One film swept the Oscars this year with seven wins and eleven nominations: Everything Everywhere All At Once. After seeing the film, it’s very clear why. The film was a standout in creative concepts, editing, and performances.

The story in itself was a unique tale of a struggling, overworked woman, Evelyn, who is called to save the universe after discovering the existence of the multiverse. A version of her husband from another universe teaches her how to harness the power from her selves from other universes in order to fight the powerful Jobu Tupaki. In a time of remakes and redundant superhero movies, this film’s intriguing and complex idea was a much needed addition to theaters. The twists in the plot kept me constantly intrigued and prevented the film from becoming too predictable at any moment. 

The film’s creative plot is supported with well-executed technical elements as well. Since the film deals with cuts and jumps between different universes, editing was a particular challenge. Head editor for the film, Paul Rogers, explained that they wanted to make sure every transition was unique to the universe and played a role in the emotional journey of the characters. Indeed, the sequences of jumping between the universes never feel repetitive. The last sequence before the climatic scene between the mother and daughter in the parking lot does a particularly nice job of emotionally building up to a revelation. 

As for the performances, the cast was all magnificent. I personally enjoyed Stephanie Hsu and Michelle Yeoh’s portrayal of a mother and daughter relationship. Many people found their estranged relationship to be relatable and deeply moving. Overall the film is a great experience that hits every side of the emotional spectrum while also just being a fun time.