One Battle After Another

 

“You know what freedom is? No fear.”

Propulsive, incendiary and frenetic, One Battle After Another is an encapsulation and condemnation of contemporary America that satirically caricatures many facets of the modern era but brings depth to the portraits it paints thanks to a sterling ensemble and lively direction from the master Paul Thomas Anderson. 

Discussion Points:

Paul Thomas Anderson is a director who encapsulates eras with an almost cynical hope. He never romanticises them, but he humanises them and shows the depths of human experience, in all its best and worst forms. One Battle After Another is another sprawling ensemble epic that seeks to unravel our modern day climate of revolution versus controlled order. Whichever side of the political divide you find yourself on, the film doesn’t delve into the politics at play that motivate its characters, but they are well painted enough caricatures for you to understand what they each are meant to represent. Leonardo DiCaprio is wonderfully manic and paranoid as a fighter turned father living on the fringes. Sean Penn is detestably pathetic as an obsessive, racist deplorable colonel who’s somehow always enthralling when on screen. The Revolution of the French 75, is truly energised by Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, and Regina Hall - with all three playing different women, in different times, with different roles and responsibilities in the fight. And Benicio del Toro brings an easygoing energy to the chaotic climate around him. It’s a film that’s frequently funnier than you may expect, and it’s easily the most action-packed film from Anderson, complete with car chases, shootouts, and plenty of explosions. At 2hr40min it’s paced expertly, propelled by Jonny Greenwoods fantastic musical score, and tight brisk editing. Overall, One Battle After Another is a timely, dynamic and ferocious film that’s bold executed and unafraid to ruffle feathers as it participates in the call for revolution.