One Battle After Another

The movie "One Battle After Another", in summary, is about a former revolutionary on a mission to save his missing daughter. Directed and co-written by Paul Thomas Anderson, it's a thrilling political action flick that really shows off, once again, his talent for both writing and directing. However, the movie isn't consistent in its construction; at times it's unconvincing, and other times it feels unfocused. More than once, I had the same reaction I did with last year's "Emilia Pérez": a wildly original story that often seems to jump around without much logic, where anything can happen.

The whole movie basically belongs to Sean Penn as Col. Lockjaw. He totally steals the show with a character who's creepy, unhinged, and downright disturbing.

Like "Emilia Pérez", it's one of those stories you're either into from the start or you just don't care about at all.

Luckly, I haven't read a word about this movie before watching it. Came fresh and got what I knew I am going to get - a Paul Thomas Anderson's film, with all the elements that are tied to this director's creations. He is not my favorite director, and I'm pretty divided regarding his filmography.

One thing that I can say about Paul Thomas Anderson is that his movies stick. Makes me think and are almost always enjoyable. Well, not all of them. There are "Inherent Vice" that made me suffer and also "The Master" I didn't like. And yes, Paul Thomas Anderson's films are always long.

This one is also a long one and not necessarily needed to be that long, but it is one of those things I can live with, because this time his movie is absolutely great. It is not great like the movie critics say it is. It's not perfect and sometimes it feels too stuffed with allegories and subjects that Paul Thomas Anderson tried to get inside, but other then all of those...yeah...it's that good.

It is like America's political atmosphere started to use drugs, from both kinds. Downers and uppers. There are two main characters that are performed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn and are representing each one of drugs types. One is pumped and violent and the other is a suspicious stoner, that is sometime very mellow and sometimes paranoic.

Other then that Paul Thomas Anderson talks about America, about treatment to foreigners and especially those who tries to blend in America. He speaks about the fact we all belong to places, culture and personal identity we get from our family and our close (and also not that close) environment.

Everything Paul Thomas Anderson does in this movie is fabulous. Camera work is sensational, the musical score is almost perfect and stressful, and the final car chase scene is one of the best thing I've seen in any movie lately. The best part, off course, will be the actors choices.

What more can we say about Leonardo DiCaprio and his performances? Nothing else. All was already been told. He is perfect. Give him another Oscar. Sean Penn is absolutely terrifying in one of his best performances of latest years. Benicio Del Toro maintained his acting vibe from 'The Phoenician Scheme' and young Chase Infiniti stole everyone's thunder.

This movie gets the jog done. It is interesting, well made and acted and especially very unique, though also very stuffed. I am so happy I managed to enjoy this one without caving into the hype machine around the web. Is stood by itself and made my experience just great and it is another one by PTA that I will remember as one of the better ones.

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.

Yes , during the movie i did kinda get confused in wtf is going on. But the actors in this were top shelf epic. *applause* they made the movie. The script or how they showed this. I really dont know. Maybe thats what the movie did, made us think. But i do have to say, the ending was a great one.

Its worth watchin 8/10.

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.