Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on March 7, 2023 @ tonymacklin.net.

Everything Everywhere All at Once is a film for the digital age.

It's a strong favorite to win the Oscar for Best Picture of 2022.

But is it mainstream or only a niche film? The last five films that have won Best Picture Oscars can be considered niche films: Nomadland (2021), Parasite (2019), Green Book (2018), The Shape of Water (2017), and Moonlight (2016).

The last film that won the Best Picture Oscar that was clearly mainstream is Spotlight (2015).

We have reached an age where our institutions are under assault - some deservedly.

One foreboding, absurd decision this year was when the once formidable and credible film journal Sight and Sound had its decadal poll of film "experts." Their international multitude picked Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) as The Greatest Film of All-Time. In what world? It's a nonsensical "woke" decision. Sight and Sound put their thumb on the scale. Actually, their middle finger.

Everything Everywhere All at Once should win the Oscar this year. It's this year's niche rave.

It's a challenging, provocative, manic, self-indulgent movie. It is the frantic story - subtitled Everything Against the Wall - of Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), who is transported to multiverse - 8 alternate universes. She is facing different phases of "love" and conflict.

Evelyn is a Chinese-American owner of a struggling laundromat and has a life bursting with struggling relationships. She arrives at a vision of nothing matters. But in a feel-good ending, she settles.

The lead role originally was planned for Jackie Chan. But 60-year old veteran actress Michelle Yeoh makes the role her own with a lively multifaceted performance. She is a strong favorite for Best Actress.

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress are Stephanie Hsu as Evelyn's daughter. Lesbian, of course. A live underdog is Jamie Lee Curtis as an IRS agent. Ke Huy Quan, as Evelyn's husband, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

The Daniels - Kwan and Scheinert - directed and wrote the spastic film. If you like dopey allusions like the ape scene in 2001, you'll like this film.

As Hollywood and its dream factory get "woke," the mainstream is slipping. Tom Cruise may be the only movie star that still can draw people into movie theaters.

But don't worry.

You can see Everything Everywhere All at Once on your phone.

© 2000-2023 Tony Macklin