Una batalla tras otra

Granted it's good, and I like most of PTA's films, but it's not like this is anywhere near as brilliant as something like There Will Be Blood or The Master.

The plot is very simple, and while that's not a bad thing, I found it difficult finding anything substantial to grab onto. The performances are certainly good but again it feels like all the actors with the exception of probably Chase Infiniti and maybe Sean Penn aren't given a whole lot to do.

In my opinion this was far less interestingly photographed than something like Phantom Thread, and with less compelling characters than something like The Master, and lacked the spectacle and gravitas of something like There Will Be Blood.

Still better than most films releasing these days, but if you're looking at all the rave reviews like I was and expecting a masterpiece, from my perspective I'd be lowering my expectations.

It gets a 7/10 for being well performed and pretty well written, but I can't go beyond that because it lacked the depth I'd normally be seeking from filmmakers of PTA's caliber.

Went to see the movie because of the cast, but the promise, the delivery, and the highly confusing message was disappointing. No coherence anything at all, ended up walking out before the end.

-The movie seems to glorify revolution but "not really" and for no apparent reasons.

Would not recommend.

Based on some of Thomas Pynchon's novel "Vineland", P. T. Anderson's movie is amazing in its uncensored satirizing of the right-wing takeover of America. The great acting, especially by Sean Penn in a dynamic role as the heavy (somehow sympathetic without pulling any punches) plus realistic filmmaking is a bold approach to material that is speculative fiction in a dystopian mode.

Of the many highlights, I especially liked the style of an extended sort of chase scene among three cars on a rolling elevation highway -pure cinematic suspense with thrilling photography and editing. The heavy quotient of dark humor throughout is brilliant.

I saw 'One Battle After Another' last night, and I'm still not sure I get the hype. On paper, the film has everything: social commentary, action, radical politics, immigration, parenthood, even extremism. It tries to juggle so many weighty ideas at once - and I do applaud that - it's ambitious, topical, clearly trying to stir the pot. But ambition alone doesn't make for satisfying cinema, and this one ends up messy.

At nearly three hours long, it's a slog when you still don't really know the people you're meant to care about. Not a single character feels grounded - Benicio del Toro aside (and even then, his screen time is frustratingly short). The rest make decisions that have zero logic in the absence of backstory, leaving them feeling exaggerated and hollow. So many talented actors, yet I wasn't rooting for anyone. The "big message" moments - racism, political division, systemic power, identity - land far too on the nose, skimming the surface without ever cutting deep.

If I'm being fair, one thing I did love was the soundtrack - tense, pulsing, and full of nervous energy, it injects more urgency than the script ever does. But pace and tone overall are uneven. PTA's usual offbeat humour is basically MIA, and without it, long stretches drag and feel oddly dull. The film indulges its own grandeur, with sprawling chases and spectacle, but without clarity or cohesion. Honestly? It's his weakest film yet. It wants to be grand, relevant, provocative - and in parts it succeeds - but just doesn't hold it together. In the end, there's no clear overall message, just a lot of battles, one after another, that feel thrown at you without being stitched into something coherent.

Paul Thomas Anderson's 10th feature film may as well be his most amusing & entertaining one to date. An incendiary adventure that comes brimming with a charged atmosphere, laced with rebellious spirit, packed with relevant themes and bolstered by a potent ensemble, One Battle After Another incorporates much of what's happening in present-day America to tell its tale of defiance & resistance.

Also written by Anderson (Phantom Thread & Licorice Pizza), the story concerns a group of ex-revolutionaries who reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own when their past nemesis resurfaces. Volatile from the get-go, the film gathers momentum right away while exhibiting an undercurrent of tension & urgency that the picture not only sustains with effortless ease but also sprinkles with hilarious bits along the way.

The technical aspects are sound throughout, be it the steady camerawork, smooth pace, neat editing, interesting score & some expertly choreographed action set pieces. It is also an acting powerhouse, with the entire cast contributing with excellent inputs. Leonardo DiCaprio renders his role with stoned perfection and he's brilliantly supported by Sean Penn's intense showcase, Benicio del Toro's zen act & Chase Infinity's fiery performance.

Overall, One Battle After Another is crafted with controlled aggression, unfolds with a sense of chaos & emergency and delivers a thoroughly fun ride despite its politically & thematically rich layerings. Presenting the esteemed auteur in complete control of his craft and also impressive enough to rank amongst the best all-round films of the year, Anderson's latest feature further affirms his status as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation.