One Battle After Another

The film kept my attention and I genuinely enjoyed watching it, but I walked away feeling like something was missing. I'm still not sure why critics are so ecstatic about it - it's a solid piece of work, just not exceptional in the way the reviews suggest. I don't regret the time spent, yet I don't feel any desire to rewatch it either.

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.

Feels like the intention was not to be seen as a movie but to be read as a manual.

-Minimum required char. 213- It must be a devastating reality for every creator forced to use popular, well known actors people identify with, or cliche action driven direction in order to have a chance to reach wider audiences.

Makes me wonder for the multitude of talented artists that I maybe never see on screen because we as the audience chase around well known faces.

Vive la révolution! In what could arguably be PT Anderson's most ambitious and elaborate work to date, this intriguing combo of tense action movie, political thriller, dark comedy, and unusual coming-of-age saga takes a close look at the French 75, a far-left revolutionary group who takes it upon themselves to right the wrongs and "declare war" on the imperialist state and fascist regime. The group's choice to lead a combative lifestyle will sow the seeds for something much bigger than anticipated when they're ruthlessly pursued by a rabid, high-ranking military official. With verbal snap, suspenseful set pieces, and a prolonged story Anderson certainly has his work cut out for him here, but it moves at a brisk pace, you can never quite tell where the plot is taking you, which is actually part of the enjoyment, and the cast is loaded with heavyweight talent that features (not surprisingly) stellar performances from DiCaprio and Penn, and (perhaps surprisingly) talented newbie Chase Infiniti. ***

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.