Exciting and unpredictable 'Zola' is a must-see

I knew going into the new movie Zola that it was based on an infamous, colorful Twitter thread and I'm glad I didn't read it until after I saw the film because it would have spoiled many of its twists and turns. 

If you were thinking of seeing the movie and have yet to read the Twitter thread, DON'T, because the movie is very faithful to the events as described by Aziah 'Zola' King.

The 'events' are a raucous and raunchy tour de force from director Janicza Bravo, who makes a bold directorial statement here, with a dynamite cast and a gorgeous looking dark comedy. It's easily the best movie I've seen this year so far.

Without spoiling to much -- it's about two strippers played by Taylour Paige (who steals the movie) and 

Riley Keough (who pulls off a very risky 'blaccent') who bond instantly after a chance meeting an embark on an epic 'hoe trip' to Florida to make some easy money. But things quickly spiral out of control, mostly thanks to Riley's character whose extracurricular activities put them in all sorts of uncomfortable positions.

It's all very free-spirited, explicit fun (there is a lot of full frontal male nudity), perfectly capturing the spirit of King's tweets, which are written in a delightfully unorthodox prose that provides the Twitter equivalent of a page turner.

The movie succeeds not only because it's crafted beautifully but also because the cast knocks it out of the park. Keough here is a sight to behold -- she fully immerses herself in her role and is surprisingly likable despite doing despicable things on-screen. Meanwhile, the charismatic and stylish Coleman Domingo delivers another one of what are become signature powerhouse performances as her roommate/former pimp. But Paige is the center of this movie and it should in a just world make her a major star.

She totally sells the physical aspects of the role, giving Jennifer Lopez a run for her money in the stripper scenes. But she also demonstrates phenomenal comic timing too. Sometimes with a single word or a single look she gets some of the movie's biggest laughs. And she makes what can often be the most thankless role -- the audience surrogate -- the best one.

In King's tweets, the 'Zola' character is not quite as sympathetic or passive, but that doesn't detract from the cinematic version at all. Paige is stunning, sarcastic and something special.

Zola is also a speedy little movie. It'll probably leave you with a few more questions than answers, but it's a testament to the movie that I immediately wanted to know more about King and the tweet thread that inspired the movie.

Curiously, the movie doesn't delve too deeply into issues of race. It's all there -- in Keough's affected voice, in a chilling peripheral scene where presumably a black suspect is getting tased on the side of the road. It simply trusts the audience to pick up on its themes of privilege and power. Which is remarkably refreshing. 

And while I doubt this is the kind of movie that will get love come awards time, I think it has a lot of potential with audiences.