You Can See Everything: A Dramatically Deep Documentary

What defines a “magnum opus” in filmmaking? Typically, that phrase is reserved for features which rank among the best of the best, or ones that leave a major impact on their audiences. Throughout this year, quite a few films have been released that could match this mantra—ranging from The Odyssey to Project Hail Mary—especially in their audience appeal and storytelling techniques. But what if I told you that the latest talk of the town in the film world—and the most recent example of a film being labelled as such—is one that doesn't even follow a narrative structure?

You Can See Everything is a brand new documentary feature released by A24, an independent studio which has gained a lot of traction in recent times. Known for crafting thought provoking stories out of typically minuscule budgets, A24 has released some of the most acclaimed films of the last decade, ranging from Hereditary and Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

With You Can See Everything, the studio tasks filmmaking duo Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim with covering the life of Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced CEO of Theranos, a now-defunct health technology company. For context, Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors in 2022, tying back to a product Theranos created which promised exaggerated advancements for blood-testing. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison for her crimes, which she began serving a year following her conviction. 

This documentary tracks Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, in the 34 days leading up to the start of her prison time. The two invite a documentary crew, headed by Fielder and Oppenheim, to their rented beach house in California as they cover their day-to-day lives and familial bond, while trying to provide more context behind who Holmes is as a person, and where they believe it all went wrong. Fielder takes center stage for several interviews with Holmes, Evans, and others connected to them—such as Holmes's parents and actress Amanda Seyfried, who played her in streaming series The Dropout—throughout the course of the three-hour runtime.

This film has been widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, while making an insane amount of money at the box office. In fact, as of Saturday, Oct. 24, the film has expanded into over 2,000 screens nationwide, compared to the original 855 just one week ago. However, at face value, I did not know what to expect from this movie, as I knew practically nothing about Holmes's case until shortly before it came out. In fact, I went into the movie rather skeptical, fearing that the near-universal acclaim would be overhyped, or that it would not justify its intimidating length. 

But once the credits started rolling, I sat in total shock for a solid few minutes, before standing outside the main entrance for a bit longer, as I reminisced on what I had just watched. It is not often I say this about a film, let alone a documentary, but this is a movie I truly think has to be seen to be believed. There are several details I want to get into with this movie, but I do not want to spoil the experience for anyone who may be interested in checking it out.

So, before you buy that ticket, let me give you a heads up: this movie is more than you may expect it to be. What was promoted as an examination of Holmes's life in the time leading up to her sentence is actually more of a study of her and Evans as people. At a certain point of the feature, it shifts where its main coverage goes, delving more into the lasting impact of her situation as it carries on for the involved parties. There is no shortage in detail of how Fielder and Oppenheim examine Holmes's life and career—ranging from her connection with Evans and perception of what Theranos did, to how she thinks people see her. 

This movie kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, especially in the second half of the feature, when more shady contemporary details are revealed, right down to when the documentary was first pitched. Despite not following a narrative plotline, the movie still manages to keep viewers guessing the entire time, especially when it comes clear later on that nothing is as it seems. I could even argue that this movie has some of the best “plot twists” of any film I have seen this year. 

Not to mention, the bulk of the movie's content, the interviews and dialogue, are spearheaded excellently by Fielder, who has an outstanding screen presence. Not only is he passionate in seeking the truth about Holmes and Evans, but he also has a few humorous quips throughout the runtime which feel natural, and often got a chuckle out of me. He also shines behind the screen with his co-director, Oppenheim, as they direct the movie with a sense of professional realism, making audiences feel as though they are in the room witnessing these cryptic conversations directly.

Even the film's technical aspects shine in a way similar to its more mainstream competition. Namely, I was impressed by the cinematography from David Bolen, who combines many beautiful, sweeping environmental shots with uncanny close-ups during Fielder's interviews—especially when he speaks with Holmes. Not to mention, the uncanniness and sense of drama are elevated by a fantastic musical score from Ari Balouzian, whose tracks perfectly matched the onscreen events in a way which kept me enthralled. 

Most surprisingly, for a three-hour movie, it is steadily paced in a way which does not feel too tedious or monotonous. The problem I often encounter with documentaries this long, at least for me, is that they can often lose their steam or momentum, occasionally grasping at straws and filler content just to pad out those minutes. But with this film, every single moment feels justified, to the point where I could argue this is one of the most competent documentaries I have seen in a long time, especially with the runtime it has. 

As a whole, You Can See Everything is one of the most outstanding features I have seen this year, especially thanks to its strong direction, steady pacing, unsettling tone, content which kept me guessing, and effective dissection of Holmes and Evans. There are so many details I want to cover with this movie, but for the sake of spoilers, I will prevent myself from doing so for now. Just know that the hype this movie has built absolutely pays off. 

This film is a must watch for any documentary fan, or anyone who is even remotely fascinated by Holmes's past. You Can See Everything is currently making waves at thousands of theaters across the country, including locally at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield. As I said before, I think this movie has to be seen to be truly believed, so I rank it high among my recommendations for releases this year. 

This movie gives you the opportunity to “see everything;” with the quality of the final product, I think that is certainly an offer not worth refusing!