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It is one of the most celebrated movies
this Oscar season, but are you ready for
it? Everything Everywhere All at Once is one
of the best movies I’ve seen! But I was
ready for it, and you might be too. Will
it make my top-10 list of favorite movies?
Not sure. But this movie was as moving as it
was quirky. And I love me some quirky. But I
wouldn’t be saying all this without the Marvel
multiverse storylines of the past couple years.
Let me explain.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a mind
bender and absurdist comedy. It has plenty
of LOL. I had to rewind a few times on the
“everything bagel scene” (search that on
YouTube). There are also, however, moments
that are unbelievably… wait for it… it’s my
favorite descriptor for a movie that is genuinely
elevated… poignant. There, I said it. In
the end, kindness wins out over meanness.
A lost generation needs to be saved, and one
mother must draw from multiple versions of
herself to get that job done for her daughter.
This battle is waging today, and we need this
The Movie Column
By arts columnist Tom Sims
truth and kindness today. If you disagree,
check your meanness at the door — oh, and
read a newspaper.
So how does Marvel play in? The premise
of Everything Everywhere All at Once is that multiple
universes and other versions of us exist
somewhere else. Too much? You’re out, you
say? Fair enough. But this is fantasy fiction,
so… maybe reconsider. The Marvel character
Doctor Strange has pioneered the multiverse
in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Doctor
Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). But
this is not new. In 2011, indie film Another
Earth made my top 10. Fantastic fantasy and
( yep, you guessed it) damned poignant.
Can this movie get confusing? Certainly.
Might you fall asleep? I’ve seen it happen.
Can you take this film too seriously? Caution:
don’t do it. It’s absurdist, remember? Go with
the multiverse flow and stay with it. This
movie affirms the better parts of our human
condition amidst deep adversities we all face.
In my book, that’s worth 11 Oscar nominations.
Last year’s The Power of the Dog got 12
nods and won one award. That story was not
nearly as uplifting. It’s bad when one jerk of a
character in the end simply goes away leaving
remnants of angst and despair. Oof… that
bites. This year’s top nominated movie provides
hope for next generations if we can only
be kinder to one another. If it wins nothing,
I’ll be sad but not surprised. I’m pulling for
“multiple wins.” Hah, get it?
February 9, 2023 EXIT ZERO Page 35