Steven Spielberg had very kind words for EEAAO filmmakers Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, praising their work on the film:
“I learn more from young filmmakers today than I do from some of the older filmmakers...because some of the new filmmakers are doing such audacious work. The Daniels (Kwan & Scheinert) did such amazing genius work on “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Spielberg and The Daniels are nominated in the Directing category at this year’s Oscars. However, it is looking as though the EEAAO duo, also known as The Daniels, might pull off the win come March 12th.
Spielberg released “The Fabelmans” in November to muted box-office receipts. I might be in the minority here, but the last GREAT movie he released was 2005’s “Munich.”
Spielberg became a better, more refined, filmmaker as he aged into his early 60s. The craft and masterful storytelling between 1998 and 2005 ("Saving Private Ryan," "Minority Report," "AI," "Catch Me If You Can," "Munich," and "War of the Worlds") at times exceeded his, mostly brilliant, but inconsistent work from the '70s and '80s.
However, something changed post-2005 as he switched his style into more subdued dramas. Spielberg seemed to be going for old-fashioned Hollywood craftsmanship. I like to think of this as the Victor Fleming/Howard Hawks phase of his career, both his cinematic idols.
There’s a lot to like in "Bridge of Spies," “Lincoln” “The Fabelmans” and “War Horse,” but these films don’t come close to his earlier works.
The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.