Everything Everywhere All At Once, 2022

 

Rated R

To be honest, I couldn't bring myself to watch the winning film after the Academy Awards ceremony; then, I couldn't wrap my head around it or put it into words once I had. So I almost threw in the towel and skipped over this year entirely. But since I'm not a quitter, I will at least write what I need to to carry on...

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" is a perfect title for this cinematic visual assault. At first, I thought the premise sounded quite interesting... Evelyn Wang is going through the motions working the family laundromat with her apathetic husband and sharp-tongued lesbian daughter. She prepares for and attends an important meeting with a cantankerous auditor from the IRS with husband, Waymond, in which she learns there are multiverses. Who is she really in each (and the people she knows and loves)? What are they capable of?

Intriguing, right? Throw in some awesome kung fu, and it's almost a little like "The Matrix", "The Bourne Identity", and "Inception". It also gives off very superhero-y vibes. But then... they threw in hot dog fingers, talking rocks, and the black hole which is really an everything bagel. I cannot count how many times I asked "what am I watching?!" 

My husband and I laughed out loud, not because something was funny, but because it was ridiculous, and I don't think that's honestly a sign of a good movie. There were truly so many asinine images and scenes, I found it hard to develop true empathy for the characters when they had moments of seriousness and monologues meant to garner empathy from the audience. 

Fights were won, tears were shed, growth was made. But sadly, I was not moved. I applaud the creative minds behind the project but it should not have won the coveted award IMO. 

After having an impressive run at the box office, and I'm sure due to some swaying by film critics, this became the "obvious" front runner during award season. I say that in quotes, because there were several blockbuster hits that year when you look at the nominations. Perhaps I've gotten a little disenchanted by the process since I've listened to a few podcasts that explained a bit of the 'behind-the-scenes' of marketing and promoting. So much of a film's success during awards' season has to do with timing (when to release the film) and then, of course, there are the gift baskets given to voters (yuck).  

This film was up against "All Quiet on the Western Front" (a German re-make), "Avatar: The Way of Water", "Elvis", "The Banshees of Inisherin", "The Fablemans", "Tar", "Top Gun: Maverick", "Triangle of Sadness", and "Women Talking". Of those nominees, I saw "Elvis" and the "Top Gun" sequel, both of which I enjoyed and was surprised that "Elvis" walked away empty-handed. "EEAAO" collected an impressive 11 nominations and won 7 awards including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress (I didn't think this was an award-worthy performance; I actually even preferred Jamie Lee Curtis in "Freaky Friday"), Best Supporting Actor (he's from "The Goonies" and "Indiana Jones"! - GREAT acceptance speech), Best Director(s), Best Film Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. It is the third film in Oscar history to win three acting awards and the first official science-fiction Best Picture in Oscar history. 

MEMORABLE SCENE:

I think the first multiverse jump was my favorite and most memorable because I wasn't expecting it. Evelyn is introduced to the ways of verse jumping by an alternate version of her husband. And the tasks the travelers have to accomplish can be hilarious or harrowing. 

MEMORABLE LINE / LESSONS LEARNED:

In one multiverse, Evelyn is a successful spoiled star, and this dashing version of her husband sadly claps back in an argument, "I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you." It was just the right amount of sappy to remind us that when you have a partner in life whose company you truly appreciate and whose character you respect, any task can be enjoyable. She sees his optimism as a weakness, but he fights to see the positive side of situations - he sees it as a strength. 

It is up to you to find meaning/purpose in the life that you've been given. No, nihilism isn't an/the answer, nor can you look to others to fill the void you think needs filling. Personally, as a Christian, I think there's someone we can turn to for truth and meaning and go from there...