Everything Everywhere All At Once

18 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Movie Review, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (as the Daniels)

I saw this with friends at my local cinema (the State) and while it was great to see on the big screen, our experience was unfortunately marred by some very inappropriately noisy young girls, which is always sad. We went in purposely knowing very little about the film, only the main cast and that it’s an A24 release. It’s my preferred way to see anything – and we weren’t disappointed.

This film is made up of very many thematic pieces. Part absurdist comedy, part family drama, part action blockbuster, part science fiction but at it’s core, I felt it was a thoughtful examination of existentialism on one hand and nihilism on the other. There are many film references, stretching from Hong Kong action cinema to Disney animation, and I even found myself thinking of In the Mood For Love (2000) with some very beautifully lit and heartfelt alley scenes. Perhaps my biggest takeaway from this, is that it isn’t based on an existing property, it’s a wholly original work (albeit a cinematic homage) and that makes it all the more refreshing.

The cast are top notch but my standouts are Michelle Yeoh (Evelyn Wang), the astonishing Jamie Lee Curtis (Deirdre Beaubeirdre) and Stephanie Hsu (Joy Wang). They’re ably supported by veteran actor James Hong (Gong Gong) and Ke Huy Kwan (Waymond Wang) who as a child actor, played Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).

There are moments that are outrageously, laugh-out-loud funny, some blindingly great action sequences (where Yeoh is stunning) and moments when I found myself in tears, thinking of my own fraught family relationships. For the most part, the pacing is frenetic, at times reminiscent of Edgar Wright’s smash cuts from Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010) but it’s interspersed with quieter, reflective moments that (for me, at least) will remain long after the movie has ended.

Overall, I found the whole far greater than the sum of its many parts and a thoroughly entertaining ride. Try and see it on the biggest screen possible. Very highly recommended.

Everything Everywhere All At Once is currently in wide release globally .

The Adam Project

05 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Movie Review, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The Adam Project (2022)

Directed by Shawn Levy. Written by Jonathon Tropper, T. S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin

This Netflix production is another collaboration from Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds, after last year’s Oscar nominated Free Guy (2021). Shot entirely in British Columbia Canada, The Adam Project is essentially an action movie that straddles science fiction (time travel specifically), coming of age, comedy and family drama – especially the currently popular “Bad Dads” concept. (I think Bad Dads have become so prevalent it should be recognised as a subgenre all on its own!)

A common problem with mixing so many ideas in the same movie is that everything gets messy, fundamentals can be diluted and some important things get lost along the way. The quality cast really helps here, led by Ryan Reynolds as Adam Reed, who (while perfectly fine) doesn’t deviate from his usual charming performance. Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana and Catherine Keener all make the most of their roles, but the standout for me is Walker Scobell as 12 year old Adam. His delivery is on point, capturing Reynolds’ easy going charm perfectly.

While this is great family viewing, it’s one of those films that’s fine while you’re watching it but readily forgotten after the event. The Adam Project is currently available to stream on Netflix in most territories, including Australia.