Zola (2020) User Reviews (152)

Entertaining But Insubstantial

[evanston_dad · 6/10 · 2 November 2021]

Is "Zola" the first movie ever adapted from a Twitter feed? Quite possibly.

Is that why the movie feels so inconclusive, and why I have so many questions about the story it tells that were never answered? Probably. "Zola" feels like the middle of a story, with the beginning and ending left out. I found myself pretty wildly entertained by it, but scratching my head afterwards. I really don't understand how this story played out over Twitter, and I'm dying to know what if any fallout there was for the characters after the events portrayed in the film. How much of it is fictionalized? Does the main character continue to live in fear of the murderer and pimp because of what she knows about him? Did that part of the story really happen, or was it made up for the film? Just. So. Many. Questions.

But what the film lacks in narrative clarity or even sense it makes up for in energy and terrific performances. This is a movie about sleazy, trashy people acting obnoxious for 90 minutes, and your tolerance for the movie will depend on your tolerance for hanging out with people like this. I have none, so I'm as surprised as anyone by the fact that I not only tolerated but liked this movie. I credit the actors for that, who know exactly how to deliver the snarky, satirical material for maximum impact. The movie is like one big long meme if a meme could be set in motion.

"Zola" dissolved into the ether for me the second it was over, but it provided a little bit of fun, mostly mindless entertainment before doing so. It was certainly way more fun than the experience of actually reading a Twitter feed.

Grade: B+

today's alternate universe

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 1 July 2021]

Greetings again from the darkness. As far as I can tell, this is the first feature film based on an actual Twitter thread. Writer-director Janicza Bravo (LEMON, 2017) works with co-writers Jeremy O Harris and the real life Zola, A'Ziah King to mold the viral 148 Tweets (#TheStory) from 2015 into a somewhat coherent film that may just provide a bit more insight into the social media world than we'd prefer in one sitting. A24 movie studio proves yet again their original, creative, and unique films are unapologetically outside the industry norm ... and they are generating quite a loyal following because of it.

Taylour Paige (Dussy Mae in MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, 2020) stars as Zola, a waitress with perfect certain "features" according to one of her customers. Zola and Stefani (played by Riley Keough, Elvis' granddaughter who continues to build a strong and diverse resume, including a standout performance in AMERICAN HONEY, 2016), have an instant connection, and the next day they are off on a road trip to Florida to make big bucks dancing at exotic clubs. Accompanying them are X (Colman Domingo, Cutler in MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, 2020), and Derrek (Nicolas Braun, "Succession"), Stefani's doofus boyfriend.

Be forewarned: this is not the zany female buddy comedy the trailer teases. It's a dark, twisted comedy laced with dangerous situations and violence. While Zola was led to believe this was a dancing trip for real cash, it turns out X is really Stefani's pimp, and though Zola stands firm in not taking the sex for cash route, she's prevented from leaving by a forceful X, no longer the charmer she first encountered. Zola's wise-to-the-world ways allows her to assist Stefani in upping her cash flow, but things go wrong when Derrek socializes outside the group.

After the infamous Twitter thread, "Rolling Stone" writer David Kushner published an article entitled, "Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga ever Tweeted". This is an alternate universe to many of us, though it's pulled from the "pages" of today's online culture. Much of the dialogue is in Twitter-speak, and the new Tweet ding is used to emphasize certain spoken lines (think rim shots). Director Bravo instills the "B-word" at the same pace that Tarantino uses the F-word, and it should be noted that both actresses are terrific. Ms. Keough will likely make you laugh, while simultaneously making you uncomfortable. It's a case study in cultural appropriation - especially her dialect, which is purposefully offensive. We aren't accustomed to seeing this type of humor these days, but Keough is to be commended for going all in. Ms. Paige's performance is much different, but no less impactful as her Zola tries to make the best of a horrible situation.

This is a wild story with characters I can only hope you don't recognize from your own life. It begs the question, what kind of relationships arise from social media? We go a bit deeper on Zola, but really we don't know much about these people. They are as deep as social media allows, while also serving up a warning to those who might somehow believe internet interactions are anonymous and harmless.

Now showing in theaters nationwide.

Heavy on the Style, Light on the Plot

[Megan_Shida · 6/10 · 6 July 2021]

This movie is fun and the aesthetic choices were bold and always interesting. On top of that, the performances from the two leads were great and altogether believable. But what was the purpose of this film and what did it have to say? It goes at a break neck speed for 80 minutes and then just stops- there really is no pacing or story arc. Like the social media cycle it follows, we wont remember this story after very long.

Stripper Twitter War: The Movie

[gortx · 22 July 2021]

Films have been based on one-line pitches. Brief synopses, and, perhaps most infamously a napkin (Jean Luc-Godard and Menahem Golan at Cannes for KING LEAR); therefore, a long series of tweets might seem like a encyclopedia by a comparison as the basis of ZOLA. Of course, it's not the length of the basic text that is crucial in turning it into a successful movie, but, how it's adapted.

Here, Director Janicza Bravo and her co-Writer Jeremy O. Harris warn the viewer up front that their screenplay is only "mostly true". The script follows the outline of the tweets (the names have mostly been changed save for the title character). A part-time Detroit stripper Zola (Taylour Paige) meets another exotic dancer, Stefani (Riley Keough) and after a fast friendship the pair head down to Tampa to have fun and make some money dancing. Stefani initiates the invite and she is accompanied by her slacker boyfriend Derrek (Nicholas Braun) and a scary dude referred to as "X" (Colman Domingo). Zola quickly comes to realize that it was all a ruse to actually have the two woman rake in dough as prostitutes.

The early part of the film with Zola and Stefani texting back and forth, making videos, carousing and having a good time is energetic and well paced. It's when the story turns darker that the movie falls down. The tone is never consistent - one moment someone is assaulted, the next they are prancing around. Nothing is ever sustained. Still, the tonal issues pale versus the lack of a clear and strong perspective. The entire project is supposedly based on Zola's tweets, yet that device is dropped fairly early (save for the constant Twitter whistle sound used to punctuate scenes - even when no tweeting is going on). There are scenes that follow Derreck and X. Stefani gets a quick montage showing her side of the story for a minute or two. There is no momentum. No drive. Just a string of scenes loosely based on tweets.

Paige and Keough are vibrant actresses and give the film what spark it has. Domingo is genuinely frightening while Braun is fitfully amusing as the hapless patsy in the game. The movie is shot on 16mm apparently to either mimic a documentary look, or, perhaps to represent what grainy cellphone footage may look like - but, it succeeds at neither. It just looks washed out, far too often.

While there is some inherent interest in such a bizarre 'true story', there simply isn't enough on screen to justify a feature length film (even at 86 minutes). The Tweets are still online, as is the magazine article (along with a reddit thread by Stefani). Read the. The movie plays exactly like what it is: A movie based on a magazine article* which in turn is based on a bunch of tweets.

I anxiously await TikTok The Movie.

* David Kushner's Rolling Stone article "Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted"

Zola

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 7/10 · 7 July 2021]

7/10 - while I wasn't a fan of every artistic choice nor the lack of a strong ending (that brings to focus sex trafficking), this arthouse adaptation of the Twitter threads to end all Twitter threads is thoroughly entertaining and has a fantastic soundtrack/score.

I was not expecting to like it that much, but I did.

[subxerogravity · 7/10 · 6 July 2021]

So now we have come to the point were we are making movies based on a Twitter feed?

No shade being thrown here, as this movie proves a good story is a good story and this was a good story so I give props to the original source.

It's got suspense and its got humor and just a bunch of insane characters.

It's like Spring breakers only at 11.

Highly enjoyable.

@Stefani

[johnnyhbtvs27 · 6/10 · 5 January 2022]

Zola is one of those movies where you either love it or hate it. I had many struggles with it early on as i couldn't quite grasp what it was going for. There are a lot of uncomfortable moments relating to prostitution which are quite disturbing but on the other hand, some genuine comedic scenes shine through. The part where they do the @Stefani was hilarious and some physical comedy like the boyfriend jumping from the beach house and seeing the aftermath are really well done. A mixed bag with another great characterization from Riley Keough.

Zola's reverie idolized on the big screen

[Airman87 · 7/10 · 1 July 2021]

As a story, viewers are ultimate left wondering how much of this fantasied adaptation is real. As a film, the production feels scrambled - at times the protagonist and antagonist become caricatures of themselves, while at others the character dynamic is glossed over for continuity.

That said, the entertainment value is absolutely there; after all, we go to movies to enjoy ourselves. There are dabs of humor in this film (an elderly stripper counting money), political activism insertion (police beating a suspect), and a climatic ending. Take the approach I did and enjoy it for what it is...

I mean, you had me at Florida

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 2 July 2021]

Zola is pure, uncut black market Florida. Like Sprinbreakers or Florida Project, it IS the state incarnate - or at least what's so endlessly scrollable about it). It's also a riotous funny dark comedy about how uncanny and gross the sex work world is (visa vi Backpage and so on), but also how black women always seem to have to come to the emotional and physical rescue of white women. And ironically as much as I love Paige and Keough's performances here (the latter sounding like she listened/watched a lot of Nikki Minaj's Anaconda song and or video, a fully sincere compliment), Braun - Greg from Succession, a true treasure at playing dumb and awkward, and Colman Domino's X (and his going between two accents just ::chefs kiss::) are stunning in their perfection of identifying an authenticity of these people. That's the key here: as wild as this gets, we always believe the people... at least as far as Zola's oh maybe 85-90% reliable narrator takes us.

I do wonder if this will have the same punch once the surprise wears off on a repeat viewing, but for now I can bask in the glow of this magnificently directed and truly modern comic exploitation yarn. The secret MVPs here though are the background detail players, like the two kids repeating the same basketball moves on the balcony at the motel or the couple performing whatever the hell music that is in the hotel lobby when Zola comes storming in.

Very Good

[atractiveeyes · 7/10 · 23 July 2021]

This is a fun crazy ride. It's artistic, original and stylish. The story easily grabs your attention and what makes it more interesting is that it's based on a real Twitter thread. Performances are very good. The score is beautiful. Zola is an entertaining well made arthouse movie but it somehow still missing something.

Trash movie featuring trash people - basically the "Story of Tampa"

[BTweezy · 1/10 · 8 December 2021]

This movie basically sums up all that is Tampa, Florida. Before considering a trip or move to TRAMPA watch this movie and see if this is what you are into. You'll thank me later.

2015 aesthetic dark humor

[slinkyskinks · 8/10 · 30 June 2021]

This movie was FUN. I loved the aesthetics and all the little details and the dark humor. I loved the beginning spark where 2 girls become besties...... real accurate portrayal. The story twists and becomes CRAZY but the characters are hilarious and it was worth the watch in theaters.

Strong characters and stylishly filmed

[jon_pratt12345 · 7/10 · 15 November 2021]

Really interesting style used to tell a quite incredible, although mostly straightforward story. There is a deliberate undercurrent of unreliable narration that works really well. The dialogue and interplay are somewhat realistic but there is just enough background surrealism to give the film a dreamy, unreality feel. Acting is great and the powerplay and character dynamics are totally believed.

I just don't

[lareval · 4/10 · 7 September 2021]

While the real story may has its go, the film wasn't interesting to me. It has a talented cast, excellent photography and some funny quotes. But I didn't enter in the game of the story, I never found it entertaining enough nor good enough. It's a well dressed misfire.

Based on tweets.

[SameirAli · 6/10 · 25 September 2021]

The film is based on the real life tweets of a striper named Zola. It's an interesting movie to watch, but not as great as the hype goes around.

Trafficking Is Real.

[gab-67599 · 7/10 · 25 July 2021]

After seeing the movie and reading both girls side of the story, one thing is clear. Neither one of the are prostitutes' but both of them are strippers. So as a former stripper myself I can say this movie was an honest look into a ghetto a$$ life of a stripper. I loved how when something bad happened Zola zoned out, because this is something I have done a lot before. First on the phone and then in the hotel when all the guns were drawn.

In "That life" all different types of situations can and will be thrown at you. Sometime you have to fade out of the picture in your mind to cope so for me this movie was too close to home. I love Riley Keough and seeing her in this movie and in The Lodge shows me how she can wear many faces when it comes to acting.

She was totally believable as a hood chick and I was surprised! As far as Indy films go this one was not bad at all. It kept my interest and I didn't need subtitle to tell me what they were really saying. Hood talk comes easy to me, as does intellectual conversation. I will say that if you have never been in a stripper situation or ever been from the hood then this is NOT a movie for you.

For me though it was engaging and I did want to see what happened next. If you ask me Jessica should be in the spotlight for this movie as well. But it looks like only Zola is being offered a book deal for writing a few hundred tweets. I wish! I also wish these two would make up and tell the real story because I have no doubt majority of this movie was actually true. Which is sad because sex work in this movie was almost glorified and I would hate for incorrigible minds to get the wrong message from it!

Never trust a white b**** with a blaccent

[Avwillfan89 · 6/10 · 13 August 2021]

I did read the Twitter thread before hand. It was packed full of crazy allegations, intentional or unintentional typos and a "stripper language".

The movie version was a completely different experience. Although throughout there is a cringy black comedy, at the heart of it, it is also a horror movie about the dangers of human trafficking.

Zola, who is an African American exotic dancer and waitress is weary of Stefani, a white stripper who coaxes her to go on a trip to Florida to make money dancing. But it soon transpires that she was lying. She has a pimp, named only X in the film, who switches between an American and Nigerian accent throughout the film, and is a nasty piece of work.

It's a very interesting take on the supposed flashy stripper lifestyle and the hip hop culture that you've heard in your teenage years from all the rap songs. Human trafficking is no joke and prostitution is not glamorous in the least - and should not be considered a normal job, despite what modern day feminists believe.

Because Zola is pragmatic as a black stripper, she does not share the same care-free blasé nature that Stefani, a white woman, has.

But at the same time, she is young and wouldn't believe Stefani would lead her to where she eventually does.

Lesson learned, never take trips with a person you only just met.

There is a moment near the end where Zola and X drive down a road and an innocent black man is being brutally beaten by the police. I don't really know why this included in the film. Maybe it was to show that cops are too busy racially profiling and abusing/murdering innocents rather than pay attention to pimps trafficking women and attacking them? Since many of those same like to pay women for sex and occasionally abuse them too?

That was just my theory.

I did not care for the ending. It was too sudden with no real resolution.

A comic crime story with loads of talent.

[JohnDeSando · 3 July 2021]

If the Safdie Brothers had made Zola, then no one would be surprised. But they didn't because a bunch of other lesser-known artists managed to blend pop, blazing color and attitude as they riffed on a tweet by A'Ziah King. Writer-Director Janicza Bravo joined her Lemon mind with writer Jeremy O. Harris, both taking on David Kushner's tweet adaptation to create a strangely effective crime-comedy about two young women bouncing around a parlous life in Florida.

Theirs is a Safdie world of cons and comedy, danger and colorful language with enough naivete and worldliness to cross Elmore Leonard with Leonard Cohen. Wiry blonde Stefani (Riley Keough) has enticed gorgeous stripper Zola (Taylour Paige) to accompany her on an escapade to Florida that takes Zola, a neophyte when it comes to crime, close to murder and prostitution.

Although it's her story, it is also the tale of twenty-something women finding their way dangerously close to spiritual and mortal danger.

Along the way, we find humor and a bit of love with enough street and ethnic vocab to be a primer for us traditional adults on urban life running amok in the digital age. Pimps, guns, and smart phones layer the background for wildly colored costumes and characters peopling the underside of a free-wheeling street scene.

I don't plan to say more about the plot lest you think it is important because what is the center of the story is the experiential arc of seemingly innocent Zola and the charm of definitely-experienced Stefani. Although the story may elude you, you'll not forget these two as they flirt with danger and themselves looking for thrills and fulfillment in all the wrong places.

Zola is a crazy road trip that mashes up Midnight Cowboy and Thelma and Louise to give us laughs about the digital age, and maybe enough caution to keep us inside, pandemic or not.

IF SHE CALLS, HANG UP...!

[masonfisk · 7/10 · 23 February 2023]

A recent release whose backstory is probably more interesting than the film which was made. Published as a Rolling Stone article from a series of tweets a little while back, a professional pole dancer (no stripping, please!) embarked w/a newly minted friend for a wild weekend in Florida to hit some poles, make some money & have a helluva good time to tell about. The mirth turns however when the new bae expects her to participate tricking in hotels along the sandy strip w/a menacing pimp & her doofus of a boyfriend watch on. Starring Taylour Paige (from the also recent Boogie) & Riley Keough (Elvis Presley's granddaughter) as the mismatched ladies of the night, the film gets a lot of mileage from its premise which only flounders when things get a bit too real for the startled Paige who stays out of the action for the most part, only to step up when she feels Keough is selling herself (sorry!) too short. Also starring the mercurial Coleman Domingo as the pimp, Nicholas Braun (currently on HBO's Succession) as the dimwitted beau & Jason Mitchell (Easy E from Straight Outta Compton) as a Florida denizen who tries to make a move on Keough (who is making a solid career playing character roles in indie films, remember her as the pig girl in Magic Mike?).

An almost perfect chaos that can come from an online thread

[robusm · 9/10 · 30 June 2021]

I read the twitter thread this movie is based on and omg, it was a wild ride indeed! I was excited to watch how the movie would play out and it did not dissapoint (well almost!). The girls are absolutely beautiful and they know how to sell sex. Their sass and each tick for each character gives so much life to a story which came from tweets! I would suggest reading the tweets and then going for the movie, so you are not hugely disappointed that it wasn't 'more'. I think this was a very good concept of adaptation and I was enjoying the chaotic, awkward energy full on.

One problem I had was the ending. The ending does not do justice to the source and it left me lacking, like they should have included some more parts from the thread in the ending to give solace about where the characters end up but maybe that's the direction they wanted to go for. But overall, you won't regret watching it.

Don't worry, there aren't 280 characters.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 6/10 · 9 January 2022]

Based on a series of tweets made by the real-life equivalent of the eponymous protagonist, 'Zola (2021)' tells the story of a young woman who becomes embroiled in an ever-escalating sequence of slightly surreal events after she agrees to go on a trip with a woman she met at work. The film's narrative is remarkably consistent with that found in the aforementioned tweet thread, though the actual authenticity of its events is arguably up for debate. Strangely enough, the plot's biggest diversion comes at the end when it opts to, well, excise the actual ending relayed in its source social media posts. There's no real semblance of closure, and this lack of denouement is definitely detrimental to the flick's overall effect. It just sort of fades out, in a way, and is less memorable because of it. In fact, this actually makes the whole thing seem somewhat superficial (since there's no retrospection or, even, theming). However, the movie isn't without its merits. In fact, most of it is rather good. It's abrasive by design, unpleasant on purpose. While that often makes for uncomfortable viewing, it also makes for an engaging and challenging experience. Its directorial flourishes keep it feeling fresh, never content with taking the easiest path to its desired destination. It's generally entertaining, even if it's never exactly fun. Ultimately, this is a solid and stylish pseudo biopic that wears its internet origin on its sleeve in a surprisingly effective way. It has a few issues, but it's generally an effective experience. 6/10.

Annoyingly bad

[cruise01 · 4/10 · 1 December 2021]

2 out of 5 stars.

Terrible film based on a twitter event of a stripper who got pulled along to a road trip with another. Only to discover she is getting set up to sleep around for money. Boring film. Over done performances. A script that is annoying with dumb dialogue. And dull direction.

@Zola: A Crazy, Hoe-Trip

[Stream2BigScreen_Movie_Reviews · 9/10 · 5 July 2021]

Typically, movies are adapted from novels, plays and even news articles, but can a Twitter thread really be developed into a compelling film? When the story is as outrageous as the tweetstorm that A'Ziah "Zola" King posted about 5 years ago, then it is worth an try. Recently released in theaters, Zola is the successful adaptation by Janicza Bravo and Jeremy O. Harris of that infamous Twitter thread. Bravo directs the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Harris and infused it with all the suspense and humor that King's original tweets had while adding in some social commentary. Here's how it goes.

While billed as part comedy, Zola is a cautionary tale about taking "hoe trips" with a person you barely know. Zola (Taylour Paige) meets Stefani (Riley Keough) at her day job at a Hooters-type restaurant and they become fast friends - too fast. The next day, Stefani invites Zola on a weekend trip to Florida with her "roommate" (Colman Domingo) and her boyfriend (Nicholas Braun) to earn some easy cash by dancing at a nightclub. As the trip begins, Zola begins to realize that she doesn't know Stefani as well as she should now that she's 20 hours from home. Things get messy, crazy and dangerous with every turn of events. Zola definitely never heard that important bit of advice: never go to a second location.

At less than 90 minutes, Bravo has directed a very tight film that keeps the energy, entertainment, and suspense at a high level. Each new scene escalates the potential danger and dread that comes with this trip. Bravo and Harris have been able to maintain King's voice throughout the film. It's like she's reading her tweets and it just materializes on screen. They have added to the soundtrack that iconic Twitter message sound that corresponds to direct quotes from the source material. Although we know that some things have been changed to adapt for the screen, it all still feels as urgent, dangerous and outrageous as it must have when it occurred. The film itself moves at a great clip and never loses your attention, but the only problem with it is that the ending feels rushed and unresolved.

I have to mention the outstanding cast. Most people will note what a character Stefani is and how Riley Keough embodies her. She has that accent and looks the part of the appropriative try-hard. She so wants to ingratiate herself with Zola and you know she's trustworthy. Keough changes her eyes and voice trying to gain sympathy, but you know she's up to no good. Taylour Paige is a fantastic anchor for the film. Paige gets to be annoyed, fed-up and self-assured while dealing with this terrifying situation. The looks that Paige's Zola shoots at Stefani are deadly. Colman Domingo and Nicholas Braun round out the core ensemble, and both are great. Braun brings most of the humor while Domingo gets to be menacing. All of these actors work well together and make the film an enjoyable ride.

Ultimately, whether you've read the Twitter thread or not, Zola is a worthwhile adventure to the movies. It has suspense and humor. There are great performances and clever commentary on society, friendship and trust. Be careful who you take your "hoe trips" with - make sure to get a big box of popcorn for this one.

zola

[shelbyjones-59947 · 6/10 · 4 October 2021]

I love that it was from zola's pov through the whole movie, it added something that i havent felt in a while.

I don't get the hype over this movie...

[paul-allaer · 3/10 · 9 July 2021]

As "Zola" (2020 release; 86 min.) opens, Zola and Stephanie accidentally meet in a restaurant, and for reasons unclear and unknown, they strike up an immediate friendship. The next day, Stephanie invites Zola to come along on an impromptu trip to Florida, "to go dancing". Turns out that they are not alone, as Stephanie's boyfriend is along, as well as a guy whose role we don't understand at first... At this point we are 10 min. Into the film.

Couple of comments: at the beginning of the movie, we are reminded that in October, 2015, Zola released over 100 Tweets about her Florida trip with a friend (those Tweets formed the basis upon which the movie is based). We then dive into the story. Based on the movie's trailer, I was expecting something like "American Honey", but this movie ain't no "American Honey". Frankly, I don't know what to make of this. Here is what bothered me the most: we watch the two female leads for 90 min. At the end of the movie, I still had little to no insight on who these people were, what makes them tick, and why they do what they do. In other words: little to no character development that I noticed. One could argue that the story is such a wild story, and a wild story it is, and hence no character development is needed, but I take issue with that. While I was watching the film, I thought to myself that this seemed like a project that suits James Franco. Wouldn't you know! As I read up on the film after seeing this, apparently he was originally attached to direct this (he was booted after sexual misconduct allegations). Anyway, I must admit, I am scratching my head as to why this movie has garnered so much acclaim, as frankly the movie did little (ok, nothing) for me.

"Zola" was filmed in Fall of 2018, yes, over 2 1/2 years ago. It premiered at the 2020 Sundance film festival, and then of course a little thing called COVID-19 wrecked the entire industry. "Zola" finally opened in theaters last weekend. The Thursday early evening screening where I saw this at here in Cincinnati was attended poorly (3 people including myself). Honestly I can't see this playing in theaters much longer, for that the movie is too "off center" and frankly too poor. But don't take my word for it! Go check it out, be it in the theater (while you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.