One Battle After Another review: One of Paul Thomas Anderson’s finest
Paul Thomas Anderson has always been very hit and miss with me but One Battle After Another is up there with his greats like Boogie Nights and Phantom Thread.
The comedy-drama stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob, who used to be a member of the French 75 revolutionary group but has been lying low with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) for the past 16 years. When Colonel Steve Lockjaw (Sean Penn), who has always had a vendetta against the French 75, finally tracks down Willa and kidnaps her, Bob has to go on a mission to save his daughter.
Bob was once a rebellious explosives expert but he has spent the past 16 years getting high and is not as switched on as he used to be. He can’t remember the secret codes and phrases and has become something of a bumbling oaf. It’s very amusing watching DiCaprio fumbling his way through his mission. He’s not your typical action hero; in fact, he’s old, creaky and completely inept! That’s what makes the movie so funny at times. I normally associate DiCaprio with dramas but he is a comedian here; he made me laugh out loud a bunch with his silly antics and buffoonery.
But the heart of the film is newcomer Infiniti, who easily holds her own among the big-name talent. She is wise, mature and very capable and the one I cared about the most. Benicio del Toro is good fun as Willa’s chilled-out sensei, Teyana Taylor makes a strong impression but isn’t in it enough, and Regina Hall is woefully underused as a French 75 member. But the only star with Oscars potential is Penn, who gives a memorable performance as the despicable Lockjaw. You will detest this man with a passion.
A lot of people have called this a masterpiece and awarded it five stars. I enjoyed it a lot but wouldn’t go quite that far. It’s too long (2 hours 45 minutes), the score is a bit annoying sometimes, its cultural relevance disappears after the first act, and it takes a long time to set everything up and get going. But it’s a real surprise from PTA, who is known best for indie dramas rather than entertaining action-filled films with a broader appeal.
One Battle After Another is a very good movie but it’s not even close to being my favourite of the year. I kinda wish I liked it more!
In cinemas now