Dan Pasfield gives his take on Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest political epic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and many more.
Tense, surreal, gritty, and at times triumphantly optimistic, One Battle After Another is another exceptional film brought to life by Paul Thomas Anderson, marking his 10th cinematic creation. I recently watched it, having heard good things but somewhat surprised by (what felt to me) a generally unimpressive advertising campaign. Thank goodness I did because what I watched was two and half hours of excellent screenwriting, heartfelt acting, and passionate characters.
Thematically the film was jaw-dropping, focusing particularly on the story of US revolutionary and liberationist characters and causes. The bombastic and action-oriented movements competed with the institutions and forces of the authoritarian features of the US government, often with strong racist overtones (ranging from the sinisterly subtle to the outright comedically obvious). On full show is the power of solidarity, of helping in the smallest ways, and how fundamentally kind action, in the face of insidious power, can help to change lives for the better.
Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t (in my opinion) escape the typecast of the slightly pathetic protagonist he’s fallen into recently; however, his acting is in no way subpar, making his washed-up revolutionary character genuine, heartfelt, passionate, and at times, funny. Playing his daughter Willa, Chase Infiniti gives a fantastic performance, displaying awesome emotional intensity and a rebellious spirit which enhances the story at every point. And then, Sean Penn as Col. Lockjaw delivers a villain who is terrifying and bizarre, with horrendous motivation and allied with the institutional forces that work to destroy those considered unwanted. Lockjaw is at times more a force of nature than a man, strange and destructive, and intensely watchable. Further contributions from Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor all contribute to the deepening of the stakes and emotions.
In all, One Battle After Another is a wonderful and gripping film, not afraid to shy from the strange and disgusting aspects of current American political degradation, whilst juxtaposing it to the hope and power of those willing to pursue liberation. It’s a film I think will have Republicans hopping mad, and is a needed film to counteract the pessimism (at least the pessimism I’ve felt) of current American and world politics.