by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio occupy a similar space within the entertainment industry, as highly decorated creators whose careers span multiple decades and a variety of genres. The pair are also seemingly selective, lending their names and talents to a project every year, give or take. So the fact that the pair chose One Battle After Another as their first collaboration was a substantial selling point in itself. And each additional detail only worked to further sell the film as one of the year’s premier releases. Esteemed recording artist-turned-actress Teyana Taylor steps in fresh off her buzz worthy leading role in 2023’s A Thousand and One. One Battle’s story centers around a conflict between aged political revolutionaries and an oppressive military regime, with Benicio Del Toro playing a martial arts sensei with a secret, who, at one point, even throws DiCaprio out of a moving car. Who knows!
The story opens with an exhilarating raid on a government compound by a troop of passionate, capable revolutionaries, including DiCaprio and Taylor. The first act follows the glory days of the radicals as they demand societal reform and spark something of a romantic relationship. The rest of the film takes place over a decade after a heist flies off the rails and fractures the team, exploring the dramatic consequences that a life of extreme activism can beget. One Battle runs two hours and 41 minutes, with nearly every moment feeling action-packed, eventful, and thematically meaningful. Needless to say, this release leaves the audience with a tremendous amount of unpacking to do.
Building off the summary, the action here is a standout. It isn’t necessarily flashy like a modern comic book movie. Instead, the film is packed with heists, raids, and chases that find their thrills in the grounded, gritty reality of radical activism. Every possible chip is stacked against our protagonists as they take on a ruthless, vengeful military force with seemingly bottomless resources. The boots-on-the-ground fight against oppression is made even more engaging because Anderson quickly establishes that he is more than willing to make these characters face their mortality.
It is similarly inspiring to see the director innovate within these set pieces without relying on CGI or fantastical elements. There is one scene in particular that takes a few cars and manages to make one of the most memorable movie moments of the year with next to no dialogue. It is both visually stunning and an absolutely perfect way to demonstrate the intelligence and wit of a character that doesn’t get too many opportunities in the film to stick up for themselves. These moments, coupled with the subject matter, are reminiscent of Michael Mann’s Heat; that is about the best possible compliment you can get when you dip your toe in this genre.
As you might expect, everyone here seems to have their eyes on some awards. DiCaprio is strong as our lead, specifically excelling when he gets to inject some humor into the role. Similarly, Del Toro is just an absolute delight through each of his scenes, despite the fact that his role is relatively limited. Taylor assures the audience that her previous awards attention was far from a fluke, continuing to establish herself as an exceptional multi-hyphenate. But somewhat shockingly, Sean Penn ends up commanding each and every scene he pops up in, perfectly playing the power-hungry, zealous lunatic Steven J. Lockjaw. Even more than the previous descriptors, his performance can be summed up in a single word: convincing. The world on display is meant to be a somewhat exaggerated version of our already exaggerated reality. More than any other element on screen, his reactions, mannerisms, and deliveries make this world feel completely real.
The authenticity of One Battle After Another goes far beyond the action and Penn’s performance. The theming of this film feels more relevant than ever. The core conceit of American revolutionaries rebelling against an authoritarian government that are specifically seeking to oppress minorities is timely, although that theme seems to transcend time. This specific release does a great job of interrogating the various strains placed on the figures who devote their lives to these causes. Anderson also expertly explores how personal ties and vendettas are often driving forces behind these larger-than-life conflicts. The writer/director has a tremendous amount to say here, and he couldn’t have picked a better time to introduce it to the world. It is a cautionary tale. It is a call to action. And it is a testament to the fact that our relationships are both the driving forces that push us through these hardships and the reason we persist to begin with.
Rating: Loved It
One Battle After Anotheris currently playing in theaters
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