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| Everything Everywhere All at Once co-directors Daniel Scheinert abd Dabuek Jwab |
By most metrics, Everything Everywhere All at Once should win some of the major Oscars at tonight's Academy Awards show but, one of the movie's directors cautioned fans about an upset.
“I know for many, this story and characters mean a lot so any slight towards the film feels like a personal attack,” posted Daniel Kwan on social media, “but lashing out does everyone a disservice.”
“No movie deserves to sweep, no matter how good it is, and I am rooting whole heartedly for my fellow nominees. Thank you for coming along with me on this wild ride, all of your support has meant the world to me,” continued Kwan, who shares directing duties with Daniel Scheinert.
The sci-fi film, set in a multitude of universes and featuring a largely Asian and Asian American cast, has been in an unprecedented roll leading up to Oscars night. Last weekend, for example, the film won all of its categories at the Indie Spirit Awards. the motion picture now holds the record for most wins in Indie Spirits history—a good sign as it heads into the Oscars.
It now has won more awards and accolades than any other film, chalking up 158 victories, beating out The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which earned 101 major awards.
The film has its detractors. To some eyes, maybe EEAAO has won too many awards. Maybe some Academy voters are sick of hearing about the history of Asian and Asian American representation in the movies.
A series of tweets from Daniel Kwan, who is Daniel Scheinert who formed the directing team known collectively as The Daniels, seems to indicate that there may be a backlash against the film's unprecedented success. The idea of a single movie sweeping the Oscars bugs some Academy voters and there is that residue of the old guard who just don't "get" EEAAO.
It now has won more awards and accolades than any other film, chalking up 158 victories, beating out The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which earned 101 major awards.
The film has its detractors. To some eyes, maybe EEAAO has won too many awards. Maybe some Academy voters are sick of hearing about the history of Asian and Asian American representation in the movies.
A series of tweets from Daniel Kwan, who is Daniel Scheinert who formed the directing team known collectively as The Daniels, seems to indicate that there may be a backlash against the film's unprecedented success. The idea of a single movie sweeping the Oscars bugs some Academy voters and there is that residue of the old guard who just don't "get" EEAAO.
In January, the unconventional film Everything Everywhere All at Once was nominated for 11 Oscars —including for Best Picture, Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as the Daniels), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actress (Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis), and Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), best original screenplay, editing, score and costume —the most of any film this year.
In a recent New York Times interview, Stephanie Hsu, who played Yeoh's daughter in the movie and who herself is a contender in the Best Supporting Actress category, cautioned that AANHPIs shouldn't assume that film industry's long standing issues with racism and representation have been resolved,
Out of all the nominations, only EEAAO's Ke Huy Quan, who is nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category, appears to be a lock after winning in almost all the different award shows leading up to the Academy Awards
Even Michelle Yeoh, who won the Screen Actors Guild Best Actress trophy for her role as the lead protagonist in EEAAO, is not a sure bet.
Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett nominated for her over-the-top performance in Tar, has strong industry support among Academy voters, which despite recent efforts to include more members of color, is still dominated by older, white members.
Dark horse Andrea Riseborough is being pushed by some big Hollywood names for her role in the unglamorous role in To Leslie. Among her A-list fans are Edward Norton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Adams, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet
Still, Everything Everywhere All at Once's detractors have pointed out flaws. Some are upset by the idea of a sweep, advocating for films like White-dominated films Tár and The Banshees of Inisherin in categories like Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay. Others have problems with the film’s alleged anti-Semitism, in which Jewish actress Jenny Slate plays a character named “Big Nose.”
In a recent New York Times interview, Stephanie Hsu, who played Yeoh's daughter in the movie and who herself is a contender in the Best Supporting Actress category, cautioned that AANHPIs shouldn't assume that film industry's long standing issues with racism and representation have been resolved,
In the interview, the Asian Australian actress described being mistaken on the red carpet for Lana Condor, star of "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," and a moment at a New York screening for "Everything Everywhere" when her Asian publicist was approached and praised for a performance he never gave.
"Listen, this ride is amazing, but that is real. We have not transcended this moment, right?" Hsu told the Times. "James Hong (who plays her grandfather in EEAAO) started acting at a time when people wouldn't even say his name, they would literally just call him 'Chinaman' and say 'Get on your mark.' Michelle waited almost 40 years for her first chance of being No. 1 on the call sheet, and Ke left acting for (nearly) 20 years. As successful as this film has been, the biggest fear on the other side is, 'What if this is my last chance?'"
In his cautionary note, Kwan couldn't resist a clapback against the Hollywood establishment critics. He signed off:
“P.S. to the people who hate the film with their entire being: I’m sorry we ruined cinema for you forever. I hope we can make it up to you on the next one <3”
TO WATCH: The Hollywood Reporter has all the different ways and stations fans can watch, stream or record the 95th Academy Awards starting hours before the official telecast at 5 p.m. PDT.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.
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