Movie Review: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

And…the leader in the clubhouse for the Oscar for the Best Picture in 2025 is Paul Thomas Anderson’s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER.

The BankofMarquis has not seen a film as original, gritty and well acted & directed since NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN back in 2007 (and that film was a deserved Best Picture Oscar winner).

Written and Directed by P.T.A. (THERE WILL BE BLOOD), and adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel VINELAND, One Battle… starts with an extended prologue about a domestic terrorist group - the French75 - as they fight “the man”, freeing immigrants and robbing banks. On their tail is a military office who is obsessed with finding them (to say more is to spoil).

I would have been satisfied with this being the story of the whole film, but after a botched bank robbery, the members of the French75 are either caught, killed or driven under cover. The film then jumps 16 years into the future and the surviving members of the French 75 are outed when the Military Lawman, Lockjaw, finally catches up with them.

It is a dark and gritty film - with some black comedy moments - that work well in juxtaposing the down-and-dirty struggle for control with the absurdity of looking at it from a distant perspective.

Anderson is in complete control in this film and his direction and writing are sure-handed and unflinching. It will be surprising if he is NOT nominated for Oscars in both categories (as well as an Oscar nomination for this film). It is that unique and strong - a welcome breath of fresh air in a movie landscape that is filled with Horror Films and Superhero movies, but low on character-driven, emotional and action-packed films like this.

As for the acting, this movie kicks off with a strong, unflinching portrayal of the leader of the French75 played by Teyana Taylor (COMING 2 AMERICA), this character, Perfidia, is one that demands you pay attention to her and pay attention you do. She leaves an indelible mark in a short period of time - a mark that hangs over the entire film.

Sean Penn should earn his 6th Oscar Nomination (and most likely a win for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR after winning twice for Best Actor) as the military man, Colonel Steven Lockjaw who is razor-focused on catching the members of the French75. Again, his portrayal is unflinching and harsh and his early scenes with Taylor are electric.

Good ol’ Leonardo DiCaprio is Perfidia’s companion and it is through his eyes that we see the story unfold - both in the prologue and in the movie proper 16 years later. He is the only character that is really easy to root for - and root for him you do - for he brings a befuddlement and constant sense of “I’m in over my head” to the entire film. It is a subtly complex characterization that will, unfortunately, be overlooked in the acting categories for the performances of Taylor and Penn are more showy and draw your attention away from DiCaprio’s character.

Regina Hall (in a career best performance), Alana Haim (PTA’s LICORICE PIZZA), Wood Harris (Avon Barksdale in THE WIRE) and Shayne McHayle (playing a character who calls herself Junglepussy) are all terrifyingly real as members of the French75 while Benicio del Toro (TRAFFIC) just might earn himself his 3rd Oscar nomination as a seemingly benign character who helps out DiCaprio’s character along the way.

Bruce Greenwood, Kevin Tighe, James Downey, D.W. Moffett and John Hoogenakker (all strong character actors) give their all in the brief appearances they make, rounding out this world in a satisfying way.

Special notice needs to be made of relative newcomer Chase Infiniti (the TV version of PRESUMED INNOCENT) who must hold her own against both DiCaprio and Penn in the 2nd part of the film - and she anchors this part of the movie well, grounding what is going on in such a way as to win our hearts.

It is a tour-de-force work by Anderson - and his performers - one that hasn’t been up on the screen in quite some time.

Letter Grade: A

9 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)