When was the last time you sat in a theater and was completely transported and surprised by a film you saw on screen?
There are so few truly unique cinematic experiences to have over 100 years after the advent of film. In the years since I have become a cinephile who frequents the theater more than most (5 times per week pre-COVID), there have been a few films that took me for an unexpected and engaging ride. Annihilation was so bold and grotesque in its visuals that the audience sat in utter silence as the credits rolled. A film like mother! caused such a visceral reaction to its final act that someone in my theater got up and literally yelled “THAT WAS THE WORST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN!” as he stormed out of the theater. Making my way to the Philadelphia Film Center for the first time, I was hoping for such an experience again with Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Did Daniels deliver on the promise of this old trailer that has been floating for months?
Oh…this was an experience. From the filmmaking, storytelling, visuals, action, and character dynamics, Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the boldest films to release in years. The story finds an immigrant woman whose life revolves around her laundromat but her marriage to a sweet and quirky man is on the rocks, her relationship with her queer daughter is on the rocks, and she struggles to deal with her father deteriorating mind. But then some entity connects with her and sends her flying through the multiverse as she connects with all the other versions of herself through existence. This film is a crazy ride that you will never expect. She must save existence, her family, and find herself.
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert combine their forces but what are they able to do to make this film stand out?
From the opening shot, the cinematography (from DP Larkin Seiple) is noticeable in the best way possible. The moves are bold, and the camera interacts with plenty of mirrors which create enticing perspectives. The Daniels know how to utilize the whole frame to capture unique storytelling elements such as seeing important elements in a security camera in the background. The editing is also utilized in a plethora of ways to make this an engaging experience. The film (which is considerably over two hours) moves along at a breakneck pace thanks to the movement between shots. There is also a great sense of humor in the film and the cuts between scenes make up some of the best and most unexpected laughs in the film. The action throughout the film is also staged perfectly and offers up an exhilarating rush. Some of the visuals are so impressive that I am not even sure I can do it justice by describing it.
Sure, this film is a visual treat but does the story offer up enough depth to engage the audience as well?
By the end of the film, I could feel some tears building up in my eyes. The deeply affecting relationships that fill out the film make it that much greater. The heart of the film is the mother-daughter dynamic between Michelle Yeoh’s Evelyn and Stephanie Hsu’s Joy. They argue, shun each other, and literally go to battle with each other across different planes of existence.
The poignant themes that layer their relationship and the conflicts that evolve and resolve over the course of the film will certainly bring some emotions to the surface.
In the climax of the film, the confrontation between these two is expertly written and conveys so much emotion. But if this relationship wasn’t enough, Evelyn goes through her own journey with both her husband (a relationship that evolves from distant to tender) and her father. The heart that this film puts at the forefront elevates this above some other great science fiction that keeps you at a distance.
How does this film accomplish such poignant emotion and connection?
The actors. Yeoh is an incredible actress and can balance physicality in her performances with the human emotions that connect with the audience. From the first time I watched Tomorrow Never Dies, I have been a huge fan of hers. The feat that Yeoh accomplishes is tremendous. The emotion. The battling. The quirky personality. Everything comes together to create a fully realized creation that is hard to forget. Hsu matches at each turn as they battle physically and emotionally throughout the film. Ke Huy Quan is such a delight as he transitions from a quirky and sensitive husband to a kickass warrior with impressive physical fluidity. James Hong is a legend, and he gets to have fun in this role (and it is always a delight to see him on-screen). Jamie Lee Curtis gets to inhabit a strange character with an even stranger narrative direction, but she is so game for this weird adventure.
When this off-the-wall science fiction mash-up finds its way to your area, will you be taking the dive into the crazy world it creates?
Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most unique cinematic experiences you will experience in a long time.
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This is not just a filmmaking experience either. There is a deeply resonant emotional connection that this film creates with its characters and the audience. This is the kind of film that you do not want to miss.
