Support Original Filmmaking - See 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' on the Big Screen
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 5:43PM by Eurocheese
If you haven’t already experienced the cinematic joy of seeing Everything Everywhere All at Once with an audience yet, you’re missing out. This creative powerhouse is adding back IMAX theaters this week and may become A24’s biggest box office hit to date. Anyone who believes Hollywood doesn’t bring original content to our screens anymore owes it to themselves to see this as soon as possible. Just in case you weren’t convinced by the critical raves and audience support, here are a few reasons this film needs to be seen on the big screen.
Daniels’ (writer/director duo Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) latest film is a visual feast, incredibly made for just $25 million and by a tiny vfx team. As it pairs elements of action with comedy and family drama, the action sequences dazzle with varying tones, ranging from images you might see in a Scott Pilgrim vs. the World battle to scenes that the cast of Jackass would applaud...
The film swings for the fences in ways that are completely unpredictable, with editing that keeps the film moving at a thrilling pace. Here’s a little advice for first time viewers: Don’t waste time trying to figure out where the story is heading. Enjoy the twists, turns and eye candy as they come.
As the directors have pointed out in interviews, once they finished the script, they realized the only person who could pull off the lead role was Michelle Yeoh. Years ago, when the respected action star brought home the poignant love story in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon without receiving an Oscar nomination, fans hoped she would find the right vehicle to win her universal acclaim while showcasing her unique talents. As Everything Everywhere All at Once builds its word of mouth, we hope that the iconic actress will finally receive long overdue recognition for a lead role that celebrates her versatility. Her character Evelyn can be a prickly protagonist at times, but the film uses this to its advantage, allowing for emotional payoffs as she develops. Her talent for choreographed action, heartbreaking pathos and surprising humor is all here; cinephiles will be talking about this genre-bending performance for years.
Speaking of emotional payoffs, 80s child star Ke Huy Quan’s (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Goonies) triumphant return to our screens is a marvel. Waymond was clearly a difficult character to emotionally map from moment to moment, but without this character, the film’s core message wouldn’t have landed with the same heft. Both Quan and Yeoh take the audience on a journey where a life and death clash may be followed by a quiet, heartfelt conversation, and they land every emotional note.
The entire cast is doing fantastic work. Stephanie Hsu’s commanding screen presence announces her as a major new screen talent; Jamie Lee Curtis steals scenes with a character unlike anything we’ve ever seen from her; and a few cameos, offering fun surprises, all add to the viewing experience. The dynamic storyline stretches the actors to show us talents we’ve never seen from them before. Everyone seems game for anything, which opens audiences up to be game for everything thrown at them.
Perhaps the best reason to see this in theaters: It’s a wild, delightful ride, and if you haven’t been to the theaters since the pandemic ended, this is the perfect opportunity to go. After spending the last two years concerned about the future of cinema, this film reminds us why we love sitting in a dark theater and hearing sounds of confusion, laughter and tears around us. This is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had in a theater, and I’m so pleased audiences have shown up to support this brand of filmmaking.
Reader Comments (12)
Bought an IMAX ticket this weekend to see this a 2nd time. Worth it.
Really hope the movie continues this great momentum.
So glad I saw this in a theater. A little too much of a good thing, perhaps, but definitely one of the most creative films I've seen in a while - and the performances from Yeoh, Quan, Hsu, and JLC are across-the-board fantastic.
Hope A24 doesn't forget this one come awards-campaigning time!
I saw it this past weekend and I liked it a lot. Very entertaining with some great performances from Yeoh and Quan. However, I really wished it had slowed down a little bit. It was pretty much on 110% at all times. Even the slower Wong Kar-wai moments were furiously intercut with bagels and rocks (love those rocks) and hotdogs and kung fu and it was just *a bit much*.
Would love to see some real pushes for Yeoh, Quan and the costume design of Shirley Kurata.
My only qualm with this movie is its length. It becomes so exhausting (which is why i haven't seen it twice) but otherwise it's so brilliant-- I love it lots. and the actors are indeed incredible, especially Yeoh and Curtis.
I thought this film was pretty amazing. Well paced and original, it just works. I was also surprised by how slowly, but organically the emotions of the story build. I think Yeoh, the writing, Quan, and Hsu really help sell the difficult emotions of this story.
Also, Michelle Yeoh gives a great comedic performance here with real poignance. This is different from her Crazy Rich Asians turn, where the comedy came from her control and the drama she brought to the script. Here, she's incredibly loose. It's really fun to see her be so lived-in, and I hope critics, the globes, and the Academy remember her at the end of the year. I think it will be so fun to have her on the campaign trail. Listening to her interviews have been incredible.
It's so rare that we get a major relase starring Asian actors, in American films, that allows them to really take on complex lead roles. I'm so happy we have this film. Good on A24 for making smart moves with this film (e.g., the press for Yeoh, getting it the scifi nerds, releasing during the April action lull, etc.).
Loved it—absolutely recommend seeing it on the big screen. I'm so glad it wasn't available to stream because I would have watched it at home and missed that experience.
Having said that: My biggest qualm wasn't the length or the pacing. I hated the "everything bagel," to me that felt so lazy and cheesy...and the film beats that visual symbol to death, insisting over and over again that this is clever. I was so tired of seeing that thing by the end.
I left the theater thinking about what a gargantuan (you know I've always liked that word "gargantuan" but so rarely get to use it in a sentence) achievement this is for Michelle Yeoh.
I wish they gave out honorary Oscars for specific achievements—this would merit it. Let them give Best Actress to the next Eyes of Tammy Faye or whatever, but let's not pretend what anybody did this year can touch what Yeoh accomplished. It's checkers vs. chess. I felt the same way about Uma in Kill Bill—just a monumental thing that transcends the provincial end-of-year horserace.
I've seen it 3 times so far and I just keep loving it more and more. Also it's an incredibly satisfying feeling to see a raucous audience get silent during THAT parking lot scene and also during THAT speech that Waymond gives. It's truly a testament to all the impeccable performances that exist in this picture.
In my personal awards, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan are already a lock for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively . I just hope the Academy feels the same way next year.
Absolutely loved this film and seeing it on the big screen is a must. I pretty much tell anyone I come in contact with to run to the theater!
The movie was really great. It's worth buying IMAX and watching in theaters. Word Hurdle dordle
The movie was really great. It's worth buying IMAX and watching in theaters. Word Hurdle dordle
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finally saw it and... it should sweep the Oscars, any given year. A clear message to the industry: there are stories to be told, you don't need to rehash again and again the same old. There's brilliance in the newer generations, that you're just wasting in popcorn products.
A great example might be Ke Huy Quan's Oscar deserving performance... a child actor who saw his career slowly crash because of the lack of chances for Asian actors in Hollywood beyond stereotypes and sidekicks or minor characters... he retired. He came back from retirement pulling off to perfection a complex performance that involved huge physicallity but also subtlely and charisma in spares. To me, along Yeoh, he is the stand out in a film in which five actors may be standing out from the competition on 2022: Yeoh, Quan, Hong, Hsu and Curtis. This should take SAG Ensemble and Stunt Ensemble in a heartbeat. WGA is arguably in order, as well as ACE. DGA would be a huge snub if it didn't happen - what a difficult film to shoot and planify and to pull off!
I really think that, it deserves to win Best Picture, right away. It's one of the best films I've seen in my whole life, and no, I didn't care about the lenght, as I think that every frame adds up to the overall product.