There’s nothing quite like the pure invigoration of seeing a great film. I’m not saying it’s better than any other simple joys in this otherwise crappish life, but it’s a unique feeling that charges up your veins and fires off all your neurons and leaves you positively levitating as the credits roll. “One Battle After Another,” the latest from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, is such an experience—the runtime flies by and you’re totally engrossed from the first frame to the last, captivated by incredible characters, superb dialogue, and compelling sequences. Anderson hasn’t just crafted a fun and engaging movie, but it’s also a deeply layered tale whose immediacy with our current political climate is unfortunate but necessary, exploring areas in ways that most other artists would shy away. “One Battle After Another” is easily one of the best films of the year and demands to be seen by as many people as possible.
Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Perfidia (Teyana Taylor) are a couple, romantically tied but also working together in the French 75, a revolutionary outfit that seeks to liberate people from inhumane circumstances and disrupt the status quo of a draconian government. When they cross the wrong law enforcement officer (Sean Penn), things get serious—and only compounded by the fact that the two have a baby together. Years pass and that baby, Willa (Chase Infiniti), is grown up and that officer is hunting down the entire family. Bob must do what he can to protect his daughter while Willa confronts the truth about her parentage.
A key aspect of “One Battle After Another” is that Anderson pulls off two seemingly disparate notes simultaneously without robbing either of their power. For example, the white supremacists that pop up partly through the film are inherently ridiculous and pathetic, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. These moronic bigots are still powerful and their lack of humanity leads to all sorts of tragic results. Another example is that Bob is a drug-and-drink-addled buffoon, yet still capable and endearing enough that he’s a compelling protagonist. In other words, Anderson (inspired by “Vineland” by Thomas Pynchon) crafted truly human and fully rounded characters and placed them in intense scenarios where all the elements of their personalities shine without every feeling contradictory or contrived.
The expertly crafted characterization is greatly aided by tremendous performances across the board with every single actor turning in career best work (which is saying something in most cases). Those complex characters feel truly lived in and natural, with even small parts feeling like they have an intriguing backstory that you constantly want to learn more about. DiCaprio is excellent as the bumbling Bob, exasperated by the circumstances in which he finds himself yet pushing despite it all to help his family. Newcomer Infiniti is a revelation as Willa, a young lady caught in the crossfires and torn between so many different competing impulses and directions. Penn is a force of nature in his repugnant role, again a mix of pathetic and terrifying, which alternates between being hilarious and daunting. Benicio Del Toro, as Willa’s sensei Sergio St. Carlos, is a fully formed and captivating person who navigates between comedy and altruism so nimbly that it occasionally happens simultaneously. Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor….the list goes on as, again, there is not a weak link in the entire cast with each character truly feeling whole and utterly fascinating, without ever feeling like a too-crowded screen.
“One Battle After Another” doesn’t just boast great dialogue, character work, and performances, but is also gorgeously shot with a terrific score as well. DP Michael Bauman perfectly captures the action, alternating between claustrophobic close-ups, chaotic handheld motion, and beautifully staged long shots. There is one sequence in the film that expertly uses the curvature/terrain of a road that, when paired with Jonny Greenwood’s score, creates a boiling pot of tension and excitement. This scene feels like it must have been done before, but no, it’s wholly original and “One Battle After Another” executes it so well that audiences may find themselves forgetting to breathe while it unfolds.
For cinephiles, there are few highs like discovering a great new movie. You feel it throughout the entire runtime, but you’re not sure until the very final moments that it’s truly something special. “One Battle After Another” opens strong, continues terrifically, and sticks the landing to ensure that it is one of the best films of the entire year. Paul Thomas Anderson and company have crafted a breathtaking experience that manages to comment on generational divides, revolutionary actions, power structures, family, nature vs. nurture, and so much more, without ever feeling like an awkward lecture. Instead, “One Battle After Another” is a fast-paced, utterly engrossing, and expertly made film that will stand the test of time and reward viewers for decades to come.
4.5 / 5 Stars
Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall
