A riveting, hilarious and startling self-portrait of the Unites States’ thorny political landscape - One Battle After Another is another crowning achievement for Paul Thomas Anderson. This near-masterpiece is thematically explosive, narratively gripping and masterfully acted by a cast at the top of their game.
This is a political powder keg packed to the brim with razor sharp relevancy. For as ferociously as it puts America’s current political climate on blast, it never feels like forceful pointed commentary. Rather, PTA has written a timely story that fits perfectly into the country’s increasingly volatile state of affairs. At every turn, it effortlessly paints a sobering picture of “the land of the free”, because this is the United States’ terrifying reality. It’s also surprisingly funny, without undercutting its own politically charged heartbeat. The comedy plays similarly to Inherent Vice’s brand of paranoid humour, but paired with one of PTA’s most propulsive and powerful screenplays.
Despite its lengthy runtime, the pacing is absolutely perfect. The story feels appropriately grand in scope, with a lot of moving parts that weave into one another seamlessly. It’s constantly in motion, impressively gaining and maintaining momentum from start to finish. PTA has done impressive things with modest budgets in the past, but with 130 million, he’s able to craft a sprawling epic without constraints. The fluid camera work immerses you in every moment. The cinematography isn’t flashy, but it’s filled with beauty and creativity - including a tense car chase unlike anything I’ve seen before.
To nobody’s surprise, Leo gives another master-class performance, likely to land him another Oscar nom. He’s a goofy stoner, but also a father trying to help shape a country he’d want his daughter to live in. The balance of heart and humour he brings to the role is exceptional. Benicio Del Toro is awesome as one of the most likeable characters PTA has ever written. Newcomer Chase Infiniti shines as Leo’s daughter, as she grapples with finding her place in everything at such a young age. It’s Sean Penn, though, who steals this movie. He delivers a phenomenal turn as a villainous soldier hellbent on purifying America. He’s got outstanding screen presence, playing a character who’s both menacing and pathetic.
One Battle After Another joins the upper echelon of Paul Thomas Anderson’s filmography. It grabs you from the opening scene and doesn’t let go, propelling you through a sprawling story set against America’s increasingly vile sociopolitical backdrop. It’s the best movie of the year, with unnerving relevance that makes it the most important one too.
5/5