At first glance at the talent attached to One Battle After Another, you might be automatically sold that you’re in for a treat. Certain actors are highly praised because they are pretty selective with the projects they take on, as opposed to signing on for any old role that lands on their desk. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of those actors, so it is without question that movie fans knew they were getting something special when he teamed up with legendary director Paul Thomas Anderson. The film follows Bob (DiCaprio) as a revolutionary who’d been in the game for quite some time, but now spends his days high as a kite and off the grid with his teenage daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti). When his military enemy, Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), returns with a vengeance and his daughter goes missing, he is forced to move in the shadows to avoid being arrested, all while hunting his daughter down with no trace of where she might be.
For starters, there’s a stacked cast that each has character arcs of valuable interest. Teyana Taylor gives a tough and emotional depiction of a radical who becomes a mother in the midst of chaos. Her portrayal of the rollercoaster of emotions felt postpardem is so raw and vulnerable that her performance as Perfidia is sure to be a fan favorite. Regina Hall and Benicio Del Toro are also fun to watch on screen as supporting characters, with Del Toro being a hilarious scene partner opposite DiCaprio. In a sea full of heavyweights, it would be criminal not to highlight the newbie on set as Infiniti is a standout in her big-screen film debut. If she looks familiar, you might remember her from last year’s suspenseful thriller on Apple TV+, Presumed Innocent, where she played Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga’s daughter.
One Battle After Another is hands down one of the year’s best films, as it really has every ingredient to be labeled as such. The plot never loses your interest with the many layers unfolding throughout the film. Even though there are many components, they don’t overcrowd the storyline and are perfectly paced. It definitely capitalizes on the entire 2-hour and 50-minute runtime without losing the audience’s interest. From many comedic moments (“Latino Harriett Tubman situation” is an insane line), fast-paced action sequences, and the emotional draw at the center of it all, you’re left feeling like this is PTA’s best work (it’s currently DiCaprio’s highest rated film on Rotten Tomatoes). There’s a scene where a peaceful car chase is happening on a desert road lined with hills that is visually appealing and is likely to be referenced between folks who have seen the movie.
One Battle After Another Fills The Entire 170-minute Run Time Wisely
DiCaprio is such a relatable character as he forgets an important rendezvous point, all because he claims to have fried his brain from being so high and drunk all the time. He reminds us all of his versatility and why he is one of the greatest actors of his generation. I have no doubt he will be a quotable character, not to mention how many will likely dress up as Bob for Halloween (he spends most of the film in a checkered robe with a Black beanie and sunglasses). One Battle After Another is truly unique, and this script called for each of the actors to step out of their comfort zone, with a surprising few scenes from Penn. It was filmed for IMAX, and the cinematography deserves to shine on such a screen.
Plainly put, with such a long runtime, the film was so entertaining that I never once picked up my phone to check the time, and that’s truly saying something. It was one of my most anticipated films of the year, and, unlike some others that made that same list, it did not disappoint.
One Battle After Another hits theaters September 26th.
RT: 5/5
