MJB SCRIPT REVIEW | EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE

“𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱…𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱”

As we approach 2024, I wanted the review of this final week of 2023 to be what I thought was the most original, brilliant and memorable film I’d witnessed this year; EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE.

Plot in a nutshell; A middle-aged Chinese laundromat owner must get in touch with her other selves across the multiverse, in which she alone can save existence by connecting with the lives she could have led.

Just the logline alone made my brain hurt. And that title is certainly an interesting one. When I first heard it, it completely bewildered me. One of those titles that I just didn’t get. Then I watched the film…and of course, it made perfect sense.

This is such an emblazoned assault on the senses, that comes with so many mind blowing ideas, you simply become absorbed into the world that’s been so cleverly created. There is no escaping it. It’s just brilliant.

With multiverses being so popular at the moment in Hollywood, this is a great way of using it for an original tale. There are obviously some progenitors to this; “Black Mirror”, “The Matrix” series, Jet Li sci-fi “The One” and the Marvels “What If…?” and “Loki” series especially. But that’s where it ends. These are just stepping stones to branch out from and that is where this script does it right. Not only does it mine other potential universes for stories, it merges them, interweaves their outcomes and even solves their crises through centralising the conflicts in one of many infinite arenas. Jumping between dimensions is clear cut and fun. In an age of super hero movies doing the same, it’s liberating and refreshing to see it used in a different form and helps give a new and fresh perspective as to how far this storytelling platform really can go. Especially when you remove the boundaries “rules” create. Inspiring.

So, what did I learn from EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE?

1) This is the first time I’ve experienced a script where the language of the characters (Chinese) is spoken and simultaneously translated into English along side every spoken line. There are even moments where the language jumps between Chinese and English in the same line, as the characters jump between languages. Brilliant and such an essential tool for future reference if you ever need to use multiple languages in a script.

2) The fight sequences here are beautifully crafted and very creative, so another fine example of writing for fight coordinators to get the best out of the action beats. Best of all, this script pulls off the neat trick of jumping between realities mid-fight too, which is simply wonderful to behold. Another essential example to help with that writing scenario.

3) The characters never lose their links to each other. If anything, it’s mind boggling staying focussed on the ones we are supposed to be following, rather than their other multi verse personalities! But through this method, this script gives the characters room to explore their deepest fears and obstacles BECAUSE of the extreme situations they find themselves in. They challenge EVERYTHING. The script challenges EVERYTHING. And so the freedom is created to explore the agendas the writers wanted to chase.

This script can be seen in so many ways. As a treatise on the power to free one’s mind or the potential to deal with mental illness. Maybe a sermon on suffering a nervous breakdown and the terror that comes with it perhaps? Or even the power of identity and the choices we make. But to throw it all in to the mix with kungfu, talking pasta and hot dog fingers is one helluva way to keep your audience transfixed. Most of all, it is freeing for us, the writers. Where do you want to go today imagination? Anywhere you please? No problem at all! Got a challenge and not sure how to write it in? Let’s go baby! Let’s go!

I loved this script. A true adventure and more boundaries thrown aside to free my writing journey even further. If ever there was a script that gives your imagination permission to do whatever it damn well pleases, it’s this Oscar winning masterpiece. So let it lead you down its sausage fingered path and admire every inspirational page.

Link to the script:

https://thescriptsavant.com/.../Everything_Everywhere_All...