incredibly, especially since it came out 24 years ago, but my red flag in movie watching has to be that these movies don’t do a lot for me. It's epic and the action is great, but something about it just doesn’t get me going. I am glad I watched it and regret it in no way. Some shots were amazing and I finally understand why people love Russell Crowe. With all that being said, I don’t know how a second fits in and that makes me really nervous for Gladiator 2, but that review is for a different day! Z and E, don’t hate me for this review!

-J

Another movie from my childhood DVD collection. Gladiator holds a special place in my heart, not only from all the watches, but peak Russell Crowe looked a lot like my dad when this came out. Watching it all these years later definitely highlights some of its flaws: weird effects, over explanation, and scenes that are too long and over dramatic, and obviously a very straightforward, stereotypical plot. That said, it’s impossible not to love it anyway. That must have been at it’s release too, as its 67 Metacritic score still landed it 12 Oscar Nominations and a Best Picture win. There’s just something about it. Of course it’s anchored by two all-time performances - Crowe and Joaquin. This was the first movie I ever saw Joaquin in and he’s still just as transfixing all these years later as he was then. I was also confused on the nature of a sequel, but upon reading that Lucius was going to take up the Gladiator helm, that makes sense actually. Tentatively excited for it. Stay tuned.

-Z

Z 8.5
E 8.0
J 8.5

ZEJ 8.33

Anora

“15, cash, up-front” -Anora

This is the type of movie that gets me excited for awards season. A movie that on the surface is a love story, but then trickles in a ton of different themes and surprises. It was marked as a ‘f*cked up Cinderella,” and the more I think about I can’t think of a more accurate description. A really original story that keeps you guessing constantly. You could maybe argue that it goes to some powerful shots, but the star of the entire movie goes without saying in my opinion. Mickey Madison is phenomenal and has to be the leading candidate for Actress of the Year. I will be amazed if anyone else can steal this, but crazier things have happened. As I do with most of my reviews, I am going to leave it very vague and just say that any cinema lover must see this film. The parts I loved about it came from going in blind, and I want you all to experience it that way too. Find time if you want to know about the film that is winning a lot of awards at the Oscars.

-J

The Cannes Film Festival has been on a roll lately, with their best film award, the Palm d’Or, selecting 2019 Best Picture winner Parasite (a ZEJ all-time favorite), Triangle of Sadness in 2022 (ZEJ’s #3 for 2022), and Anatomy of a Fall in 2023 (ZEJ’s #6 for 2023), so naturally the anticipation for Anora was quite high. And I will say definitively that Anora totally delivered, though it was not at all the movie I thought, given the one and only trailer I saw for it. I cannot delve into why that is without spoiling it, but suffice it to say that this movie is much deeper thematically than is apparent at the surface. Mikey Madison’s performance is so good I think it’s impossible to give it enough credit, but the supporting cast around her all just knock their smaller but crucial performances out of the park in a way that really makes this otherwise simple script and plot really sing. This is a lock for a Best Picture and acting nomination, and is probably the third best movie of the year, behind Hundreds of Beavers and Dune: Part Two. Must see.

-Z

Z 9.25
E 9.25
J 9.25

ZEJ 9.25

Heretic

“I think it is good to be religious, to find your faith in a doctrine you actually believe.” - Mr. Reed

What a year for horror. Maybe I am a horror fan now? Longlegs, The Substance, Late Night with the Devil, and Strange Darling make up some of my favorite watches of the year over 10 months in. Now, does this match up? Not entirely. A dinner debacle caused the missing of the first 5 or so minutes, but I was immediately drawn in. What a casting and performance from Hugh Grant. His ability to lead a very dialog driven horror film was in my opinion a master class. Sadly though, beyond that the movie starts to have a few problems. Most importantly, after a great first act, I feel like it loses its footing. A story that begins to drag and get away from itself is the outcome. I was hoping that it would all come full circle, but I think what was thought to be a powerful ending turned into a flop. Overall, the concept has still been circling my head and a want for more Hugh Grant villain roles is very alive. Paddington 2 to this, talk about an elite resume of antagonists! If you are an A24 fan or a horror fan this is a must watch!

-J

Two major complaints: the trailer and the final act. The trailer for this effectively spoiled what could have been a more impactful thriller, though it was still very intense despite this. If you can avoid the trailer, do so. The final act, as Jord mentioned, is certainly weaker than the rest of the movie. That said, Hugh Grant is SO GOOD none of that even matters. The logic for his character is completely sound, despite some poor choices in how it culminated, and it made for a very clever throughline in Heretic, as his motive drives the whole story. One minor complaint: the two protagonists Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East didn’t seem consistently written. Again, easily forgiven under the weight of how enraptured you’ll be with Hugh Grant. It’s not overly scary, but if you like thrillers, I’m sure you’ll love this.

-Z

Z 8.25
E 8.0
J 7.75

ZEJ 8.0

Saturday Night

“Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!” -Chevy Chase

Saturday Night started off on the wrong foot. A broken projector forced us to dash across town, abandoning our plans to see Emilia Perez in favor of a last minute viewing of Saturday Night. While I can’t comment on Emilia Perez (yet), I can say that this was a fun watch. Due to this, going in I wasn’t able to watch the original Saturday Night Live sketch, which in my opinion could really elevate this film. Despite that though, it definitely isn’t required by any means. I think the casting was great, and a lot of the actors looked exactly like their portrayal. Along with that, I think the anxiety inducing way it was filmed made it interesting, but overall I was left with a ‘meh’ taste in my mouth. It felt like it needed a bit more polish to truly shine. Maybe I am being picky or maybe my lack of love for SNL helps me with the score I gave it, but if you want a fun fast-paced film or a lover of SNL, this is definitely something that needs to be added to the watchlist.

-J

The ZEJ team saw Saturday Night unexpectedly, after a projector malfunction at Fleur Cinema caused us to call an audible, and while it was entertaining, it was ultimately a frustrating watch in the sense that seemed to be on the cusp of something really great. The movie is essentially a retelling of the first ever airing of SNL, and they get so close to it being a one-shot film ala Birdman, that they really just should have, as it would been so rewarding. There are two absolutely electric performances - Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase and Matt Wood as John Belushi, which does make this worth a watch if you’re a fan of SNL or A-tier acting.

-Z

Z 7.5
E 7.5
J 7.0

ZEJ 7.33

Alien vs. Predator

For our final Spooktober movie this year, E and I took the natural next step from Predator to Alien vs. Predator, which is a DVD that got played many times in my childhood home, but it has been nearly two decades since I’d last seen it, so I was a bit worried about how it would hold up, particularly given the 29% Metacritic score. For E, it was a first watch, and she was immediately sucked in by the kind of early 2000s National Treasure-style charm this movie immediately hits you with. Assembling a team of the best in their respective fields, uncovering an ancient ruin buried beneath a glacier, deciphering clues and ancient languages that all seem to be leading you to… something. Even after all these years, and thousands of grade-A cinema watched in that time, I can’t help but fall in love all over again with this formulaic, yet, perfectly told treasure-hunt / monster-battle mashup. E and I both agree, that after watching Predator, this is a clearly superior Predator film, and of the Alien movies we’ve seen so far (missing Resurrection and Covenant), this is the third best Alien movie. The monsters look excellent, the fight sequences fantastic, and enemy of my enemy element to it just way too much fun. Jord hasn’t seen/rated this yet, but it currently edges out Switchback for the biggest difference between Metacritic score and ZEJ rating in our history, and for good reason. The critics got this one completely wrong.

-Z

Z 7.75
E 8.0
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.88

Predator

After our getting through the first three Alien movies and Romulus, E and I dipped our toes into what kicked off the Predator series for another Spooktober entry, though as we found out, Predator really just turned out to be a dumb 80’s action romp rather than clever horror. Neither of us had ever seen it, but as big fans of Terminator, and given the franchise’s notoriety, we had set our sights a little higher than what this film produced. The concept is really unique, the Predator alien is ingeniously designed, but the choice to make this the baddest commandos in the world kicking butt in jungle and hunted by a superior creature maybe could have worked better had not spent so much time with the baddest commandos in the world just blowing stuff up for a majority of the movie. MILD SPOILER AHEAD: The most compelling part of the whole movie was the ending, where Arnold 1v1s Predator, but becomes totally vulnerable to this clearly better than him enemy. In fact, his acting in that last act compared to the rest of the movie is night and day. There’s a lot of roll your eye moments, as in any dumb action flick, and if you’re into that, there’s plenty to love. If you’ve never seen it, I’d say this is pretty skippable, and you can skip straight to the clearly superior film, Alien vs. Predator.

-Z

Z 7.25
E 6.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 6.88

Jaws

E and I took some liberty for our next Spooktober pick, as its not exactly horror, but certainly horror-adjacent. We had both seen bits and pieces of the year but never the whole movie. Next year will mark 50 years since Jaws was released and it is a true testament to the power of practical effects on how well Jaws holds up. Bruce the shark still looks incredible, particularly in the shots in the water. That said, he’s not actually in the movie that much, due to technical issues the mechanical Bruce suffered, and as many future horror directors would learn from this film and copy into their works, that withholding of the monster adds so much to the suspense and drama of this movie. Because of that fact, you spend a lot of time developing the three main characters: the oceanographer Hooper, the skipper Quint, and the Sheriff Brody, all of whom bring a unique dynamic to the task in front of them - stopping a maneater. Robert Shaw was heavily lauded for his portrayal of Quint, and for good reason, but I think a strong case for the magic of this movie is Sheriff Brody. He represents a kind of character that Spielberg is so good at - wholesome and competent. I see a lot of my late grandfather in him, so maybe that adds something for me, but there’s a really profound moment in the movie where the Sheriff is devastated after multiple shark attacks, his community at odds with each other and being personally blamed for the most recent death, and he’s sitting at the dinner table with his young son, and the son’s mimicking him silently until the Sheriff finally cracks a smile, and the Sheriff says, “give me a kiss, son.” The son asks, “why dad?” The Sheriff answers, “because I need it.” And man that got me! You want a positive example of masculinity? That’s all you need right there. The Sheriff doesn’t lash out in anger because of his circumstances, he takes a beat, regroups, and with a little comfort from his family, readies himself to go find this shark. It’s absolutely brilliant. There’s so much to love in Jaws, of course, but come for the shark and stay for the wholesome Sheriff.

-Z

Z 8.75
E 8.75
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.75

Strange Darling

“That's our song now” -the Lady

This is a movie I loved for a lot of reasons, but the best part was the choice that I made to go into this blind. I was planning on seeing this in an early release, but power issues at the theater caused a hiccup there and I am glad we had theaters near that were showing it. A beautifully filmed movie that constantly keeps your attention beyond the story. You forget cinematography sometimes when watching blockbusters, but when you see this you remember how moving it can be. Along with that, to avoid spoilers, I will say that the storytelling was simple yet unique and effective. I think a lot of choices were made in the making of this film, and I think they batted basically 1.000 on potentially questionable choices. I was able to leave the theater with a smile on my face and was refreshed with a great film I wasn’t expecting. I want to give nothing away so I will end the review with this, go see it!

-J

Jord saw Strange Darling over a month ago, in what I believe was a mystery movie showing that E and I missed, and we finally were able to rent it this weekend. Jord had talked it up quite a bit, so our expectations were high, and it did not disappoint! It’s hard to describe a big part of why it’s so good without spoiling it, but I think I can say there’s subversion here that is chef’s kiss. I’ve seen some Tarantino and Coen brothers comparisons for this, and while I agree, I would also say that this movie is much more stylish than those directors tend to be, and for this movie it really works. The cinematography is really masterful, and the first-time cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi, who plays one of my favorite characters of all-time in Sneaky Pete, has a bright future in that world if he pursues it. It’s a straightforward film, simple plot, almost western-esque in that sense, and that ultimately capped the ceiling for me on its rating, but for what it was… it was brilliant. Super fun watch - check it out!

-Z

Z 8.75
E 8.5
J 9.5

ZEJ 8.92