Ensemble Spotlight: Harry Shum Jr. and the Le Brothers - 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'
The physicality of these performers is something to behold
Time’s really flown by this awards season, and with so many great films it’s been a joy to follow so many deserving trajectories. Everything Everywhere All At Once has remained my favourite of 2022 ever since I first watched it in May and hasn’t budged since. I could go on all day about things I love about it but I’ll restrain myself. Still, with the SAG nominations announcement today I feel inclined to give a shout out to some key members of the EEAAO team I hope will get recognition today in the Ensemble and Stunt Ensemble categories - Harry Shum Jr., and Andy & Brian Le of Martial Club fame.
‘Physicality’ - the first thing that comes to mind when talking about these essential parts of this great film, where the Daniels utilise their background in dance and marital arts to perfection onscreen. As co-worker Chad in Evelyn’s teppanyaki chef universe, Shum doesn’t have a lot of screen time but makes the most of every second he’s got. Chad’s little subplot where his skillset as a chef comes from a racoon named Raccacoonie underneath his hat is a finely attuned bit of silliness, that develops into something genuinely quite moving in a very short span of time, where Evelyn and us get to see how much this silly raccoon meant to Chad. In true form to Ratatouille this bond is given a real dramatic heft, developing into Evelyn and Chad rushing off to chase after Raccacoonie. A sequence which in multiple universes, Shum’s physicality as a dancer is used beautifully as a sort of puppet for Evelyn to play with. So wonderful to see directors know exactly the kind of talent they have at their disposal, and maximise it to their advantage.
The same goes for the Le brothers, who’ve been doing such tremendous work in Hollywood as of late, and here as two Alpha ‘jumpers’ make for some of the film’s highlights in every action sequence their part off. They don’t simply just pull off the moves and stunts, they add so much character and humour to each of them, an essential part of how memorable EEAAO’s fight scenes are. I have special affection for everything Brian does in the first fight with Waymond where his bemused reactions add so much to the gradual realisation of what the latter is up to, or Andy in his tussle with Evelyn with all manner of office equipment that devolves into a hilarious series of childish slaps. Great physical comedy, and so much incredible work by the stunt team and co-ordinators to make this magic happen.