Welcome to flower film country. I'm Isaacson. I'm Olivia climate. This is a podcast about places oft forgotten by Hollywood. But today we're discussing a little film that has captured our hearts. It's the Daniel's new film, everything everywhere all at once. You excited to talk about this Livia, I'm super excited to discuss this with you.
I'm so excited to talk about this movie. It's just become such a cultural phenomenon. And I think that a lot of people who normally wouldn't have seen it are, have seen it and love it. And so I'm just pumped to talk about this movie. Yup. Yup. This movie just passed $15 million at the box office, which, um, is not, um, compared to, compared to other blockbusters.
Isn't a lot of movie, but as the highest grossing, um, a 24 movie, the indie production company, um, and that's a big deal. It unceded uncut gems. So its highest grossing movie, which is crazy. So very excited to talk about it. It is. Mine. Olivia's, um, one of our favorite movies of the year. Um, I think it's my number two right now, but it's your number one, right?
I think it's my number one. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. What's your number one, but number one is the north men I saw like a week ago. Yeah. And we'll talk about that more. We're gonna, um, talk a little bit about some, uh, some good movies and TV that we'd been watching recently, but first kind of a sad announcement. Um, we are seeing Eric, uh, take a step back in the podcast and he's, he's just experienced an increase in workload and has some exciting things on the horizon for him personally.
And we're definitely gonna miss him. He first appeared on our Scott Pilgrim episode ranking seven evil Xs, which is a lot of fun. And yeah, so, uh, definitely sorry to see him go, but I don't think it's last time that we'll, we'll get to see him. So, no, yeah, it won't be the last time. I'm sure. Uh, he, man, we love having Eric on, on here.
He brought so much to, to our show. He, he brought, you know, this, this love for, for Asian cinema, which, which I think has allowed you and me to, to appreciate Asian cinema much more. He is love for her for whore has given me at least an appreciation for it. Even if I'm not going to go out of my way to watch or, um, Yeah.
Like, I mean really without Eric, we, we probably, would've never talked about days you've used, we wouldn't have talked about, you know, how great Richard Lincoln, uh, Linklater is. Uh, yeah. And, and I mean, honestly, one of my favorite episodes was the animation episode that he and I did. And that was a lot of fun because for me, I feel like a lot of people think animation is dumb or, or for kids and, and hearing someone else talk about their love for animation was it was just really nice.
And it was a lot of fun. So, uh, yeah, we're gonna, we're going to really miss Eric. He brought a lot to, to the team that, that we just couldn't bring. And, and we were very fortunate for it. Yeah. His farewell for now. See you later, not goodbye. So, and we do, we do wish that Eric had been able to be on this episode with us, but unfortunately his schedule just didn't allow it.
Um, which is totally understandable. So, um, moving on to, I have a hilarious story for you, Olivia we're we're going to talk for about just a couple of minutes before we dive into this awesome discussion of this awesome movie. Um, I have a hilarious story. Uh, the prompt was. Have you, uh, what have you been watching recently, which we usually do?
I had a dream. I saw that you saw the movie senior year with red star and rebel Wilson, classic. I a dream that David Fincher directed that movie. And I had a meltdown at my cubicle realizing that he had like fallen from such. Great.
So wait, so in your dream, was the movie the exact same? I did watch the movie. I was looking at the credits on letter boxes, which shows you how much subconscious works when I'm not awake.
I think, I think I actually would love to see David sent your take on a film like that and make it David Fincher. S but, uh, that's hilarious. Oh my God. And you just were like freaking out at your, your office. I was like,
oh my goodness. Okay. The good movie I saw that you watched it. It was fine. I mean, it's not, I don't think it's going to be like, was it a Netflix movie? I don't think it's going to be like a, a classic teen movie or anything like that. It's not going to, to all the boys I've loved before. Yeah. It's no, I, it gets, it gives me like, never been kissed vibes with drew Barrymore.
And so I will say it had a great soundtrack. I really enjoyed the soundtrack. I think for me, what I, my kind of hangup is I hate watching new things that involve Jin gen Z and the way. And then it make all the gen Z ears. So stereotypical gen Z. Yes. Like I don't, I maybe it's because I live in Oklahoma, but like a lot of the gen Z zeros I interact with do not talk like that.
Even, even the ones who are like, um, I don't know, like their pronouns, are they them? Or, you know, like, like they don't talk in the same way that it seems like teenagers talk on TV or movie in movies and not all of them were like phone obsessed and that kind of thing. Most of them. Yeah. Yeah. So I dunno, maybe it, maybe I have a skewed view because most of the time I interact with, with teenagers through work.
And so, so that, that probably skews my experience of them. I don't know what they look like out in the real world. Not interact with teenagers, the youths, uh, because as you say the youths, as I say so anyway, but yeah, I watched that and then, so, okay. Here's the reason I watched that. So I went to San Francisco recently, right.
I went on vacation and I stayed at my friend's Tia, Tia, her house, um, my friend's Tia's house, TIAs and Spanish, by the way. And she let us stay at her house for free. She fed us all week. Like we saved so much money on like housing and food that week because, because our TIAA was coming in clutch also. So she, she was like, I started watching this last night and, um, I fell asleep.
I really want to watch it. And so I was like, okay. Yeah, like it, um,
so when, when. Your, your friends, TIAA, who's been letting you stay at their house for free. And who has been, uh, feeding you for free for a week, says, Hey, let's watch a movie. You say, yes ma'am. And so we watched SI senior year, and then we also watched the newest Rambo, which I've never seen Rambo. I've never seen the original Rambo or the new one.
I'd heard that, that one that you watched is pretty problematic. It's so I was like, kind of watching it. I also have my phone out and I was watching whatever the playoff game was on. Um, but yeah, she. She was like, oh, you guys, I think I seen the last rainbow. We were like, no. And she goes, have you seen it?
Either of those? We were like, no. And she goes, oh, you guys are going to love it. It's it's so good. It's kind of, it's kind of intense, but you guys are gonna really like it. And I was like, oh no. Anyway, it was, it was very like gory, like way gorier that I was expecting it to be, it was a lot. So, uh, but I did watch game night for the first time on the flight there.
That is a great movie. I watched it on my phone just like it was intended to be viewed. David Lynch is yeah. Terrified. Yeah. Game night is amazing. It's amazing. It's so good. I have it on DVD. I honestly have thought about buying it because I don't think it's streaming anywhere and it's, it's so good. It's one of those, it's one of those.
I haven't seen, I haven't seen the, the identity theft or fraud or whatever it is with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, but it's a game night is great because him and Rachel McAdams have just impeccable electric chemistry and she, they bounce off each other in incredible ways. And he's in this like non arrested development, non Ozark zone of kind of levity and humor that you don't usually get to see him in.
And of course, like Jesse Plemons is the star of that movie. And okay. I didn't know. I didn't know that the picture I've seen it, like as used as a meme before of Jesse Plemons holding the dog. Yeah. I didn't know that was from game night. I had no idea what it was from, but man, as soon as I, the first time I see, like I see that seed, I go.
No, that's hilarious. It's amazing. Um, Plemons got named, Pullman's got me, man. He's everyone in it is so good. I mean, uh, Kyle Chandler is in it a little more and Morris from new girl who plays Winston and he's in it. He's so good. It's mad. It's just awesome. It's hilarious. I was cracking up. The storyline was really good.
I kept me guessing. I was like, this is amazing. Every okay. Everyone was right. This is a great. It ends up being pretty intense to high school. Yes. There's a scene which I had, I had seen the scene on Twitter. Somehow someone has shown it and I didn't, I knew it was from game night. I didn't know when it was going to pop up, but I figured I, I found it at the end, but there's a scene that's like really kind of grotesque, like it's gross.
And originally eyes is so funny and it cause she's like, yes, he's God. And then all of a sudden she goes, oh no, he died. And it's just so funny. Rachel McAdams is so funny. So that's what I love the scene where the, it might've been that LA it was that scene. That same scene. I'm pretty sure where she, what did she say?
She's like, please don't kill me. I have kids. And he's like, no, you don't. Yes. Yeah. And she's like, same CQ.
So she is amazing. That's what Rachel McAdams having chemistry with a, uh, her male colleague looks what it looks like. Yeah. Um, I, I got to watch, um, I mentioned the north men at the top of the episode, the north men kind of is, is extremely masculine obviously, but something about the pacing of this movie, it's basically Hamlet.
Uh, Alexander Skarsgard is getting revenge. Um, I love Hamlet, honestly. Like you'd probably like this movie. Um, it's my favorite Eckers and movies that I've seen so far. Um, there's just something really, really exciting about this, like in kind of epic on a Lord of the rings level, um, or Lord of the rings level of scale.
Um, really, really loved it. I was just so excited, like singing it at theaters, credible, highly recommend it. One that I may not recommend to everyone is been the new Alex Garland. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Tell me, tell me about that. Cause I, part of me wants to see it because Jesse Buckley's in it and I love Jessie Buckley, but also it's a horror movie and we all know how I feel about that.
It, I don't know if you would like it partially because it is a movie of ideas. Similar, very similar to how the green Knight is a movie about ideas and less about story. Um, it is much shorter than the green night, which is kind of a plus for it. Um, It's a very small cast. She gets a lot to do, and it's not like scary in a traditional sense.
Okay. The final third act is just nuts. It is really, really nuts and pretty violent. And Jessica checked out at the movie when it started. So, um, but I can't stop thinking about it. So it's, it's one of those movies. I don't love it as much as I love the green night, but it is, is definitely hitting on something really unique.
Um, and so I guess if you're listening to this and that sounds appealing to you, go see it. It's like, it's really beautiful. There's a scene where she's walking through the woods, um, on this retreat, after her husband dies and she's, you can see like she's healing and the music is beautiful and it just, the movie looks incredible.
So, yeah. Okay. All right. I'm going to let my cat. Okay, well, why is it cause doing that? Uh, I think I'll talk a little bit about TV shows that I've been watching. Uh, Isaac has Barry listed and I've been watching Barry. Uh, and so Isaac, I was just talking about TV shows and I see that you've listed Barry on, on yours.
I've started, I've started the season. I think I've only seen the first episode. How many episodes are out now? I think they air on Sunday. Evenings. Yeah. I think the fifth one is coming tomorrow. Okay. Oh wait. So are you caught up? No, I'm not. I'm only watching the first episode, which I don't remember what happens the first I have to go back and rewatch it, but I remember going, this is going to be a crazy season.
He, I really appreciate that. The direction that they went in this season, um, kind of spoilers for Barry, but like, or mild spoilers. He is. He's like not good in this. He's not like a moral, like conflicted. He's just kind of bad so far in this series. So, oh yeah. I remember what happens in the first episode of the season, because he he's like hired to kill the guy, this guy who, the guy who hired him was like, this man is cheating.
Uh, this is the man. My wife is cheating on me with or whatever. And he just ends up killing both of them. And it's it's. Yeah, like I said, it starts off the whole series with a, um, a mad I'm in a dark place. Um, and then he, there's a really, really scary scene with him and his girlfriend. Um, where he verbally abuses her in front of her coworkers.
And it's just a really interesting direction for this season. So I'm, I'm really excited to see what happens with it. And it's already, it's been renewed for fourth season, so I saw that and, and what's, his face is going to be directing all of it bill later. Um, yeah, I've been watching a lot more TV than movies.
Um, I know seriously, there's just a lot of good stuff on right now. Um, under the banner of heaven is a Andrew Garfield, um, crime movie. That's based on a book by John crack crack hour and it's, um, it's, uh, it's based on true events in, um, Of a murder in a city, outside salt lake city. And it's really good.
There's very heavy, um, exploration of the Mormon church in the Mormon faith. And we are going to cover it at the beginning of June. Um, so you've committed to, to watch watch the series with me. And instead of doing an episode by episode, we're going to do, which I think is how we're going to cover TV from now on we're going to cover the finale, um, and the entire series as a whole, which will be really fun.
I think that's probably best for us because, uh, none of the series were fall. Like we're going to cover have more than like six episodes or, or nine. And so if I think it'd be different, if. It was kind of like traditional TV, where there were like 24 episodes and we cover it at the like winter finale. But I think, I think doing it at the end, uh, is good.
Absolutely. Absolutely. Which is, I believe how we're going to cover the obiwan series. It's going to air at the beginning of June and, and, or no, it's gonna, no, it comes out this next week. So the 27th I think is when it comes out and then I don't, I think there's six episodes, so, yep. So what mid June? Late June.
Yep. Yeah. So we'll we'll yeah. End of June, I think is when the finale airs. So we'll have an episode on Kenobi then super interested to see what they do with that. Um, Atlanta just had its final episode of the third season yesterday, which is one of my favorite things on TV right now. Go watch that. Um, Olivia, do you have any other recommendations before we jump into everything everywhere?
No. I, I just want us to start talking about it, like for us to do that, let's do it. Do you want to read the synopsis and kick off this discussion? Yeah, so, so everything everywhere all at once is about an aging Chinese immigrant, who is swept up an insane adventure where she alone can save. What's important to her by connecting with all the lives she could have led in other universes.
So, so it stars Michelle Yeoh as, as the aging immigrant. Um, and then key Hugh Kwan. I think it's key Kwan, QI Kwan as her husband. And then who plays her daughter? Stephanie Sue, I think that's how you say her last name. Eric can help us a lot if he was on this.
The powerhouse that is Jamie Lee Curtis, as this very unhinged IRS agent. And it's just also, also someone who's in it is James Hong, who he, that dude is a Hollywood legend. He just got his Hollywood star on the walk of fame on the Hollywood walk of fame. And that dude should have had that years ago because he's been in everything.
Yep. So, and so, um, the dangers directed this movie, they most recently directed Swiss army man with Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe. And if you've seen that movie, you know, that their style is weird. They have inspirations that are a lot more gen X than millennial or gen Z, which is really interesting. You don't get a lot of like mainstream filmmakers like that.
And if you watch this movie, it's, it definitely feels. Like, not like a YouTube video, but like, oh man. So like the scene where Joe, who Dubuc what's, what's the villain's name show who tobacky, uh here's for the first time, there's a lot of color. There's a lot of like, um, a lot of confetti and it feels inventive as far as like YouTube creativity in the best way.
If that makes sense. Yeah. No, that does make sense. It, yeah, no, I it's. It's just cool. Cause it there's so many different styles that they, they throw into this movie and it feels like lightning in a bottle has been captured because I think there's so many ways in which this movie could not work and not, yeah.
It just, it just cannot work in so many different ways. The message could have gotten lost in all the things that they tried to do. And this movie does a lot. Yeah. And they, they maintain this. It's a great script. Um, if I'm not mistaken, it's written by the Daniels. Um, yeah, so it was written by them as well.
They wrote with Michelle Yeoh in mind and, um, she agreed to do, they, they said Michelle Yeoh is like the, was the best person or the person they had in mind, obviously. And they're like, we're kind of screwed if like, she doesn't want to do it because there are other actors, there are definitely other actresses who, um, could have played this role, but she just really got on board with the vision and went all out her and the whole cast, obviously.
So, um, but yeah, there, there's just this really the, the movie is. About about a lot of things too. It's about like regret, like what if I'd made different decisions? Um, because as a synopsis kind of, um, kind of hit on, she gets to the way that she's, um, tasked with defeating this great multi dimensional villain, um, is, oh yeah, we need to just talk about the disclaimer.
We love this movie, obviously, if you are, if this has like this conversation so far has piqued your interest in the movie, please give see it. Um, and we recommend that you pause here, come back to this episode after you've seen it, because we are going to talk about spoilers and not in the sense that, uh, Dr.
Strange shows up, but in the sense that, um, you really have to experience this like a roller coaster. And, uh, we can't tell you any of the twists or turns or falls. So, um, yeah, but anyway, There's so there's so much heart in this movie. And, um, it's about family. It's about progress. It's about making friendships and relationships or friendships and relationships work.
It's there's like this philosophical heart at the center of the movie. That's really fascinating that we'll talk about it a little bit, but yeah. Okay. I, I want to ask you Olivia, why do you think this movie with so much happening? Why do you think it works? Like you see multiple universes, you see their fight scenes.
There are like shocking, shocking mechanics for, um, all of the individuals and various universes to tap into their other versions of themselves abilities. Um, that will kind of describe some of them are pretty, pretty shocking. Why do you think this movie works so well? So I think, I think the performances are part of the reason why it works, because like we said earlier, when we were talking about the cast, like everyone is awesome in this movie.
I think for me it works because it's taking this very huge idea, like a multiuniverse and it's still so grounded. Like, like you said, at the end of the day, this movie is about, about like family relationships, about, about just relationships in general and making them work, or at least trying to it's about regret.
It's it's about not knowing like what, what you're doing with your life, even though you're, you know, middle-aged like parenting it's about parenting it's about the it's about parent child relationship with specifically mother-daughter relationship. And I've seen where people have compared it already to Dr.
Strange, because it's, that's, you know, about Mo a multiverse as well. But I think like what, what, we didn't see it with Dr. Strange is it's not like, it just feels so like not grounded in any way, and this feels very grounded and I like Dr. Strange. I, I, you know, we talked about it already. I don't want to like compare apples and oranges here.
Um, that's just kind of what I've seen online, like on Twitter and stuff is that comparison, but it, yeah, for me, I think it works cause it's, it's so human at the end of the day in a way that I don't think we see with mainstream blockbusters at this point. Yes, absolutely. And I think the. Uh, may I just, yeah, I just have so many thoughts because the Daniels, you know, I'm thinking about it from the background in which they learned to make movies, um, was very much like, oh yeah.
So yeah, we didn't even, uh, we haven't mentioned this yet. I think, I believe like in, in the professional, uh, climate where they cut their teeth was music videos. They got to make some really invented music videos for foster, the people, Manchester orchestra, tenacious, D the shins little John, like yeah.
Create really good, really good music videos and where they got to do, like, like we said, like more YouTube sort of creativity, they in an interview, um, both of them said, you know, we like movies, but art inspirations come from more from video games. And, and that's just a really in, in this movie, this movie is.
Example a of why like inspiration can come from anywhere. Inspiration doesn't have to come from citizen Kane or the third man, or like, you know, like classic cinema. It can come from anything. And for that, for them, it was, you know, obviously this movie has a great soundtracks on books. Does the soundtrack, um, the, the plot mechanics of how they, if you, you have to really pay attention.
Cause I didn't really know what was going on for a little bit. And then it kind of like, they kind of subtly remind you of like, this is how it works. Um, of jumping from different universes. You'll just land in the present the universe in which the movie begins. And you're reminded of the stakes. Their marriage is on the rocks.
Their laundromat is on the rocks. Her relationship with her daughter is on the rock. She kind of like has failed at everything and. Doesn't seem able to connect emotionally, doesn't seem to be able to succeed in her business or her marriage and Jamie Lee Curtis's unhinged, IRS agent is close to like just shutting the shutting down their business and seizing all their assets and the movie just really brilliantly you land back in that universe.
And you're reminded of the stakes. Yeah. Yeah. Cause I think that it would have been really easy for them to be like, okay, we're off in all these different universes, uh, different worlds. And we're just going to stay there and forget about everything that's happening. Go like happening and going on it in like this Evelyn's universe.
And I think coming back to that is like, oh yeah, that's that's right. Like everything sucks for her. It all feels. Everything's on the rocks, like you said, and it's just kind of this reminder that we get of like, okay, this is actually where she's at. Do you, do you, like, I think that that is strategic too, because it kind of helps her think it puts you in the perspective of someone.
And I think this is a huge universal thing. Like everybody has regret everybody wishes that they had made different decisions, like bigger, small, and that's, that's sort of, it's brilliant because especially there's a scene where she is fighting. Um, Joby tobacky and they're, they're just blending through all these universes.
And that chapter actually stuck, began with the, that the chapter heading, um, everywhere. Chapter one is everything. Chapter two is everywhere. Chapter three is all at once. Um, And they're blending through all these universes sword fighting, punching each other. And it's just really, it's beautiful.
Technically it's beautiful emotionally, because you're reminded that this life is her, where she's sitting at her laundromat with a shattered window and an IRS agent, like telling her about how her marriage failed. And she drove her car into the neighbor's side, the side of their house or something. And, uh, yeah.
Do you like when you think about like things you would've done differently, do you think that that is one reason why this movie touches so like sensitively on, you know, that human experience of like yeah, I think, I think regret is universal for sure. And I think. Even, even if we wouldn't say necessarily that we regret something.
Cause there's lots of people who are like, oh, I have no regrets. And, and while that may be true, I, I think that to a certain extent, there are things that we just kind of wonder, or we're curious, curious about like, how had I done that thing differently? Like what would have changed? Right. And, and this movie, you see, Evelyn got to explore like, well, if I had, if I had not gotten married, if I had not like left and gotten married, would I have actually become the super successful movie star and you see that's really enticing to her.
And, and so like, I think that, that we have these ideas of like, well, what, what could have been right? Like had I like had I practiced basketball more? Could I have actually like gone a little further with. I don't know, probably not, but that's a thought I've had sometimes from time to time, you know, so, or if I had actually put more effort into honing my skills as, as a artist, could I have like actually pursued innovation?
You know, like, like those are, those are just small times or, or small things where I'm just like, man, I wonder. But yeah, I think that we all to a certain extent have, have some sort of regret or just what if type moment? And I think that that really hits home for all of us, no matter how old we are, because like, like you and I aren't very old, but I imagine there are also things that you're like, man, I wish I would've done differently.
You know? And so, so I think it has. People at no matter what their age is, no matter where they're at in life. Like even if things are like great in life, it can still be like, I just wonder, you know? Yeah. So, so yeah, I, I, yeah, all that say yes, I do think it's on the human experience and, and the, you know, the movie starts out with this sort of like bleak look at their apartment and them kind of like fussing about, um, trying to get the documents together to go, to see the IRS agent and the James Hong.
Um, as he's playing Evelyn's father is kind of just really fussy and like he's, he's older and he's aging and they cannot take care of him. And there's, there's like a laundromat, um, regular, uh, Ki Quan's character Waymond. Um, um, Evelyn's husband ends up dancing with, and he's just having a fun time. Like you get to, you get to see really quickly everybody's, you know, character.
Um, and then after that they go to the IRS office, there's a fight scene. There's all the crazy things happening. And then you just kind of get thrust into this story. And one of the big things that you learn, um, is that joy, their daughter has a girlfriend and she a lot like, uh, really the crux of this movie is her really wanting her mom's approval to and support in coming out to her grandpa who is very old-fashioned in and doesn't believe in relationships, um, in that progressive sense.
So. W, what did you think about the way I kind of want you to take this? Just having, I know that you have a great relationship with your mom and, um, the way that Evelyn interacts with joy is pretty, it's pretty tough to, to watch, um, and especially from a different culture, uh, perspective of different culture, but yeah.
W w what were your thoughts whenever she kind of shows love by saying pretty hard things to her? I think, I think part of that, it's a cultural thing, for sure. And I just, with my work with, um, like Asian clients, like, like homosexuality is, is not okay. Like that is not okay. Um, and I like how, however long it is, like, you're lucky that you have a mom who's so, so progressive and, um, Okay.
Sh you can accept it. Although we see later that she actually doesn't that she actually has not accepted it, but it's, I mean, it's hard to see that. And I mean, I talk about parental relationships, a lot with clients at work and everything. And so, so those subtlety, even if they're subtle, which I think with Evelyn, there were times where it wasn't so subtle.
It's hard to see that because it's like, man, you're so close to just like loving your daughter and accepting her. And like, if you, if you could just like, get out of your own way a little bit, man, you guys could, could really like get somewhere and really like develop that relationship. And so, you know, with my ma I actually saw this with my mom and.
Real quick. What did she did? She like the movie? I don't know. Ah, she did. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, so afterwards we got to the car and we sat there and we're just like, we both just kind of sat there with it. And we were like, that was so good. And my mom goes, it was so weird, but it was so good, which is fair.
Like it's a weird, it's a weird movie. Um, she knows she really liked it. She was like, that was, that was so good. And we talked about the acting and how good Michelle Yeoh was. My mom loves Jamie Lee Curtis. So she was like, of course, Jamie Lee Curtis was so good. Uh, so yeah, but yeah, this was a, this and I knew, I knew that the only thing I really knew about this movie was the mother daughter aspect of it.
And I didn't know like really why the mother daughter aspects was like, so, or theme was so important until of course I watched it. But yeah, it was what a movie to watch with your mom. But yeah, I mean, I don't know, going back to your question of kind of like, um, watching Evelyn be pretty harsh with, with her daughter, uh, with joy.
It's always, I don't know. It's always hard. It feels like, you know, how, how sometimes whenever, like, as a kid you'd go to your friend's house and then your, your friend's mom was like yelling at your, your friend or your friend was getting in trouble. It felt kinda like that. And where it was just like, I just want to sink into this chair and like pull my shirt over my head that I don't have to like, be here for this.
But also like, I want to like say, Hey, stop talking to this person like that. But to, to Evelyn's like defense, I. I think one, she couldn't accept your daughter's sexuality. And so that's why she didn't want to tell her father about Joy's sexuality, but also like be, and this is something we haven't really talked about.
This is also about Evelyn's relationship with her father. Yeah. Yeah. They, they, they flashed back to basically Evelyn chose to leave and go to America with Waymond and, and try to, you know, ultimately open a business and try to be successful. And then life kind of weighs them down with all of its worries.
And, um, and then her father comes to live with them when her mother passes away. And he's kind of this. Yeah, he's definitely a background figure. And in another scene in her scenes, in the movie, he plays a pretty important whole as like the leader of. The alpha universe where Evelyn was a brilliant scientist, figured out the technology that allows, um, is it, what is it called?
Is it called portal jumping or something? Like they can connect to different versions of yourselves and other universes. And her daughter joy was the test subject. And she eventually went insane and had access to all of her. Is, is the, is that right? She had access to every one of her. Yeah. So she university the, yeah.
So the thing was, you could only do it for so long before you needed to jump back to yourself. Uh, and joy was able to, to stay with another. Version of herself for much longer than everyone else. And so the alpha universe is Evelyn tried to push her and push her too far. Which man, how many times do we see that in a movie where the parent messed up parents?
Yeah. Or the parent pushes their kid too far and the kid breaks. And that's what happens with joy. And the alpha universe is she has this, this break and she ends up being able to experience all of her selves at the same time. Which could you imagine how exhausting that would be? Like whenever they showed that scene where she is experiencing everything at the same time, it's, it's wild.
And it's also hilarious. Like, I don't think we've talked about how funny the movie is that there were multiple scenes where I was just crying, laughing. Um, but the first time you see a. Um, the villainous version of joy, she has like clown makeup on, and then she like changes outfits when the lights flicker.
And it's kind of like, it's kind of scary. Cause you can tell like, oh, she's the piece of the big, bad. And she just does an incredible job, but she ends up beating you, bring up a couple of, uh, policemen with really large dildos. Yes. Just really shocking. And um, in absurd and you realize that this movie is just breaking every single wall that it can.
Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. And I think, I think Evelyn because of, I mean, it seems like at best her father gone gong was. I mean, but I would argue that he was probably pretty verbally abusive. Yep. And so, so I think just because of our own childhood trauma, she just was not ready to deal with like what her father was going to say when he found out that, excuse me, that his granddaughter is in a homosexual relationship relationship.
Right. Because that would have reflected on her. Yeah, yeah. To a certain degree. Right. So, so for you, Isaac, like, like what? Yeah. Like I watched this with my mom. It's very much emphasizing the mother daughter relationship, but like, what about you? Like what, what did you think about that aspect? They're the mother daughter relationship, um, was, so the first time I saw this, I, you know, you just kind of experience the movie.
It washes over you and you take a lot of things away. And some of the things you're not able to focus on the first time that I saw it, I was my, my wife and I had been going, we have she's pregnant. And so there's just, it's been a journey the last several months. And we had been having some like some personal stuff with us, um, not between us, but more like financial actually with like taxes and the scene where she is in a universe where she's a famous movie star, kind of like the traditional Michelle Yeoh, a route that she has taken in real life.
Um, she sees Waymond who has become pretty successful as a businessman, I think, um, in China and they reconnect. And then he says something to the effect of, um, Even though you've broken my heart again. Cause they're trying to, like, they're talking about whether or not they could have made it work. He says something to the effect of, even though you broke my heart yet, once again, I would have been happy to.
He says something along the lines of, I would have been happy to, uh, in another life, do taxes and laundry with you because she tells him in another world, we're a failure. We're not happy. We're doing taxes and laundry. And he tells her, this is how I fight. I fight by finding the good and, and, and being positive.
And I cried both times in this movie the first time because of that. And the second time, because of the mother daughter relationship with Evelyn and joy, because I'm going to have a daughter and I was. Yep. I was, I was a blubbering mess, uh, in the middle of both movies. So, and especially towards the end, it's a very sweet, um, yeah, and it kind of in a weird way.
It's what I wanted. And it's what I needed to hear that, uh, that relationships matter, the taxes come and go. And the person that you are with in whatever universe is that, that person for you. So it was really, really sweet. That was, that was really sweet. Um, don't mind me just getting a little teary-eyed over here.
Geez. Think of the movie. So, yeah, and, and I love, I honestly, I love having like that you had that reaction because I mean, I've, we've known each other since we were what, like 18. And so, so it's, it's just kind of crazy that like, At this point, we've known each other for almost 10 years and seeing like how far we've both come from from our little freshmen selves and, and seeing, like, seeing our friendship developed, but seeing like you grow as a person, uh, as a man, as a husband, and now, you know, I get to see it all, albeit from a distance, you be a father, which is really cool because I don't know.
It's just really cool to see. I think my friends become parents, which is weird. Cause I think that a few years ago it would, it, it, it freaked me out. I think the first time one of my friends was like, yeah, we're pregnant. I was like, whoa, wait, no, no, no, no, that's, we're too old or too old. We're too young for that.
Uh, but I don't know. It's just, I think that's my own personal growth, but seeing friends become parents and seeing how they take on this. Next chapter is really cool. And so I'm really excited to see that for you. I realized where we we've derailed from the movie a little bit, but it's just, it's just really cool.
It's a personal movie and get personal with it. So that's that's right. And if in another universe, like we may not have met and started over film country and another universe, this would actually be a very successful podcast and this is what we do. Full-time, we're getting there, we're getting there. So, uh, yeah.
What a sad universe that would be for us to never have met though. I know, I know. But, uh, I needed to ask you, what, what was your favorite scene slash like your favorite funny scene? Because I, I have, I have mine in mind and I wanted to, to hear yours, I think, I think they're Roxy. Okay. I think the rock scene was my favorite because it's so goofy and like weird.
And you see, you just see two rocks and, and you just see the, the text and they're sent in rocks, the other Cynthia rocks. And it's so silly that they're having this conversation through like through rocks, but also it's, it's kind of beautiful. And he says, I come here to get away from everything and they just, they're just sitting there and you sense that you're like, oh my gosh, So much more calm because it's like, kind of on a mountain top and you're looking at some mountains if valley it's beautiful.
It's beautiful. Yeah. And it is, it is calm. It's probably the most chill. The movie is the entire time. And so I think like that, that was purposeful because it's coming off of, if I remember correctly, it's coming off of like just crazy scenes, they're going through different universes and then it just stops right there.
And so five minutes, I think. Yeah. So you pause with them and, and you feel the sense of like, I can breathe now. And, and it, I think that's just kind of a glimpse of what joy has experienced as she's been going through all this. And it's funny, but it's also like, so heartwarming, I guess, is I think the best word for it because you see Evelyn really make an effort and really.
Try to, to understand her daughter and they're in Rockford. It's, it's just this beautiful combination of, of funny and kind of silly wall also being so just such an attempt to, to like reach across the aisle in a sense, and try to try to like, understand this person. Who's so different from you that you have such a hard time understanding.
And that's really hard. And I think it it's it's for a lot of parents, it's just easier to be like, whatever, like this is just the relationship we have and be done with it. And I think that's kind of where Evelyn was, but through this whole thing, she, she realizes I don't, I don't want this clearly that has like led to my daughter being in another universe, being this, this.
Evil person. And like, I don't want that for my relationship with my, my joy. And so real quick, random question who would win in a fight Jabu tobacky or Scarlet witch. Ooh. Ooh. That's a good question. I don't know. Cause they're both saying yeah, they kind of like, they don't do cosmic magical power in everything everywhere.
It's more just like martial art. Like it's a little bit more grounded, even though it's like fantastical Saifai university jumping, but you get the sense that she can mess with people's minds and stuff like that. So I kind of think, yeah, I think. Joe would be able to like throw Scarlet witch off by like switching universes, like that one scene that she has with Evelyn, where they, every time they like have contact, it switches to a different universe.
Like I think that she could do that with Scarlet witch, and I would really mess up Scarlet witch. But I think that Scarlet witch would be able to like eventually somehow like counter yeah. Blow her up. Uh, but that would be such a, such a cool fire, I think. Yeah. Um, my, the scene where I laughed the heart, the set, the funny second funniest scene to me was when sh.
Everything kind of resets and they're in the IRS building in someone's office. And she's trying to explain to joy and Waymond that, that there's this universal thing going on. And she's like, it's, it's like, Raca Cooney. And they're like, what? And then she's re she's explaining the plot of Ratatouille.
Like they're pulling your hair and you're doing different things, but they're in different universes. And then they start crying, laughing, because she meant to say Ratatouille, but it's , which completely changes the animal. And so that was a sauce in a full theater. The first time I saw it and people were just dying, laughing, and it's such a genuine moment of like, you've had moments like that with your family, where your parent just says something.
So like the dates them so badly, like they couldn't remember the quote or whatever. Um, and then when that joke plays off, oh man, we have to believe. I was just immobilized with, with laughter and, and mind you, I was crying five minutes before that. Very hard. Um, when she is a chef in a restaurant, it's looks over at a hibachi, another hibachi chef, and you see the wreck raccoon tail under the hat.
I was dying, laughing, and then she goes into the theater or the, uh, kitchen and sees cooking and pulling out his hair. It's and it's like, it's very clearly a mechanical reckless, but I kind of love that. They didn't make it look like any more realistic. So it's man, it's so good. It's so good. And I, and I have to, I just have to point out that the, the song that's playing.
Is is, it's like this little, uh, now we're cooking and it's som Luxe got with, um, dang, what's his name? He did the, the toy story he got with Brandy Newman, Randy Newman. And so that whole song it's on Spotify. It's like two minutes long. It's like, now we're cooking nothing strange about two humans making a gravy.
And, and she, they turn around and the record's like, clearly not as like friendly as Remy from Ratatouille. Yeah. She said too much. We needed to get rid of her. And then she calls the pound and they'd take the raccoon. And he's like, Rocca, Cooney. No, it's like, don't ever forget P like the raccoons talking.
It's just, it is just the funniest thing. And you can, you know, that they were just like, that would be the funniest thing. This it's like the funniest joke slash payoff to a joke I've seen in a movie in August, definitely up there, like the best jokes ever all the time. Oh man. Sorry if we just spoiled it for you, but you brought it on yourself.
So yeah, we, we warned you. So yeah, it's definitely one of the best payoffs for a joke I've seen in a long time. It was so good. I, I was cracking up at that part too. Cause, cause I mean, we, you said something about like, you know, a parent or someone having a hard time remembering something and they're just like completely like, like messing it up.
But it's so funny. I do that all the time and it's so embarrassing, but it's also really funny. And so I, like, I was like, this is awesome that she just can't remember Ratatouille. And then later that his off and it's like, Amazing. So, uh, something I want to talk about is, uh, so something I want to talk about real quick before we get off here is how you said that this, this ranks as, as number two for you this year.
Um, so this ranks number two for you where this year, where does it rank as far as, as like, just in general for you in general? Oh, this is, yeah, this is one of my favorite movies of the year. Um, it's one of my favorite movies, I think ever, definitely like, I think I'm going to return to it. I think it's going to be sort of a, a yearly watch for me, which is, um, if you've listened to our podcast, that's one of the biggest, um, honors I can ascribe to, to a movie.
So yeah. Yeah, it's, it's definitely one of my favorite movies too. I think it's, I don't know. I would say it's moved into my top 10. I did put it. I texted you this. I did put it as auto my four favorites on letterbox. So I think that it's for sure. Top 10. Uh it's it's definitely a movie that I think that I will get something different out of it every time I watch it.
And so I do want to rewatch it cause I've just seen it once, but it's so good. And I, I feel like I can't emphasize enough how great this movie is. I think we've, we've covered some, like some of the funniest parts, some of the most sentimental kind of heartbeat moments of the movie. Um, and yeah, and then it ends with, you know, reconciliation and this sort of, um, the last thing I want to say just about the plot in general, before we get off.
The Daniel's had an interview where they, they basically shared that one of the, really the villain of the villain of the movie. Isn't really, , it's the everything bagel. And if that's, that sounds weird, it's because it's, it is. And it's funny. And it's also sad because it's basically an symbol for like nihilism, nothing matters.
So I'm going to just destroy everything and the point that they made, which I disagree with, um, at the end of the day, but I think is really interesting is that the movie kind of ends on this sort of like positive knotless note. Like you have your family, you have a hand that's been dealt to you and it's your responsibility to kind of make a bit what you will.
Um, but also if nothing matters, then why not be kind, why not be benevolent? Why not be the best person that you can be? And the best mom and the best husband, that sort of thing. Um, and that's really the, the role that Wayman plays in this movie. He is the sort of like constant reminder to her that like the glasses have full.
We have, you know, they don't say that, but like, that's how I say it is like, I've been blessed with a lot. Um, and I just, you know, cultivating thankfulness and gratitude and all that stuff is kinda like the role that Waymond plays, which is one reason his is like so powerful to me and why Kiki Quan's performance is just so re memorable.
So yeah, that's, that was one thing I wanted to say. That's like, it's just a really interesting story. Tension, um, that they cultivate in the, in the movie. Yeah. And, and key Kwan. He hadn't acted, he hadn't been in a role in years. So this was his first movie in years. He was in Indiana Jones and the Goonies as a kid, but he just didn't get any roles as an adult until this.
And so, and this was kind of the breaking of that, um, Asian stereotyping that, you know, like the, the accent that's been kind of, uh, portrayed in a negative way and in a very like stereotyping way, um, in this movie just makes wonderful, wonderful use of him. So, yeah. Yeah. He's, he's fantastic. Uh, and, and yeah, like, I, I think that.
You raise a good point. Like if, if nothing matters, then why not be the best parent? You can be the best friend you can be like, why not? And I don't know. I think part of that is just like who we are as, as people, uh, and probably our own belief systems at play there. But yeah, because I think it's really easy to get bogged down by, by everything it's really, really easy to just be, be like, well, I'm gonna give up and not care.
I think it takes a lot of effort to, to care, to push through. And it's really hard. It is hard, but it's, it's good in that movie kind of reminds you of that, which is why I think it's, it should be essential viewing for anyone who loves movies. So, yeah. Do you have any final thoughts about everything everywhere?
Go see it. It's amazing. Agreed on mine too. Thank you so much for listening. If you liked this podcast at all, please rate it on whatever service you use. Especially if you listen on Spotify, on apple podcasts, um, those five star ratings really help us out. So please do that. Um, take the time to do that. Our music is by Gordon jocks.
Our artwork is by Macy Lummis. Our next episode is going to be, everybody wants some Richard Linklaters hilarious college baseball period piece. Um, that was an absolute blast to film. And that's going to be Eric's last episode with us. So we'll get to say farewell to him with that, and that'll be coming next week.
We are going to cover under the banner of heaven at the beginning of June, we're going to cover obiwan at the end of June and next weekend, we're going to cover top gun. So we're really, really excited about that. Yes. Sorry. I zoned out for a second. Uh, I, I think I just heard top gun and I just immediately thought of the, the beach volleyball scene.
Oh yeah, no. That's yeah. I would zone out too fast. Yeah. Yeah. That's just what I was thinking about. Uh, so anyway. All right. Goose. All right, man. We'll talk to you. Goodbye. .