In this episode, AJ reviews THE DRAMA starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson — an emotionally tense relationship drama that may completely change depending on your age and life experience.

After AJ’s 23-year-old daughter urged her to watch the film following its theatrical release in Ireland, the two compared reactions afterward — and discovered they experienced the movie in completely different ways.

AJ discusses:

• Why the movie feels emotionally suspenseful rather than traditionally dramatic
• The film’s painfully realistic communication breakdowns
• Themes of insecurity, perception, people-pleasing, and emotional labour
• How generational perspective changes the viewing experience
• The psychologically uncomfortable filmmaking style of director Kristoffer Borgli
• Why some audiences may find the film compelling… while others may simply find it exhausting

This is a spoiler-free review of a film that intentionally traps its audience inside emotional discomfort — and somehow turns that discomfort into compelling cinema.

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

This week on Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ reviews PROJECT HAIL MARY starring Ryan Gosling — an ambitious, emotional, and visually spectacular science-fiction film from writer Drew Goddard and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

The movie follows a teacher-turned-scientist unexpectedly pulled into a mission tied to a global ecological crisis, unfolding through fragmented memories, isolation in space, and one of the most emotionally rewarding sci-fi journeys in years.

AJ discusses:

• Why the film’s emotional core works so well
• Sandra Hüller’s standout performance
• The storytelling fingerprints of Drew Goddard
• Comparisons to Arrival, Gravity, and 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Whether the slower first act ultimately pays off
• And why optimistic science fiction still matters

No spoilers — just thoughtful sci-fi discussion and a final fork rating.

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

Twenty years later, The Devil Wears Prada 2 returns to the runway — and somehow Miranda Priestley still walks into a room like she owns oxygen itself.

In this spoiler-free review, AJ breaks down whether The Devil Wears Prada 2 earns its return or simply survives on nostalgia. The episode explores the evolution of fashion media in the digital age, the return of the iconic cast, and why this sequel succeeds by allowing its characters to evolve rather than replaying the original film beat for beat.

Featuring discussion on:

• Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci returning to their iconic roles
• Fashion publishing versus influencer culture and algorithms
• Gorgeous cinematography and standout costume design
• Why the emotional maturity of the characters gives the sequel unexpected weight
• Whether legacy sequels can still have something meaningful to say

And yes… Miranda Priestley still has the ability to emotionally destroy someone with fewer than ten words.  

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

In this episode of Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ revisits Rustin (2023) — the powerful historical drama centered on Bayard Rustin, the civil rights strategist who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington while spending decades pushed into the background of history.

The episode explores why Rustin’s contributions were minimized for so long, how the film handles identity, activism, and political sacrifice, and why Colman Domingo delivers one of the most emotionally authentic performances AJ has seen in years.

AJ also reflects on the emotional loneliness running underneath the film, the difference between understanding someone and recognizing their humanity, and why Rustin feels painfully relevant today.

This is not a flashy Hollywood historical drama. It’s a quieter, deeply human film about dignity, authenticity, sacrifice, and the people history often chooses not to remember.

Spoiler-free as always — because sometimes the most important stories are the ones history almost erased.  

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

In this episode of Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ dives into Michael (2026) — the ambitious biopic exploring the rise of Michael Jackson through the Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad eras.

But beneath the music, choreography, and nostalgia, this episode becomes a much deeper conversation about fame, childhood, race, abuse, and the emotional cost of becoming a global icon before you’ve even had the chance to grow up.

AJ breaks down Jaafar Jackson’s performance as Michael, why Colman Domingo completely disappears into the role of Joe Jackson, and why some of the film’s most powerful moments have nothing to do with the concerts at all.

The episode also explores the film’s portrayal of MTV’s early resistance to Black artists, the complicated influence of the Jackson family on the production, and the uncomfortable question sitting underneath the entire movie: what does fame do to a child?

Spoiler-free as always — because sometimes the story behind the icon is far more complicated than the legend itself. 

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

In this episode of Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ dives into Rental Family — a quiet, emotionally powerful film that explores loneliness, identity, and the human need for connection.

Set in modern-day Tokyo, the film follows an American actor, played by Brendan Fraser, who becomes involved in a company that rents out “family members” — actors hired to step into people’s lives and fill emotional gaps. It’s an unusual premise, but what unfolds is something deeply grounded, intimate, and profoundly human.

Directed by Hikari, the film leans into stillness, silence, and emotional ambiguity — allowing its themes to resonate without ever forcing them. Fraser delivers one of his most restrained and quietly powerful performances, anchoring a story that asks a deceptively simple question:

What makes a connection real?

This episode explores:

• The emotional weight behind the film’s premise
• Why Fraser’s performance works without ever trying too hard
• The ethical tension between performance and genuine connection
• And how the film challenges our understanding of belonging

🎧 Final verdict: A beautifully shot, emotionally intelligent film that doesn’t demand your attention — it earns it quietly, and stays with you long after it ends.

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

In this episode of Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ revisits Wicked: Part One — a film that delivers scale, emotion, and elite-level performances… but didn’t receive the recognition it arguably deserved where it mattered most.

From Cynthia Erivo’s powerhouse dual performance — blending emotional depth with technically demanding вокals — to Ariana Grande’s surprising precision and comedic control, this is a film firing on all cylinders.

So why did the Academy stop short?

AJ breaks down the disconnect between nominations and wins, challenges the idea of “first-time narratives” in awards voting, and examines how factors like momentum, legacy, and industry politics shape outcomes more than pure performance.

This episode also dives into:

• The overlooked direction of Jon M. Chu
• Why Paul Tazewell’s win was undeniable
• And whether the Oscars reward merit… or just the moment

🎧 Final verdict: This is a complete film — and one the Academy didn’t fully meet at its level.

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

Anora took home five Oscars — including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress — but after watching it a second time… I still don’t get it.

In this episode, I revisit one of last year’s most talked-about films and break down where it works, where it falls short, and why the Academy’s full endorsement of this film doesn’t sit right with me.

I get into:

    •    What critics loved — from its chaotic energy to Mikey Madison 

    •    Where the film struggles — including uneven storytelling and shallow character development

    •    The fine line between portraying exploitation and participating in it

    •    And whether consultation with sex workers actually translates into authentic perspective on screen

Because when a film wins Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Female Actor in a Lead Role and Best Editing… that’s not just buzz — that’s a statement.

And I’m not sure it’s the right one.

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

In this episode of Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ breaks down the nominees for Best Picture at the 2026 Academy Awards.

From intimate character-driven dramas to ambitious large-scale filmmaking, this year’s lineup reflects the wide range of storytelling the Academy recognized over the past year.

AJ revisits each nominated film and shares quick thoughts on what makes them stand out — from standout performances and directing choices to the themes and storytelling that resonated most during awards season.

Then it comes down to the final predictions:

Which film will win, which film should win, and which nominee could pull off the upset when the Academy announces the winner.

It’s the final prediction before Oscar night.

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.

In this episode of Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ examines the nominees for Best Director at the 2026 Academy Awards.

This category recognizes the filmmakers responsible for shaping the entire vision of a movie — guiding performances, controlling tone, and bringing the story to life through visual storytelling.

AJ looks at the distinctive styles of this year’s nominees — from sprawling political filmmaking to quiet emotional observation — while also addressing the continued representation challenges within the category itself.

Then it comes down to the predictions:

Who will win, who should win, and which filmmaker could pull off an upset on Oscar night.

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About  

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  

📸 Follow on Instagram: @moviesigiveaforkabout  

🌐 Podcast site: giveaforkmovies.com

New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.