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Synopsis
Far-left revolutionaries Pat Calhoun (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) fall in love while disrupting the system. Things change once Perfidia gives birth to a daughter, which she refuses to raise despite Pat’s pleas. Unfortunately, she enters a plea deal with Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) that gets her comrades killed. While Perfidia flees to Mexico, Pat and their daughter go into hiding under the new names Bob and Willa Ferguson. Sixteen years later, Pat has become a drug addict while his daughter, Charlene (Chase Infiniti), takes care of herself. Lockjaw catches wind that they’re in hiding and uses his military connections to hunt them down. When Charlene goes missing, Pat frantically runs to her karate instructor, Sergio St. Carlos (Benicio del Toro), for help. Little does Pat know that there’s more going on besides an old enemy coming back for him and his daughter.
Review
One Battle After Another is one of the most innovative and entertaining action thrillers I’ve seen in quite some time. From the opening scene up to the finale, the movie moves at a breakneck pace that never lets up. What sets it apart from similar thrillers is its biting satire of modern politics and societal norms. Thankfully, the satirical elements never contrast with the action, making it more accessible to general audiences. That said, it never feels like the film is talking down to the audience. Instead, Paul Thomas Anderson understands his audience and gives just enough information to let the audience fill in the gaps. Anderson expertly crafts epic action sequences, from shootouts and escapes to one of the greatest car chases ever. Michael Bauman’s cinematography and Jonny Greenwood’s score add to the absurdity and chaotic nature that keep the action enthralling.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers another outstanding performance as a burned-out revolutionary struggling to be there for his daughter. Seeing him try to navigate through the chaos while strung out is captivating, and he keeps everything grounded. Sean Penn gives one of the best performances of his career as the hotheaded Col. Lockjaw. He manages to be bombastic and over-the-top without going into camp and still be a credible threat. Del Toro is also fun as the even-tempered sensei whose calm demeanor perfectly contrasts with DiCaprio’s hazy paranoia. Regina Hall and Teyana Taylor are also excellent, and relative newcomer Chase Infiniti shows tons of promise here. She has fantastic chemistry with DiCaprio, and she more than holds her own against Penn’s shouting demeanor. Also worth highlighting are Eric Schweig and Tony Goldwyn, who steal the show despite their limited screentime. All in all, every cast member delivers tenfold and deserves their accolades.
If I had any complaints, my biggest one would be that the film takes some time to find its footing. For the first half hour or so, I wasn’t sure what tone the movie was going for. It didn’t help that several tones clashed with one another early on, shifting from severe to silly. That said, after getting past the first third, the film found its rhythm, and I understood what it’s aiming for. At its heart, the movie is about a father trying to make amends to his daughter despite his past actions. Much like Pat, we feel disillusioned with the world around us, and we’re trying to make sense of the senseless. At two hours and forty-one minutes, the film never feels long, and you almost wish it were longer. Overall, One Battle After Another is proof once again that original ideas still exist in Hollywood.
Buy One Battle After Another from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4prBSFe.
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Where to watch One Battle After Another
