Zola
★★ ½
It happened. I didn't think I would see the day, but an A24 film failed to live up to my expectations. Zola is upfront that it's based on a viral Twitter thread and though the premise is intriguing at first, it loses its shine rather quickly. The story is interesting and takes some paths that you don't expect, but I constantly was waiting for a bigger payoff than what was delivered. Maybe I have a demented mind, but I was never really shocked by this weekend trip gone to hell. The cast was great, in particular Taylour Paige and Riley Keough. I wouldn't be surprised if they became a household name. And the Succession fan in me loved seeing Nicholas Braun (who is hilarious in this film) although I hope he doesn't get typecast. Director Janicza Bravo brings a cool style to the tale, but this is one that is better read than seen.
