Is This Thing On?

E and I watched Is This Thing On? prior to the nominations, as Oscars darling Bradley Cooper has been a pretty sure bet, but it received none in the end, and while that’s not entirely surprising, I am glad we watched it, as it’s a very solid movie. The plot feels like a gender swapped Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, especially the beginning, but it does enter enough unique territory to give it some grace. While billed as a comedy, it’s really not very funny, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Though I gave it the same score as his Cooper’s previous work Maestro, I certainly enjoyed this movie more. Will Arnett has more dramatic chops than he’s been given credit for or shared with the world to this point at least, and of course Laura Dern is always amazing. It’s not as ambitious as his previous movies, but I liked the direction Cooper went with this and it’s definitely worth a watch.

-Z

While this wasn’t the comedy I was expecting it to be, it was a really compelling movie. Will Arnett does an excellent job acting in a more dramatic role here (as does Laura Dern, not surprisingly) as well as in the moments where he’s portraying a just starting out stand-up comic. A lot of this movie focuses on relationship dynamics and conversations, and the most impressive part to me was how incredibly realistic that all felt. Not a perfect movie, but very well done, and I hope Bradley Cooper keeps making more films!

-E

Z 8.5
E 8.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.5

Movie Fantasy League January Update

Since our last Movie Fantasy League, much has happened! Christmas, New Years, critical points, Golden Globes, and now we’re just three days away from Oscar nominations! So before those points hit, let’s check in with the standings. Critical points were assigned at the first of the year, which is based on your movie’s Metacritic score, the higher it is the more points you received, and Zach received the biggest benefit, with 485 critical points. If you went for box office points, you may be lacking in this category, and Austo falls in that camp, having received just 185 critical points (least in the league), but he has more box office points than any other squad, by far, with 1269 and as you’ll see below, is sitting above Zach. Daddy’s in 2nd in box office at 1085 points. Jord continues to lead the award points category with 1955 points, and second place going to Big Brett, at 1450 points. Ruth continues to lead the fray in least box office points with just 75, and Katie leads in least awards points, with just 150! The best value pick of the league so far is The Secret Agent, whose 317 points and $5 budget is good for 63.4 points per dollar and Jord and Zach both enjoy the fruits of that pick! The worst value pick, ironically, sits on our current leader Jord’s roster, as he spent $3 on The Man with the Bag, which got delayed and currently has no release date in sight, but won’t qualify for any points this year. The only movie in the league to receive 0 points! Ouch. But award season has been good to Jord, and that’s why he leap frogged his way to the top. One Battle After Another and Hamnet cleaned up at the Golden Globes, and It Was Just an Accident and the Secret Agent also faired extremely well relative to their budgets. We’ll have another update before the Oscars on March 15th, but in the meantime, we’ll have a slew of more award nomination and award winner points to come! Stay tuned.

J (Jord) - 2556 points (146 box office pts, 1955 awards pts, 455 critical pts)

• One Battle After Another — $30 = 1216 points (116 box office pts, 1000 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• The Smashing Machine — $20 = 81 points (11 box office pts, 45 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 517 points (12 box office pts, 455 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• It Was Just an Accident — $15 = 311 points (1 box office pts, 210 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• The Secret Agent — $5 = 317 points (2 box office pts, 215 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• Sisu 2 — $3 = 44 points (4 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Arco — $3 = 70 points (0 box office pts, 30 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Man with the Bag — $3 = 0 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 0 critical pts)

Max - 2347 points (732 box office pts, 1305 awards pts, 310 critical pts)

• One Battle After Another — $30 = 1216 points (116 box office pts, 1000 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• Zootopia 2 — $25 = 623 points (548 box office pts, 35 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Nuremberg — $10 = 69 points (14 box office pts, 30 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Die My Love — $8 = 80 points (5 box office pts, 35 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• If I Had Legs I'd Kick You — $8 = 241 points (1 box office pts, 200 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Running Man — $8 = 67 points (47 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• A Private Life — $5 = 30 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Anemone — $5 = 21 points (1 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

BigBrett - 2024 points (279 box office pts, 1450 awards pts, 295 critical pts)

• One Battle After Another — $30 = 1216 points (116 box office pts, 1000 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• Frankenstein — $25 = 440 points (0 box office pts, 400 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Smashing Machine — $20 = 81 points (11 box office pts, 45 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Predator: Badlands — $10 = 191 points (151 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Anemone — $5 = 21 points (1 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• A Private Life — $5 = 30 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Caught Stealing — $3 = 25 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Trap House — $2 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

Austo - 2024 points (1269 box office pts, 570 awards pts, 185 critical pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 716 points (491 box office pts, 205 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Avatar: Fire and Ash — $30 = 662 points (552 box office pts, 85 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — $10 = 221 points (221 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 0 critical pts)

• K-Pop Demon Hunters — $8 = 180 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Weapons — $3 = 190 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• Shelby Oaks — $2 = 14 points (4 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 10 critical pts)

• The Conjuring: Last Rites — $1 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• “Silent Night, Deadly Night” — $1 = 21 points (1 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

Zach (runningwolf) - 1950 points (140 box office pts, 1325 awards pts, 485 critical pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 517 points (12 box office pts, 455 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• Marty Supreme — $20 = 485 points (95 box office pts, 340 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• The Smashing Machine — $20 = 81 points (11 box office pts, 45 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• It Was Just an Accident — $15 = 311 points (1 box office pts, 210 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• Is This Thing On? — $15 = 63 points (3 box office pts, 20 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Secret Agent — $5 = 317 points (2 box office pts, 215 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• Sound of Falling — $3 = 130 points (0 box office pts, 30 awards pts, 100 critical pts)

• Eternity — $2 = 46 points (16 box office pts, 10 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

E (ecrhodes) - 1886 points (191 box office pts, 1405 awards pts, 290 critical pts)

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 97 points (22 box office pts, 55 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Frankenstein — $25 = 440 points (0 box office pts, 400 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 517 points (12 box office pts, 455 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• F1 — $8 = 170 points (0 box office pts, 145 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• K-Pop: Demon Hunters — $8 = 180 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Black Phone 2 — $5 = 182 points (157 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• The Testament of Ann Lee — $5 = 110 points (0 box office pts, 70 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Weapons — $3 = 190 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

Daddy - 1740 points (1085 box office pts, 435 awards pts, 220 critical pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 716 points (491 box office pts, 205 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Avatar: Fire and Ash — $30 = 662 points (552 box office pts, 85 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• KPop Demon Hunters — $8 = 180 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie — $5 = 52 points (42 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 10 critical pts)

• 28 Years Later — $5 = 45 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Long Walk — $3 = 40 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Steve — $3 = 25 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Atropia — $1 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

St Shuffles - 1533 points (668 box office pts, 610 awards pts, 255 critical pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 716 points (491 box office pts, 205 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 97 points (22 box office pts, 55 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Predator: Badlands — $10 = 191 points (151 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• K-Pop: Demon Hunters — $8 = 180 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Superman — $5 = 40 points (0 box office pts, 15 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Weapons — $3 = 190 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• The Perfect Neighbor — $2 = 105 points (0 box office pts, 55 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• Shelby Oaks — $2 = 14 points (4 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 10 critical pts)

Jetty - 1499 points (729 box office pts, 565 awards pts, 205 critical pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 716 points (491 box office pts, 205 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Bugonia — $25 = 232 points (17 box office pts, 175 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — $10 = 221 points (221 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 0 critical pts)

• Goodbye June — $8 = 25 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• K-Pop: Demon Hunters — $8 = 180 points (0 box office pts, 140 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• One of Them Days — $2 = 80 points (0 box office pts, 40 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Conjuring: Last Rites — $1 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• All of You — $1 = 25 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

Katie Late to the Party Picks - 1505 points (919 box office pts, 150 awards pts, 215 critical pts)

• Zootopia 2 — $25 = 623 points (548 box office pts, 35 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 97 points (22 box office pts, 55 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Wake Up, Dead Man — $10 = 76 points (1 box office pts, 25 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• Five Nights at Freddy’s — $10 = 221 points (221 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 0 critical pts)

• Predator: Badlands — $10 = 191 points (151 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Die My Love — $8 = 80 points (5 box office pts, 35 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Housemaid — $5 = 159 points (134 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Regretting You — $3 = 58 points (58 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 0 critical pts)

Heather Huffs Great Picks - 1139 points (639 box office pts, 295 awards pts, 205 critical pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 716 points (491 box office pts, 205 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Nuremberg — $10 = 69 points (14 box office pts, 30 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• 28 Years Later — $5 = 45 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• Black Bag — $5 = 50 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• The Housemaid — $5 = 159 points (134 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• A Minecraft Movie — $5 = 10 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 10 critical pts)

• Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning — $5 = 80 points (0 box office pts, 55 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• The Woman in Cabin 10 — $1 = 10 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 10 critical pts)

Ruthless - 1055 points (75 box office pts, 755 awards pts, 225 critical pts)

• Jay Kelly — $30 = 180 points (0 box office pts, 155 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 97 points (22 box office pts, 55 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 517 points (12 box office pts, 455 awards pts, 50 critical pts)

• Song Sung Blue — $10 = 121 points (41 box office pts, 55 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• The History of Sound — $5 = 25 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 25 critical pts)

• Jurassic World Rebirth — $3 = 25 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

• Arco — $3 = 70 points (0 box office pts, 30 awards pts, 40 critical pts)

• The Roses — $3 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts, 20 critical pts)

The Housemaid

Let's make a movie and put really sexy people in it and give it a twist. A movie that I actually love to watch, but it definitely has its audience. A good break from reality and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. If you are looking for a high level cinematic experience, you need to look elsewhere, but if you want a trip to the movies this is perfect. I am also now on the boat that Sydney Sweeny is objectively a bad actress and I am not even sure if she likes acting. A fun cinema experience that is perfect for the people wanting that.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.25

~ZEJ 7.25

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

As long as Rian Johnson makes these movies, I’ll watch them, probably, but they continue to get worse so then again… maybe not. With the cast of this movie, how can you go wrong? By not giving legendary actors any screentime. Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, and Josh Brolin were all severely underutilized. Daniel Craig was great as always, and the majority of the screentime was given to Josh O’Connor, who killed it, but it felt horribly unbalanced, and way too long. Good for a Netflix movie, but that’s not saying much. Pretty skippable.

-Z

The first Knives Out had a classic murder mystery feel and I absolutely loved the plot and characters - like a game of Clue being played out on the screen! The second one was not as good, but still very clever and fun. This felt like a big step back. The side characters were largely ignored and the plot felt very predictable. Characters were constantly over explaining what just happened. Instead of a fun adventure, the tone felt much more subdued, which feels like a misstep in continuing this series.

-E

Z 7.0
E 7.0
J 8.0

ZEJ 7.33

The Secret Agent

The movie title kind of does a disservice to the moviegoer, as “The Secret Agent” is extremely slow and the payoff does not warrant all the buildup. It’s actually more of an anti-spy movie, and if you knew that going into it, and that the title was more ironic, maybe you’d fare differently. But even still, the movie is a bit of a slog. However, there’s still merit here. Wagner Moura is worth the price of admission, at least for the cinephiles. Narcos has forever made me a fan of his, and this movie showcases why he needs to be more front and center in cinema. If you’re not a movie sicko, or sorely lacking on your Brazilian history, you’re fine to miss this one.

-Z

Another year, another somber film about the state of Brazil in the ‘70s. I enjoyed last year’s I’m Still Here much more than this, but this story is definitely unique, and the ending is really something to ponder. Wagner Moura is absolutely fantastic in the leading role. My main complaint is the length - many of the opening and middle scenes felt unnecessarily drawn out - it took some effort for me to stay focused. Still, I’m sure this will get some well-deserved Oscar nominations.

-E

This is a movie that will win awards, but I don’t know if I agree. My biggest gripe is I think it was a hard story to follow at the beginning, and was about an hour too long. I am starting to feel a certain way about foreign films; either one of the best films I have ever seen or a slow burn that I can recognize its greatness, but it isn’t terribly fun to watch and there is no inbetween. This is for the cinephiles, other than that I would vote skip.

-J

Z 8.0
E 7.75
J 8.0

ZEJ 7.92

Marty Supreme

In the score for better stress-inducing obscure sports movies of 2025, it’s Josh Safdie 1, and Ben Safdie 0, as Josh’s Marty Supreme edges out Ben’s Smashing Machine. While the themes are bit repetitive if you’re familiar with their work, Timothée’s acting here is such a masterclass, and Josh’s pacing and storytelling here is so good that it carries this to nearly a 9/10. While it’s stressful, it’s also really fun, and a more poignant morale than the brothers’ super stressor Uncut Gems. As E alludes, I think Timmy C is currently running away with Best Actor from this, at least with what we’ve seen so far. At an 8.58, it currently is ZEJ’s #9 movie on the year. Must watch!

-Z

The idea of a movie about ping pong is very fun, but I actually would argue that there isn’t enough ping pong in this film. The anxiety-inducing pacing and plot are exactly what you’d expect for a Safdie brother film, which the ZEJ team seemed to agree felt a little repetitive and too familiar at times here. I wouldn’t necessarily say they need to change their style, but maybe they need to join back up again? Timothée Chalamet really brings this character to life - I can definitely see him winning Best Actor for this. I left the theater a bit disappointed, but I still would recommend seeing this!

-E

Anxiety. One word to describe a two and a half hour movie and almost anyone who sees it would agree. Chalamet puts on a master class and brings Ping Pong to the forefront. Most people will say it's definitely in the 9’s, but my issue is that those people probably haven't seen the Safdie Brothers other films. I feel like this is something that I have already seen, and despite high level acting, isn’t as good in my opinion. This will win a lot of awards and A24 needed this to keep up with Neon's recent success, but sadly I wanted more. If you get a chance this is a must see for the year though!

-J

Z 8.75
E 8.25
J 8.75

ZEJ 8.58

One of Them Days

A movie I thought I would never watch, but Netflix recommended it as a comedy so my girlfriend and I gave it a whirl. On the whole, it is a great laugh. A lot of scenes made us laugh out loud and were over the top ridiculous, which I love. As a story though, the movie definitely struggles. Overall, if you are looking for an off the wall comedy with great laughs to throw on, I think you need to give this a chance. We need more movies like this!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppet Christmas Carol is on many all-time Christmas movie lists, and we gave it a watch, but as E says, it was quite slow. I wanted to love it, as the Muppets are so endearing, but the pace leaves a lot to be desired. Michael Caine is, of course, a legend, and I’m glad to always fill out more of his filmography.

-Z

A classic Christmas film neither Z nor I remember watching as a kid that really disappointed me. The story felt very long and slow. I definitely have a soft spot for the Muppets characters, but, despite a few funny moments, this felt like a bit of a slog. I can see why kids might really enjoy this though, and I do have to give credit to Michael Caine for playing an excellent Scrooge!

-E

Z 6.5
E 6.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 6.5

Gremlins

E and I had never seen Gremlins, and it’s still considered an all-time great Christmas movie, and all-time great horror movie, and after finally watching it, I am not sure it’s belongs on either list. While the concept clearly had staying power, given the franchise this created, this as a movie is pretty poor overall. It does have a couple moments though, particularly when the mom goes full Rambo in the kitchen. Glad to finally cross this off the list, but disappointed overall.

-Z

What a bizarre film! I feel like this gets a lot of hype as a cult classic, but I can’t say I fully understand that. Definitely not the classic Christmas movie vibe I was after when Z and I decided to watch this on Christmas Eve. A bit slow with some really strange writing and plot points. I’m also not sure who this is for - it is both pretty cheesy for an adult audience but pretty dark for a younger crowd - but maybe that’s just the ‘80s for ya.

-E

Z 6.5
E 6.25
J n/a

~ZEJ 6.38

Elf

With the exception of It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf is the best Christmas movie ever made. Rewatching it for the 100th time, I was reminded that part of its genius is how innocent it is. Many directors could have easily taken a more crass route for comedy bits, but it’s Jon Favreau maintaining Buddy’s innocence that makes this so endearing. Will Ferrell as Buddy is probably one of the greatest casting decisions of all-time. Love every watch of this.

-Z

One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time, this seems to never get old, and I’m glad Z & I revisited this over the holidays! I remember watching this on my personal DVD player all year round back in the day. I named my plant (which is still on display in my living room) Francisco after I saw this for the first time. The plot, writing, acting - it’s all comedy gold and holds up pretty well. Will Ferrell in peak comedy form. I’m also so glad this never got turned into a multi-movie franchise.

-E

Z 9.5
E 9.0
J n/a

~ZEJ 9.25

Zootopia 2

Zootopia 2, while still just as fun and colorful, isn’t as clever or thoughtful as the original. The pacing is relentless, and everything is overexplained to the point that even the kids in our audience, were like “okay, we get it!” If you’ve seen the original, it’s still worth a watch, but it will leave a bit to be desired.

-Z

A fun, but not nearly as good, sequel to the original. The pacing here was my biggest issue - everything felt incredibly fast and splashy, like it was designed for someone with zero attention span. Still, the Zootopia universe is really creative and fun to explore! If there’s a third, I’ll definitely see it.

-E

I have already gotten hate for this take, but I may like this film more than the original, but for argument's sake I am going to give it a tie. To follow up the original Zootopia takes a lot. My favorite part of this film is the world building. We get a lot more insight into the world, how it works, and how it was created. Overall, it is important to remind myself that this is meant for kids, so a lot needs to be overly explained. That, along with some pacing issues with how the plot moves, causes it to miss an elite score, but I had a great time! I think anyone who likes the original needs to find time to see this because it is a fun ride.

-J

Z 7.0
E 7.25
J 8.0

ZEJ 7.42

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is my all-time favorite movie and after recently listening to a podcast about Michael Chricton’s ER / The Pitt debacle, I decided I really must read Jurassic Park the novel, and it was really fascinating. And that, of course, made me want to re-watch the movie. It’s the first movie I remember having on VHS as a kid, and I watched it countless times. I wanted to be a paleontologist because of this movie. How can I not give it a 10? Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough…. what a list of names. And that’s not even to mention Samuel L Jackson or Wayne Knight. The highest grossing box office movie until Titanic, the movie, obviously was a phenomenon, but watching it back, it’s amazing how well it still holds up visually. Spielberg pioneered some of the very first CGI and combined that with incredible animatronics to create some truly timeless movie magic. The story, the characters and acting… I have no notes. Perfection.

-Z

This was a rewatch for me after about 10 years or so, and I definitely got more out of it this time around. I do not remember it being so dark and suspenseful though - there are some pretty scary scenes! The world-building is of course very cool, the visuals hold up well, and there are some really clever moments, but also some really cheesy and overly dramatic ones. Watching Z geek out about dinosaurs though? Priceless.

-E

Z 10
E 7.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.75

Hamnet

Hamnet is a masterpiece. I went back and worth, debating with myself, as to whether this was as 10/10 or 9.5/10, and ultimately landed at 9.75, but really my only criticism, if at all, is perhaps the lack of rewatchability this has for me compared to my other 10’s. This is an emotionally taxing for 90% of the movie, and then the final act, in the recreated Globe Theater, is so cathartic and rewarding, that it makes that first 90% extraordinarily worth it, but I’ll never get to watch it for the first time again, if that makes any sense. The Globe Theater scene, where this film culminates, is the most moved I’ve been in a film probably since Everything Everywhere All at Once. Many things are happening all at the same time to create such a beautifully masterful finish: tour de force acting from Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Noah and Jacobi Jupe, inspired storytelling and pacing from Chloé Zhao, and meticulous set design to recreate the Globe Theater so authentically. The ZEJ team all agreed after our viewing that there was something especially satisfying about the scene in part because we had all learned in great detail about Shakespeare’s plays, and the wide audience that received them, not just the wealthy, but the commoners, and somehow that core childhood knowledge amplified our enjoyment. A lovely film. Chloé Zhao, take a bow. Our collective score of 9.67 makes this the top ZEJ movie of the year, and 4th highest rated movie of all time!

-Z

As an English major, I definitely was not as much of a Shakespeare fanatic as some of my peers, but I did study a few of his plays in detail, and Hamlet was one of them, which made me really excited about this film when I first saw it announced. Then I saw a preview which made me worried it was going to be a bleak, tragedy-porn-esque sobfest. But the end result here was a masterpiece from Chloe Zhao, and I'm going to declare it the best movie of the year so far for me. Yes, it is very sad (and there was definitely some sobbing in our theater), but the unbelievable acting prevented the plot from feeling like emotional manipulation. The ending scenes set in the Globe Theater were gripping and really moving. Very deserving of all of the awards this will no doubt receive.

-E

Paul Mescal is a new ‘must-watch’ for me after this performance, and he wasn’t even the best actor in the movie. When I left I was a little unsure of my feelings, but I let it grow into what this movie is; a true masterpiece in many ways. I think Chloé Zhao made a beautiful film, both in story and directing. It was shot perfectly in my opinion and ended in a great place with a strong payoff. A few things bothered me were the song at the end and a few parts that seemed to go nowhere in the cinema version (but I assume were a large part of the novel). Because of that, it stays away from a coveted 10, but I think anyone who wants to watch and appreciate true cinema needs to see this film ASAP!

-J

Z 9.75
E 9.75
J 9.5

ZEJ 9.67

The Roses

This was a movie that after seeing the trailer, I had no interest in watching. When you are on a plane to vacation though, the rules change some. I ended up giving this a chance, and I will say some parts were very funny. Overall, though, I feel like the movie moved a bit weirdly and, despite the humor, was very sad. It's a movie I hope doesn’t get completely lost in the wash, but definitely not one of my favorites from the year.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

Love Actually

Love Actually, on many lists, makes the Top 15 Christmas movies of all-time, and E and I finally watched this 22-year old movie for the first time, and with hindsight, it’s hard to fathom how this is so beloved. It certainly hasn’t aged well, but I’m not sure how the many problematic relationships depicted were ever considered not-so. The Liam Neeson and Bill Nighy storylines are very fun, and charming, and almost make this worth watching on their own merit, but you have to understand what you’re getting into - a rom com masquerading as a Christmas movie that is truly all over the place.

-Z

This is one of those movies that I’ve known I needed to watch for years due to the amount of references to it I’ve encountered, but my expectations were pretty low, and this did not exceed them. The story feels very disjointed and many of the storylines feel sad or incomplete. Not every Christmas movie needs to be feel-good, but this was seemingly setting up for that and just never quite fully got there.

-E

This is a really weird one. Culturally relevant, star-stacked, and a holiday favorite for most people. Sadly, I learned that I am not one of those people. I thought the plot was a bit clunky, and the movie got long and didn’t go anywhere very interesting. I am glad I watched it, though, based on how many new pop culture references I can make. I am aware there is an audience for this, but this is probably my one-time watch.

-J

Z 6.5
E 6.5
J 7.5

ZEJ 6.83

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

It’s hard to name Thanksgivings movies off the top of my head, but Planes, Trains and Automobiles has to best, right? E and I went and watched this at Des Moines’ historic Varsity Cinema, in an essentially sold out showing, and it was absolutely electric. And not just because theater had power issues, which it did. And popcorn issues. The line out the door of the theater was so long, that the popcorn machine couldn’t keep up, delaying the movie by about 15 minutes. And believe it or not, with 15 minutes to go, the screen shut off, and theater employee announced they were having power trouble and wouldn’t be able to get the screen back on. But if you’ve seen Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and who hasn’t, then it won’t surprise you to hear that the whole theater just kind of chuckled at not being able to finish the movie, as it’s theme - everything that can go wrong will go wrong was playing out in real life as well. E and I finished it back home, from front to back, it’s still one of the funniest movies I’ve seen. John Candy is iconic, and his “I like me” monologue is extremely moving. Steve Martin is also fascinating in this movie, playing more of a straight man, but still very funny, and really a perfect bouncing board for John Candy. Watching this also made me realize what a legendary run of movies John Hughes had in about a decade, this being approximately in the middle of them, and I don’t think I’ve appreciated his genius enough. One of the few movies I would happily re-watch.

-Z

I have watched this movie many, many times, but the chance to experience it in a packed theater during Thanksgiving week was definitely my favorite viewing experience (even despite the on-brand power outage at the theater that left us on our own to finish the last 15 minutes). There are SO many hilarious scenes that do not feel dated in the least - the experience of a nightmare travel experience is apparently universal. Steve Martin and John Candy are the perfect pair for this storyline. My only gripe - the scenes of Steve Martin’s family wistfully waiting for him at home really disrupt the comedy and do not seem very purposeful. Otherwise, I’m sure this is a film I’ll continue to revisit and enjoy for the rest of my life.

-E

Z 8.75
E 9.0
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.88

Movie Fantasy League November Update

Here’s your Thanksgiving Day Movie Fantasy League Update! Our first box office smash flick, Wicked: For Good came through last weekend, and was a bigger opening than part one, which delivered 260 points for those that partook. Austin T (St Shuffles) grabbed that along with Predator: Badlands, which had some box office success as well to spring himself into the lead over October’s leader Big Brett. Austin’s 447 points are almost entirely box office (422/447), which is impressive, and he has the most in that category by far. Shoutout to myself and Ruth, who have the least box office points, 12 and 25 respectively. Since October, we’ve had the Gotham Awards nominations and the AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards nominations, which have added our first awards based points, and leading that front is Jord, who has racked up 240 award points via One Battle After Another (125), Hamnet (40), It Was Just an Accident (30) and the Secret Agent (30). On the flipside, Daddy has the least thus far, just 5 awards points, but his 301 box office points make up a lot of ground for him. And finally, a shoutout to E, who currently has the best value pick of the draft, Black Phone 2, whose $5 cost has racked up 156 box office points, for a high of 31.2 points per dollar. Zootopia 2, Eternity, the Secret Agent and Hamnet all release this weekend, and the Gotham Award winners are announced on December 1st, so more points to come! Happy Thanksgiving, MFL!

St Shuffles - 447 points (422 box office pts, 25 awards pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 260 points (260 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 32 points (22 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• Predator: Badlands — $10 = 136 points (136 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• K-Pop: Demon Hunters — $8 = 0 points

• Superman — $5 = 0 points

• Weapons — $3 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• The Perfect Neighbor — $2 = 10 points (0 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• Shelby Oaks — $2 = 4 points (4 box office pts, 0 awards pts)
  

BigBrett - 418 points (263 box office pts, 155 awards pts)

• One Battle After Another — $30 = 240 points (115 box office pts, 125 awards pts)

• Frankenstein — $25 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 20 awards pts)

• The Smashing Machine — $20 = 16 points (11 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Predator: Badlands — $10 = 136 points (136 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Anemone — $5 = 1 point (1 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• A Private Life — $5 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Caught Stealing — $3 = 0 points

• Trap House — $2 = 0 points
  

Max - 390 points (170 box office pts, 220 awards pts)

• One Battle After Another — $30 = 240 points (115 box office pts, 125 awards pts)

• Zootopia 2 — $25 = 0 points

• Nuremberg — $10 = 31 points (11 box office pts, 20 awards pts)

• Die My Love — $8 = 20 points (5 box office pts, 15 awards pts)

• If I Had Legs I'd Kick You — $8 = 56 points (1 box office pts, 55 awards pts)

• The Running Man — $8 = 37 points (37 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• A Private Life — $5 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Anemone — $5 = 1 point (1 box office pts, 0 awards pts)
  

J (Jord) - 369 points (129 box office pts, 240 awards pts)

• One Battle After Another — $30 = 240 points (115 box office pts, 125 awards pts)

• The Smashing Machine — $20 = 16 points (11 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 40 points (0 box office pts, 40 awards pts)

• It Was Just an Accident — $15 = 41 points (1 box office pts, 40 awards pts)

• The Secret Agent — $5 = 30 points (0 box office pts, 30 awards pts)

• Sisu 2 — $3 = 2 points (2 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Arco — $3 = 0 points

• The Man with the Bag — $3 = 0 points
  

Daddy - 306 points (301 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 260 points (260 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Avatar: Fire and Ash — $30 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• KPop Demon Hunters — $8 = 0 points

• Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie — $5 = 41 points (41 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• 28 Years Later — $5 = 0 points

• The Long Walk — $3 = 0 points

• Steve — $3 = 0 points

• Atropia — $1 = 0 points
  

Jetty - 296 points (276 box office pts, 20 awards pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 260 points (260 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Bugonia — $25 = 31 points (16 box office pts, 15 awards pts)

• Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — $10 = 0 points

• Goodbye June — $8 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• K-Pop: Demon Hunters — $8 = 0 points

• One of Them Days — $2 = 0 points

• The Conjuring: Last Rites — $1 = 0 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• All of You — $1 = 0 points (0 box office pts, 0 awards pts)
  

Heather Huffs Great Picks - 291 points (271 box office pts, 20 awards pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 260 points (260 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Nuremberg — $10 = 31 points (11 box office pts, 20 awards pts)

• 28 Years Later — $5 = 0 points

• Black Bag — $5 = 0 points

• The Housemaid — $5 = 0 points

• A Minecraft Movie — $5 = 0 points

• Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning — $5 = 0 points

• The Woman in Cabin 10 — $1 = 0 points
  

E (ecrhodes) - 283 points (178 box office pts, 105 awards pts)

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 32 points (22 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• Frankenstein — $25 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 20 awards pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 40 points (0 box office pts, 40 awards pts)

• F1 — $8 = 0 points

• K-Pop: Demon Hunters — $8 = 0 points

• Black Phone 2 — $5 = 156 points (156 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• The Testament of Ann Lee — $5 = 30 points (0 box office pts, 30 awards pts)

• Weapons — $3 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

Austo - 274 points (264 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• Wicked: For Good — $45 = 260 points (260 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Avatar: Fire and Ash — $30 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — $10 = 0 points

• K-Pop Demon Hunters — $8 = 0 points

• Weapons — $3 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Shelby Oaks — $2 = 4 points (4 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• The Conjuring: Last Rites — $1 = 0 points

• “Silent Night, Deadly Night” — $1 = 0 points

Katie Late to the Party Picks - 250 points (220 box office pts, 30 awards pts)

• Zootopia 2 — $25 = 0 points

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 32 points (22 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• Wake Up, Dead Man — $10 = 5 points (0 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• Five Nights at Freddy’s — $10 = 0 points

• Predator: Badlands — $10 = 136 points (136 box office pts, 0 awards pts)

• Die My Love — $8 = 20 points (5 box office pts, 15 awards pts)

• The Housemaid — $5 = 0 points

• Regretting You — $3 = 57 points (57 box office pts, 0 awards pts)
  

Zach (runningwolf) - 167 points (12 box office pts, 155 awards pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 40 points (0 box office pts, 40 awards pts)

• Marty Supreme — $20 = 10 points (0 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• The Smashing Machine — $20 = 16 points (11 box office pts, 5 awards pts)

• It Was Just an Accident — $15 = 41 points (1 box office pts, 40 awards pts)

• Is This Thing On? — $15 = 10 points (0 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• The Secret Agent — $5 = 30 points (0 box office pts, 30 awards pts)

• Sound of Falling — $3 = 20 points (0 box office pts, 20 awards pts)

• Eternity — $2 = 0 points
  

Ruthless - 102 points (22 box office pts, 80 awards pts)

• Jay Kelly — $30 = 30 points (0 box office pts, 30 awards pts)

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere — $25 = 32 points (22 box office pts, 10 awards pts)

• Hamnet — $20 = 40 points (0 box office pts, 40 awards pts)

• Song Sung Blue — $10 = 0 points

• The History of Sound — $5 = 0 points

• Jurassic World Rebirth — $3 = 0 points

• Arco — $3 = 0 points

• The Roses — $3 = 0 points

Wizard of Oz

I have never seen this film, so after Wicked I thought it could be the perfect time. I understand why it is a classic and I really did enjoy it. This year I am falling in love with the idea of watching old classics that I haven’t seen, and have really been enjoying it. I was surprised at how weird it was being from the 1930’s, but overall I really liked it. It is right up there with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for me, but not quite as good!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 9.0

~ZEJ 9.0

Wicked: For Good

I feel so vindicated. I wanted to hate the first Wicked so bad, the excessive marketing was nauseating, and yet, it defied my preconceptions and turned out to be an undeniably good movie. But part two, Wicked: For Good, is horrible, and that just feels right. Ariana’s acting is probably the only good thing I can say about it - everything else was just wrong. The songs and dialogue were bad, and the plot was just laughable. Don’t let Jord fool you, this is worse than mid. It’s bad. Full transparency though, I am docking this film a quarter point for having to sit next to a group of unattended children that talked the entire movie. If your film attracts unmoderated talking children, you reap what you sow.

-Z

What a disappointment! The second act of Wicked was much more what I expected the first to be. Last year’s edition was surprisingly great for a musical, and didn’t feel nearly as long as it was. This year’s edition felt like an eternity and had a lot more of the musical aspects I don’t enjoy (mostly, singing just to sing, with songs that don’t really advance the plot). The set design and cinematography were still very well-done here, and I’ll be perfectly happy if it gets some nominations apart from best picture/directing, but I am now convinced that Wicked should have been one movie as this really just felt like a cash-grab compared with the first.

-E

When you look at the reviews, expectations should be low. When you think about the first part, I really thought to myself that there was no way this wouldn’t be really solid. Sadly, the movie is drawn out and just missing that ‘it’ factor that the first film had. Overall there was nothing noticeably bad, but as the kids say, the movie was extremely mid. Honestly, I wish they would have pulled a ‘Materialist’ secret and made it one long movie with an intermission. The music was forgettable and I think partly I feel like I had already seen this film so all thoughts of surprise and magic were gone. Overall, in no way is it bad, just disappointing in my eyes.

-J

Z 5.75
E 6.75
J 7.0

ZEJ 6.5

10 Things I Hate About You

Last year was the 25th anniversary of 10 Things I Hate About You, which apparently got it trending online, and so glad it did, as E and I might never have watched it without the ravings of her students. It’s a very clever rom-com, constantly subverting your expectations, and while there are a few roll-your-eyes moments, the charm and fun of everything else going on allows you to forgive it. Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles are both fantastic, and it’s so cool to see a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is as electric as Heath Ledger is in this movie. Super fun watch.

-Z

When I asked one of my classes this semester to go around the room and tell me what their favorite movie was, 3 out of 15 said this movie, and those 3 girls could NOT believe that I had never seen it. Z and I finally got around to watching this, and honestly, I’m also a little surprised that I never watched this in the 2000s as it fits right in with a lot of the movies I watched with my friends at that age. I really enjoyed the writing and the humor, especially for a rom-com - this definitely feels like a cult-classic type of film. Heath Ledger kind of steals the show here, which made me realize how few of his films I’ve seen. A very fun take on the Shakespeare play!

-E

Z 8.0
E 8.25
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.13