Everything Everywhere All at Once

Budging in line above my backlog of reviews to write one about a movie I just saw is something I've never done. I've also never given out a 98 before, but this is complete, maddening, perfection. It is literally everything you could possibly want in a movie. It's a breathtaking, singular experience from the robust laughs to the punchy, heartfelt, sincere moments, right on down to spectacular fight sequences and uniquely effective score. It made me feel like I had never seen a movie before today.

Probably because I've been an old fart since I was a teenager, this unbridled work of excessive imagination was torture to sit through for the last two hours. Crass, ugly, loud, removed 180 degrees from what I value about art and the way art deals with life, the film still makes an impact with its overbearing free writing style, where every arbitrary, juvenile idea is welcomed and filmed. So turn down for what?

How something this insane and absurd is winning literally every single person over is beyond me, but I’m glad nonetheless. Daniels takes the viewer on a journey that is truly like no other. Nothing can really prepare you. I found it to be a perfectly executed piece of cinema about giving your life meaning. It’s also masterfully shot, edited and acted. Yeoh is at her very best here. Definitely catch this in the cinema if you can. It’s one of the most immersive movies I’ve seen in years.

A miracle movie. It’s a rush of a thousand journeys and arcs and emotions - when I was finally spit back out into this universe, I took the world in just a little bit differently. Yeoh knows this is the role of (many) lifetimes, and deserves every praise. I can’t overstate the deep resonance in its message: if infinite outcomes are possible, and you inhabit this very particular one, it’s because you choose to be here, which means you’re the best possible version of yourself. Carpe fucking ipses.

OK so I ended up coming out to my mom the same day I saw this so my point of view may be skewed but it's just nothing like I've seen in quite a long time and it had beautiful and poignant commentary on moving forward in the face of a universe that does nothing but kick your ass day by day.