I missed my chance catching this in the cinema, and trying to find a copy of this film on physical or even digital that wasnt stupidly expensive was problematic to say the least. Mercifully ‘Channel 4’ appear to have screened it over the new years, and they’ve JUST by chance got their streaming app back up and working on google and android systems. So I grasped at the chance to catch this one while there was still a window to do it legally for free…and I was NOT dissapointed.

The film is essentially one giant spoiler. So I cant really go into any kind of detail without ruining the experience. Suffice to say, I went into this largely blind with only the knowledge that it involved jumping around in multiverses in some way, and that apparently it was a bit weird (my kind of remit). But I dont think I was prepared for the subtext of this piece to really smack the audience across the face in the 2nd and 3rd acts.

The universe hopping is really just window dressing, the framework from which the main plot is draped, which is predominantly around finding and accepting your place in the world, working through trauma and acknowledging when that trauma is influencing your life and your decisions to both yours and the people around you’s detriment. and learning to continue growing, learning acceptance and actually striving to evolve, rather than shutting down and just accepting your lot in life.

This film is basically a ‘growth’ story, but it does the wonderful thing of not just making it a lone persons growth story, much like the multiverse plot thats being thrust to the forefront of the pictures marketing. this film is about the growth of a family, the development of a family, and how one small change can create unexpected bigger ripples (something the film cleverly talks about literally with the multiverse elements, while doing it metaphorically with the characters themselves.)

I really quite enjoyed this one. I felt the script was refreshing, ran at a clip and structured itself remarkably well while spinning so many plates. I always say the sign of a great movie is when you become so wrapped up in the world the films building that you end up having a a shock realisation of the logistics it would have taken to handle some of the themes, elements, shots or direction choices the film made. and I found myself constantly having to pause the film to catch my breath at some of the shot choices, thematic choices and effects utilised. Its honestly a remarkable work, with influences stretching from anime titles like ‘Paprika’. ‘Perfect Blue’ and ‘Ghost in the shell’, to surreal Japanese cinema offerings like ‘House’ to Western influences ranging from ‘Monty Python’, to Disney right through to the 1964 film ‘L’Enfer’

It casts its net into so many genres, movies, fields and thoughts it can quite quickly become a rather overwhelming experience (Lord knows how it felt to watch this thing in Imax, im sure ushers had to scrape peoples brains off the ceiling).

The script itself is charming, interesting and relentless baraging the audience with philosophical concepts and ideas from start to finish. the act structuring is solid, the decision to split the film into 3 parts I thought worked well and the ideas coming off this script are astounding, its a firework of a film honestly shedding sparkles of genius with ever throb.

While I do think the film starts to slow a little in the back half of the 2nd act as it gets bogged down with the concepts the films trying to present. I think i’d find it hard to get this movie down to sub 2 hours. Im almost always an advocate that your film could be 10-15 minutes shorter and twice better for it. This film is no exception, but it really becomes a case of ‘where to cut?’ because even the small moments, are nice and add subtle additional layers to the storytelling.

The direction and cine are both exemplary, theres a reason this film did well during awards season with ultra creative directoral visions beautifully captured in razor sharp cinemetographic choices. I do think it relies on CGI a little *too* much at times, and at times it does feel like it prioritizes the visuals over the vision. But I can forgive it that given how folks quite often will remember an image over an idea.

The colour use is superb, the shot variety and edit are astounding, clear, precise works that honestly delighted. with humour being gently sprinkled across the runtime, in ways that CAN be up front, but are often quite subtle.

The performances are equally astounding. Of course, the centerpiece of the whole thing has to be the frankly genius acting of Michelle Yeoh and Stephanie Hsu as Mother and Daughter Evelyn and Joy. Delivering an astounding range over 150 minutes from genuine gut punches to solid laughter and everything in between, the film would have been a poorer experience without their sincerity and genuiness oozing out of the screen.

Of course, thats not to ignore Ke Huy Quan here as Waymond, who gets a split personality role ranging from a suave action type, to a soul crushed gent who ‘missed an opportunity’ to a doting husband on both sides of a divorce. he too gives an astounding range of performances and his charm really does help pull the audience in and bring them along for every bump of the ride.

That of course isnt to play down the supporting cast, in particular James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis as ‘Gong Gong’ and ‘Deirdre’ respectfully…who do a fine turn in their respective roles. They fully capture the parts they’re playing and seem to be having a lot of fun doing so. Put it this way, when JAMES HONG…AND JAMIE LEE CURTIS…ARE BOTH…Starring in your film, and they’re great, but arnt a patch on your leading cast. My god, you’re cooking with something special.

Throw in a solid soundtrack that really helps punctuate key moments and is used almost a layering tool to help further pull you into the situation, and I think you have a real winner on your hands here honestly.

I didnt really know what to expect from ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ going in. I was just hoping what i’d heard was done effectively. And I really wasnt dissapointed. an astounding journey of a movie with a unique flare and style that was MORE than deserving of the praise the academy gave it at the time. I highly recommend checking this one out. But my advise is to make sure you have the time to catch it all in one sitting, uninterrupted. I struggle to find 2+ hours free a day, and I feel being pulled in and out of the action didnt solidly help me. But if you can stay in that world, it’s a rich and rewarding experience.

source https://letterboxd.com/tytdreviews/film/everything-everywhere-all-at-once/