Time: 162 Minutes
Age Rating: R16– Violence, offensive language & sexual material
Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio as “Ghetto” Pat Calhoun / Bob Ferguson
Sean Penn as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw
Benicio del Toro as Sergio St. Carlos
Regina Hall as Deandra
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills
Chase Infiniti as Willa Ferguson / Charlene Calhoun
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

I was curious about One Battle After Another, with it being the latest film from Paul Thomas Anderson and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro. At the same time, the trailers just weren’t doing that much for me. That said, I ended up really liking it, and it’s certainly among my favourites of this year.

One Battle After Another is definitely Paul Thomas Anderson’s most accessible film, it was entertaining and surprisingly funny throughout. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure about the first act, but after it jumps to present day, it was top notch all the way through to the end. It’s engaging, politically charged, satirical (almost absurdist at times), yet was also a very human story. It’s nearly 3 hours long and doesn’t feel that long because of the constant energy throughout and how well paced it is.

Leonardo DiCaprio delivers some of his best work here, delivering an earnest performance which also makes great use of his comedic timing and delivery. As the villain, Sean Penn is very memorable, fittingly menacing yet pathetic at the same time. His acting is a little gimmicky, fidgety, full of tics and quirks, but that works fine enough for the type of character he’s playing. Chase Infiniti is amazing and one of the standouts of the film in one of her first roles. She has to carry much of the movie as one of the leads, especially later in the movie. The father and daughter bond between DiCaprio and her is the heart of the film, and that’s very believable, heartfelt, and conveyed well. Benicio del Toro is great, enjoyable in how laid back he is amongst the chaos around him, especially when paired alongside a comparatively panicked DiCaprio, and the chemistry between the two was fun to watch. Teyana Taylor and Regina Hall are also really good, I just wished we got more of them.

Paul Thomas Anderson directed this immaculately. The cinematography is fantastic, the action is well shot and intense, there are some particularly thrilling sequences that have to be experienced for yourself. The score from Johnny Greenwood is also notable, pulsating and overwhelming at times, it added a lot to the vibe and energy of the movie.

One Battle After Another is entertaining, funny, energetic, and excellently directed and performed, among the best movies of the year.