Photo via ew.com
By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
The hype train and Oscar buzz have been in full effect for this new movie from Paul Thomas Anderson, but does it live up to it? “One Battle After Another” is a political thriller that features two of the biggest stars squaring off against each other in Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. The story has no problem engaging its audience throughout its nearly three-hour runtime but loses its way when it comes to entertainment amidst the tone-deaf political satire.
16 years after a group of revolutionaries called the French 75 are either killed or forced into hiding, Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) has remained exiled in a small town raising his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) by himself. They have remained undetected all these years until a major break in the case leads Col. Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn) right to them. Fueled by a personal vendetta and a checkered past, Lockjaw will stop at nothing to get to Bob and Willa.
Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) is a celebrated director with 11 Oscar nominations to his name for incredible films like “There Will Be Blood” and “Licorice Pizza,” so it is not surprising to see the high level of anticipation and expectation this film has received. Like his previous films, he presents a compelling narrative that draws viewers in, using witty dialogue and silly, over-the-top setups to keep the film flowing at a decent pace. He also employs a typical cat and mouse format that ratchets up the tension as the hunt closes in on the main characters. As always, PTA implements fantastic cinematography that only heightens this tension, particularly for the car chase sequence towards the end of the film that puts the audience on an exciting roller coaster.
Unfortunately, PTA makes a series of curious choices that derail this production from being truly great. First, the opening act is way too long and drags out the backstory. There are too many unnecessary scenes, which overexplain the main characters’ involvement with each other. Cutting this down in the editing room could have easily taken at least 20 minutes off the runtime. Secondly, he loses his sense of humor during the progression of the movie, steering clear of comedic opportunities rather than embracing them. The original cut of the film didn’t take itself so seriously and was much funnier, so it’s disappointing PTA steered the movie in the opposite direction. Finally, he makes every character unlikable to the point viewers care less about what happens to any of them. They seem to be created with the purpose of serving the filmmaker’s political agenda and are not given any context regarding their motivations. Then there’s the confusing musical score that seems to loudly distract more than it does complement the overall feel of the film.
The acting performances are the shining stars of this film with Sean Penn leading the way. His portrayal of a no-nonsense military leader with an unforgiving attitude and a penchant towards violence steals the show. Everything from his look to his walk to his speech, Penn goes all in on this performance, making him one of the more memorable antagonists in recent memory. His reactions and line delivery provide some of the more comical moments in the movie. There’s a reason he’s a two-time Oscar winner, and he could very well be in line for his sixth nomination.
Leonardo DiCaprio is an Oscar winner himself, and his performance does not disappoint, imbuing his character with an amusing drug induced paranoia and a muddled memory. His anxiety propelled actions and line delivery create a level of instability and unpredictability in almost every scene he appears. Interestingly, DiCaprio was originally meant to play the lead role in 1997’s PTA film “Boogie Nights,” but declined in order to star in “Titanic.” This became an instant regret for him when he saw that film, making the decision to star in this movie a no-brainer. Meanwhile, Benicio Del Toro, also an Oscar winner, provides a stabilizing quality to Leo’s character, giving the audience some much needed balance.
Sadly, this is a case of a film being hyped up and praised based on the names attached to the production, because at the end of the day, it’s just another overrated movie undeserving of all the attention it’s getting. “One Battle After Another” certainly has its bright spots to make it worth a watch, especially for Paul Thomas Anderson fans, but its flaws prevent it from achieving greatness. From the Christmas Adventurers’ Club to romanticizing domestic terrorism to polarizing views on the U.S. military, this movie not so subtly pushes a one-sided agenda many may find alienating and offensive, so be aware in case you don’t appreciate propaganda in film.
This movie earns:
