Everything Everywhere All At Once

Everything Everywhere All At Once is a film that uses cinematography and editing in incredible ways to tell a unique and meaningful story. The Daniels use visual effects and editing techniques as a way to tell what can be at times a difficult story to follow. I think this movie is a good example of how showing can be more effective than telling. For example, we could've had the multiverse described to Evelyn and been left to interpret what it is on our own, but by showing us montages of different Evelyn's in different universes at the same time we are able to understand what the multiverse means so much more clearly. I think this also allows the audience to try and understand what is going on through the eyes of Evelyn. The movie is not easy to follow, particularly at the beginning, but I think this was an intentional choice that pays off brilliantly. We as an audience aren't supposed to understand what exactly is going on because Evelyn has no idea what is happening either. Over time, we get visual clues and explanations that make the story clearer. I am very curious as to what I would I think of the movie on a second watch already knowing the direction that the film is going in.

I do think that the success of EEAAO has at least something to do with the current state of the world. In the film, there is talk about things not feeling the way that they used to and a major theme is Evelyn trying to discover who she is or what her purpose is in life. I feel as though this is a common struggle for many people at the current moment of time. Many people feel lost in one way or another and are yearning for simpler times when we seemingly had less to worry about. This movie gives us ways to feel less lost and shows us how we can achieve a sense of purpose through the simplest of actions. This movie, which is already very good, came out at the perfect cultural moment to ensure that it would become the massive success that it did.