Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Written by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor
Rating: [5/5]
Acts of revolution appear in various ways, from speech to the written word, or when all other attempts fail, violence remains as the only method of opposition. History has provided many examples of these acts of resistance, but they all stem from the idea of opposing an injustice imposed upon the people. One Battle After Another displays not only these acts in the present but also the ramifications they hold for the future generations as they must reckon with the world their parents leave behind.
After many operations breaking out detained immigrants, the far-left militant revolutionary group, the French 75, has become a target for government personnel. Pat (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) have thrived in the group and as lovers, but following her pregnancy, the former hopes to slow down in their current line of work. Afraid of being held back, Perfidia flees, leaving Pat to take care of their baby alone. Years later, now in hiding after the government has tracked down and executed many of the French 75, Pat tries to protect Willa (Chase Infiniti) when the government, namely Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), has their eyes set on them again.
A filmmaker like Paul Thomas Anderson is truly one of a kind. A creative who keeps audiences on their toes on the focus of his next project. To go from something like Phantom Thread to Licorice Pizza and now an utter masterwork like One Battle After Another demonstrates this director can take on any subject matter and deliver an exceptional viewing experience. With his latest, he raises the stakes drastically compared to much of his work in the past decade, and it paid dividends given the greatness we see unfold.
Where the characters stand in this narrative provides intriguing introspection on the roles of revolutionaries and what distinguishable impact they have in disrupting the status quo. After all, the French 75 did not aim to topple the government and remake it in their image; they sought to destabilize the actions of government officials with regard to immigrants. A valiant one, but it will not completely alter the course of this country filled with a whole host of other issues. Their means drew more attention in addition to their goals, as they had no qualms getting into shooting bouts with the governmental agencies looking to stop them. A film tackling this type of subject matter typically would carry a humorless tone, and rightfully so, but this feature decides to focus on the individuals involved and what washed-up revolutionaries look like.
We see this primarily with Pat, who in his prime could assemble the very best explosives and could shake fear in others, but now bearing all of the responsibility of raising Willa and ensuring her safety has led to him living a much different life. Willa may argue he overdid this much calmer lifestyle, given he lies around all day, ever paranoid that Lockjaw will find them. Even with this change, Pat remains a revolutionary at heart, leading to the great humor he delivers throughout this film. He may not display it physically as he did before, but he sure can verbally express it. At this stage the French 75 is in tatters but One Battle After Another carries a prevailing message of how these fights and belief systems carry on, which shifts the focus to Willa’s arc.
Stepping into a lead role like this one, acting opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Regina Hall, puts Chase Infiniti in a position where she must excel, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s trust in her paid off. Infiniti portrays Willa, who receives all of this training from her father in order to be prepared when their enemies find her. She also has these revolutionary sparks but cannot act on them in the way she would prefer given the concern Pat has for her safety. As she inevitably gets pulled into this world and remains on the run when Lockjaw sets his eyes on her, it allows Infiniti to thrive in capturing every singular component required of this character. This exhibits the making of a brand new star, as she did more than hold her own when acting opposite some of the best working actors today.
With Willa on the run, trying to stay out of the hands of Lockjaw, the film shifts into a chase story where the antagonists attempt to reach Willa, and Pat tries everything in his power to find her before it’s all too late. This component of the narrative brings all of the action, further diversifying everything that makes this film so entertaining. Pat’s experience in trying to get to his daughter creates a mix of humor, fear, and anger that propels some of the film’s greatest moments. From the pay phone scene, where he cannot remember the exact password needed to communicate with what remains of the French 75, to him jumping across the top of buildings, Pat’s journey requires much of him. It displays that his act of reaching Willa does not hinge on any revolutionary goals, but rather on that of a father desperately trying to reach his daughter.
At the center of all the madness that drives this film we have Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, who very quickly, through the help of a stellar Sean Penn performance, proves to be one of the great villains of this decade in cinema. An odd man in the way he carries himself, his first interaction with Perfidia at the beginning of the film set the scene for everything that will transpire afterwards. From his lustful obsession with her to his attempts to join the Christmas Adventurers Club, this man will drive fear through anyone’s heart but will evoke and produce plenty of laughter along the way. A perfect villain for this type of story.
Along with the aforementioned praise of Infiniti and Penn, this film also has other cast members, who also deliver in spades in the time they receive. Benicio del Toro as Sergio serves as both a source of comedy and a sobering reminder of the alternative methods of acting as a revolutionary. He does not need bombs and guns to complete his stated goals, but rather compassion. Regina Hall as Deandra receives even less screen time but demonstrates some exceptional subtle facial acting to display the weight of the decisions she needs to make. Then we have Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills, who in the first act of this film absolutely captivates through every word and action. An absolute firecracker bursting through every scene that makes it quite obvious why the principal men of this story have this obsession with her. Paul Thomas Anderson gives each of these actors their moments to shine and it all works spectacularly.
Everything about One Battle After Another exhibits filmmaking excellence of the highest order. We receive this incredibly rich story that takes us through some dark alleys but also injects the right amount of humor. It assembles this amazing cast of characters as they get put through the wringer of circumstances of what they must take on. Michael Bauman’s cinematography shines, Jonny Greenwood’s score swells, and it all leads to a chase scene that seals the deal in this film, quickly rising the ranks as an all-timer. Paul Thomas Anderson does it again and creates another American masterpiece that will long sit near the top of his illustrious and legendary filmmaking career.
Films with Josh 
