One Battle After Another

If you're into wild, politically charged thrillers with a heart, One Battle After Another might just be your next favorite movie night pick. Directed, co-written, and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson, this action-packed epic is inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, but with Anderson’s own twist. It’s a high-stakes, emotionally layered ride that blends revolution, family drama, and a whole lot of chaos.

The story centers on Bob, a washed-up ex-revolutionary who’s now living off the grid with his teenage daughter, Willa. Bob’s a paranoid stoner trying to stay under the radar, but when his old nemesis resurfaces and Willa goes missing, he’s forced back into a world he thought he’d left behind. What follows is a tense, sometimes surreal journey through underground resistance networks, far-right conspiracies, and a father-daughter bond tested by secrets and survival.

Leonardo DiCaprio leads the cast as Bob, with standout performances from Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor. Critics have praised the ensemble, especially Penn’s chilling turn as the villain and Infiniti’s breakout role as Willa. The film’s action sequences, emotional depth, and sharp political commentary have earned it rave reviews, with many calling it Anderson’s most entertaining and ambitious work yet.

Visually, it’s a stunner. Shot mostly in VistaVision on 35mm film, the movie has a grand, cinematic feel that’s best experienced on the biggest screen possible. The score by Jonny Greenwood (with a couple of tracks by Jon Brion) adds to the film’s intense, sometimes dreamlike atmosphere.

At 162 minutes, it’s a long ride, and not everyone will be on board. If you’re not into politically charged narratives or sprawling, layered storytelling, this might feel like too much. Some critics found it a bit scattershot or overwhelming, and its sympathetic portrayal of revolutionaries has sparked controversy in certain circles.

But if you’re a fan of Anderson’s previous work, love a good father-daughter story wrapped in a conspiracy-laced action thriller, or just want to see DiCaprio and Penn go head-to-head in a battle of ideologies and emotions, One Battle After Another is worth the trip. Just buckle up—it’s a wild one.