nothing, except everything.

The consensus on Nothing Except Everything -- stylized as nothing, except everything. -- seems to be that it lets us know what to expect as the younger Zoomers are getting old enough to make movies. Esther On Film wrote that it's basically Everything Everywhere All At Once meets Don Hertzfeldt, adding that "the kids who are growing up watching Family Guy clips over Subway Surfers gameplay on TikTok are going to make so much insipid tripe that looks exactly like this".

Similarly scathing was Jeff Zhang, causing several blowhards on Twitter to try to point out how mean movie critics are; alas, those days of discourse only served to show us how mean they AREN'T, especially compared to the heyday of Pauline Kael.

But why are people so angry at those who roast this short? Well, because it's actually a student film. Sort of. It's a student film with a professional cast, numerous executive producer credits, professional-looking cameras, and other things that only happen when you already have industry connections, hence Zhang's opening line: "Wesley Wang's nothing, except everything. Is the antithesis of all the janky pleasures of amateur filmmaking." (In other words, he is decidedly not beating up on some kid; he's treating this very much professional production the way a critic treats professional productions.)

This means we also get a fairly privileged assessment of the Zoomer human (Zooman?) condition. Regardless, experience tells me you don't need to be an especially privileged or out-of-touch Zoomer to think EEAAO was the be-all-end-all of absurdist profundity or that briefly referencing climate change, Jung, or whatever makes you look thoughtful, so I'm sure we'll be getting more Gen-Z flicks like it.

I guess I prefer something like this to Are You Lost in the World Like Me?, that animated short film that critiques the smartphone era with all the depth of a Minion meme shared by your aunt (who also occasionally reposts the film with the caption "LIKE if u get it"). Wang's movie is more about the Zoomer experience than a critique of Society™.

Sadly, it doesn't explore this admittedly fascinating generation (born into a world of chaos, their best years snatched by lockdowns; a generation that's more sincere in their art compared to Millennials' self-conscious irony, yet also deathly afraid of sex scenes because all they've known during their youth is MCU movies) in any especially interesting ways. In some ways, however, the film's resonance may transcend Zoomers -- I, a curmudgeonly Millennial, definitely remember having rich friends in high school who could have made something like this for graduation if they so wished and think themselves "deep" for it (instead they dropped out to become bloggers).

Honestly, I don't get the super low reviews. I mean yeah, this film isn't groundbreaking or life-changing, yet it's still very touching at moments. People might've gone in expecting something huge just because it went viral or because the director is 18, but that's not really what this short film is trying to do. It's not some big dramatic story-it's more like a simple, quiet reflection. And honestly, that's what makes it feel kind of refreshing.

The main character is really relatable. He's just a normal guy going through everyday thoughts about life, time, and growing up. He's not dealing with some crazy crisis-just normal stuff that almost everyone has thought about at one point or another. That feeling of noticing how fast time passes, wondering if you're doing enough, or just being aware of how things are changing around you. The way it's shown feels natural, not too deep or forced.

The acting is great. David Mazouz brings a calm and believable vibe to the role. He doesn't overact or try too hard to be emotional. He just feels like a regular person, which fits the whole mood of the film. Lily Chee also adds a nice balance in her scenes. The way their characters talk feels relaxed and casual, which works really well for a story like this. It kind of reminded me of a late afternoon walk where you just start thinking about life for a second without even meaning to.

The cinematography is stunning. Every shot looks carefully chosen, and the colors and lighting give the whole film this soft, thoughtful feeling. It doesn't look like a short film made by a teenager-it looks professional, polished, and really visually beautiful. The fact it's directed by an 18-year-old kid is crazy.

I liked it. Would watch again. Not because it has some big twist or unforgettable ending, but because it leaves a nice feeling. It's peaceful, honest, and it makes you reflect a little. Nothing too heavy, nothing too dramatic-just a short piece about life, time, and noticing the small things. I think some people expected it to blow their minds or be some kind of masterpiece, and maybe that's why they didn't enjoy it. But if you take it for what it is, it's actually a really solid short film.

And again-made by an 18-year-old. That alone deserves some respect.

Style over substance, this was carried by the industry professional cinematographers. It also just completely rips off everything everywhere, from the title to the themes to the editing and the sound design. Very "fake deep". I wouldn't usually care but they are turning this into a feature film, I think that's a horrible idea. There's a decent premise of being over analytical and 4th wall breaking but the concept is too vague and the acting is very meh. In the kickstarter the kid who made it claimed to have written the most genuine gen z characters ever, which is just unequivocally false. Not a fan.

Never have I see a short film strike me so hard, and I would've never thought this was produced and written by a HIGH SCHOOLER?

Just a great cinematic piece that really left me thinking after I watched. In only 13 minutes it felt like I already had watched a full 90+ minute movie.

Wesley Wang has a lot of talent and I won't be surprised if he's one of the next great writers considering he's already been signed. If you haven't watched the short film already it's on YouTube under the channel "Wesley Wang", and I hope it brings you the emotions that filled me when I watched it. Wang also has other short films if you also want to check those out.

Can't wait to see what Wang has in store for his future if he started a career like this.

I saw a tiktok about Wesley Wang selling this to Sony, and decided that I had to give it a chance. The first thing that struck me was the fact that David Mazouz, a lead actor in Gotham, and I realized that this high school short film was nothing comparable to the films I have the ability to make at my university. Whatever the budget was, it was stretched perfectly. But it's not indie.

The acting was great. Harper and Miles' characters play the part of lost high schoolers extremely well. The directing was fantastic, with great lighting and sound. The segmented computer bits are a bit of a crutch, and a cliche, but for a young director, it's something to work on.

The biggest issue I found with this short is its writing. A lot of the lines are stilted, and the problem I find with that is that it plays on existential realism, yet it doesn't feel fluid. Wang is a fantastic director, who definitely has a bring future, but he is not a writer.