I hadn’t seen a Paul Thomas Anderson movie three months ago.
It was a shameful fact I held close to my chest, especially as someone who cares about movies. When discussion around his 10th feature film, “One Battle After Another,” came up, I would share my excitement, then sheepishly add I had never seen his work.
Sixty-nine days separated my first foray into Anderson’s filmography, an at-home screening of “There Will Be Blood,” and my 70-millimeter showing of “One Battle After Another” at the IMAX Theater in the Indiana State Museum, the sixth Anderson movie I’ve seen.
I can confidently say his newest film already stands out among his elite body of work.
“One Battle After Another” features a star-studded cast, led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall and Teyana Taylor. Bob Ferguson (DiCaprio) is a former revolutionary leading a single dad life with his teenage daughter Willa (Infiniti). When Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Penn) returns to seek revenge on members of Bob’s former group, the French 75, Bob is forced back into action to save Willa and protect his own life.
Anderson has released universally acclaimed films before. The aforementioned “There Will Be Blood” is one of the best movies in recent history, finishing fourth on the New York Times readers’ list of 100 best movies of the 21st century. His other work is fantastic, including “The Master,” “Phantom Thread” and “Boogie Nights.”
But “One Battle After Another” is different, for all the right reasons.
Humor is evident throughout most of Anderson’s filmography, but nothing is nearly as funny as this film. Del Toro produces a stellar sidekick role, something he’s more than capable of as seen with his previous work in “The Usual Suspects” and “Snatch.” He's captivating on screen, which makes his limited screen time extra special yet also disappointing.
DiCaprio’s comedic talent is also tested, and he passes expertly. Bob’s a paranoid pothead who cares deeply about his only daughter, and DiCaprio’s performance is as convincing as any of his previous ones.
However, what drives the movie is a middle section that features both DiCaprio and del Toro. DiCaprio’s paranoia and scattered appearance foil excellently with del Toro’s calm yet hilarious persona, a literal sensei teaching his subject how to deal with the chaos surrounding them.
The turmoil featured in this section of the film is a primary political conflict. Penn’s steely performance has garnered future awards buzz, and rightfully so. The militant forces led by Lockjaw, poised to capture Willa and Bob, go face-to-face with civilian protestors as flames erupt everywhere.
This plot point eerily resembles the current state of the United States. The national guard populate Washington D.C. and federal agents roam Chicago while protestors continuously line the streets. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raid Latino communities, and in Anderson’s world, del Toro becomes a “Latino Harriet Tubman” — as del Toro himself labels it — to help his community escape from the militant forces.
At this moment in the film, with del Toro and DiCaprio’s comedy in full force indoors, it's easy to forget about the world outside their windows. Yet scenes that go beyond those walls bring the viewer back into reality.
In a movie filled with thrills and action, these moments are what made me most tense.
But the most impressive feat of “One Battle After Another” isn’t the comedy or the political landscape — it’s the action.
Describing the final third of the film wouldn’t come close to the experience of watching it. Viewing this film on the largest screen accessible enhances the experience, but it’s not a necessity. However, the climax of the film is an extraordinary cinematic feat, and the way it was shot gave me the same empty-stomach sensation I get from riding a roller coaster.
From the trailers, promotional posters or marketing campaign, it may not seem like watching this film in theaters is a necessity. But don’t be fooled — if you care about cinema, see this on the biggest screen you can, whether it’s a local theater or an IMAX.
