Altered Viewing Essentials
by MARCIE COLLETT
Here are some films and series about being altered. I’m calling these my “Altered Essentials.”
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Rentable Amazon or Apple or iTunes)
EVERYTHING is an altered-worthy movie because it is about multiverses, both those into which you were born and those you create for yourself. What would have happened if a woman had said no to love rather than yes, pursued martial arts, nurtured her singing? All of these possibilities serve a core story about a mother and daughter trying to connect. The mother Evelyn (the mesmerizing Michelle Yeoh) is also challenged to repair relationships with her father, her husband, and her IRS auditor (brilliant Jamie Lee Curtis). Hanging in the balance, all realities and time are facing an existential crisis. At one crucial point (my favorite, hysterical moment), multiverse warriors must resort to ass-play to save their worlds. EVERYTHING also has so many timely and relevant facets including a lesbian daughter, first-generation Asian Americans immigrant family, fabulously strong female leads, excellent ensemble cast, vivid roller coster sound mixed with lovely moments of Claire de lune, extraordinary costumes and sets, and so much exciting action. Altered or sober, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE is my newest, favorite cinematic experience of all time. I see a lot of movies - like almost every day. It’s been decades since I have added a new movie to the very top of my list. I have seen EVERYTHING six times, and as I watched it during the last screening at my beloved Broadway Centre Cinemas, I still had happy tears out of my googly eyes.
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FANTASTIC FUNGI (Netflix)
A perfect film intro into the psychedelic world. This is a documentary about magic mushrooms and the people who love them and the possibilities for saving ourselves and our planet.
When FANTASTIC FUNGI came to the Tower Theatre in October 2019, I thought, oh, how cute for the hippies; maybe it will last more than a week. It actually lasted six months and was still playing when COVID closed all cinemas in March 2020. It’s beautiful with funky visuals and inspiring story after inspiring story. Throughout 2020 and beyond, FANTASTIC FUNGI has been wildly popular online with virtual watch parties and Q&A’s from all over the world. If ever there was a time for a movie about connection, it was 2020, and this decade continues to need the same. If Utah can sustain a documentary about such a controversial subject, then perhaps it’s not controversial. If the mycelial network takes hold in the City of Salt - surely it’s meant for everywhere.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND (Netflix)
This series is the perfect follow-up to FANTASTIC FUNGI. It’s based on Michael Pollen’s book which is perhaps the most read, readable, and now watchable introduction into the modern psychedelic movement. The four-episode series covers LSD, Psilocybin (mushrooms), MDMA, and Mescaline. From origin stories to contemporary trends, the information and format are accessible for folks who are newly exploring psychedelics, and they are validating as well for those already connected to the fast-expanding network.
Enjoy these pieces sober or altered. Either way it’s a win.
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