Une bataille après l'autre

Battle after another is a solid film with a lot of strong points. It's generally warm and even has a bit of light raunchiness at the start, yet it keeps you engaged. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance is outstanding-he plays an ordinary guy thrown into tough situations with incredible sincerity and conviction. Benicio Del Toro, though in a smaller role, adds charisma as well. The female characters, unfortunately, feel pretty shallow and lack depth.

The plot is simple but enjoyable, though there are minor logical gaps. The main downside is the antagonists: some feel too overpowered, while others seem weak, and the motives of many minor villains remain unclear. At times, their actions come off as clichéd, which slightly reduces the dramatic tension.

Overall, the film works really well-it's fresh, engaging, and visually impressive. It reminded me of Fargo, both the film and the series. If you like Leonardo DiCaprio or the Coen brothers, this movie is definitely worth watching.

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'll admit, this didn't grab me at first. The opening felt slow, and the revolutionaries were a little too over the top for my taste. But somewhere along the way, the film won me over, mostly thanks to Bob. I've never been a big DiCaprio fan, yet he's fantastic here as a paranoid, anxious ex revolutionary who's clearly let himself go. He stumbles through scenes with this jittery, washed out energy, like a man who's spent far too many years drunk, high, and avoiding reality.

His phone calls with the revolution's customer service line where he can't remember the code he desperately needs, had me laughing out loud. Moments like that reminded me how rare it is to see something this original anymore.

The film throws everything into the mix: revolutionaries, white supremacist secret societies, hidden tunnels, explosions, political tension, bursts of action, and a healthy dose of absurdity. It's chaotic, strange, and surprisingly entertaining once it finds its rhythm.

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.

Props to writer / director Paul Thomas Anderson for blending "The Big Lebowski" & "Sicario" into the darkly humorous, quietly epic actioner "One Battle After Another". 16yrs after being part of a domestic terrorist group (with Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, & others) stoner Leonardo Di Caprio (so good again) lives off-grid with Chase Infiniti (his daughter by Taylor)... til the past comes for them via manic army Col Sean Penn (excellent). Cue reasonably twisty chase & shoot 'em up action, with characters like Benicio Del Toro (also great), white supremacist politicians, and plot holes aplenty (excusable as they keep Anderson's terrific pace flowing). Not flawless, but still thumping entertainment.