One Battle After Another

 

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, One Battle After Another is a sprawling black comedy action thriller that feels like a story 30 years in the making yet remains depressingly relevant. Set in a retro-futuristic 2041, the film blends modern elements with analog 90s technology to create a disorienting, murky timeline. The plot follows "Ghetto" Pat Calhoun played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a paranoid, forgetful, and disorderly former explosives expert who is forced back into his combative lifestyle when he and his daughter, Willa, are pursued by a corrupt military officer.

The film is a dense work of sociopolitical satire, using absurdist humor to tackle political polarization and extremism. However, the film walks a thin line, occasionally relying on "edgy" humor and the hyper-sexualization of Black women that some may find problematic. While the script feels unrealistic at times, the themes of postpartum depression, shame, and the weight of consequences provide a grounded emotional layer. The experience is heightened by Jonny Greenwood’s score, filled with chaotic piano tracks that perfectly mirror the tension on screen.

I particularly appreciated the diversity of the cast, which brought various perspectives to this fictional revolutionary conflict in Baktan Cross. The performances are the film’s strongest asset. Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent as the washed-up, confused, and paranoid Pat, capturing the frantic energy of a man living on the edge. Benicio del Toro provides a cool, calm, and collected contrast as Sergio St. Carlos, serving as the steady leader and father figure that Pat likely wishes he could be. Chase Infiniti shines as Willa, playing her as a smart, independent, and highly capable young woman. Sean Penn is chillingly effective as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw. His portrayal of a "lizard-like," socially awkward racist serves as a biting anti-racist satire, positioning him as a buffoon to highlight the absurdity of white supremacy.

Ultimately, One Battle After Another feels like a series of disheartening missed opportunities throughout its runtime, yet it manages to pull everything together for a really satisfying conclusion. It is a messy, stylized, and unapologetic political critique that forces you to look at state violence and individual prejudice through a very strange lens.