One Battle After Another

This weekend, One Battle After Another, the newest film from Paul Thomas Anderson, was released in theaters. One Battle After Another follows former revolutionary Bob Ferguson as he must return to his past after an old enemy resurfaces. I have only seen one other Paul Thomas Anderson film, Magnolia, so I was interested in experiencing something new from a director new to me.

I found this to be a well-made movie. Anderson is a talented director who crafts effective films. The nonstop tension is one of this film’s strengths. Once the main plot begins, the movie maintains a brisk pace until the end credits. The piano score heightens this tension, keeping you engaged. Several scenes are visually striking, especially during the car chase through the hills, which adds intensity. I’ve heard this is more action-packed than most of Paul Thomas Anderson’s films, which is right up my alley. Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn were excellent. DiCaprio convincingly plays a bum like character that is a distracted but protective father. His portrayal of the character’s chaos is skillful. Sean Penn is compelling as the evil general bent on burying his past that is just so despicable. The film balances the action with well-placed humor. The movie is not a true comedy, but there are jokes present that effectively lighten the mood without breaking tension.

My only drawback was the movie’s length. At 2 hours and 40 minutes, I felt it drag just a bit. It could have lost about 20 minutes in the middle tightening the story and would have been better for it.

Overall, this is a strong film with great direction, tension, humor, and acting. If the middle were tighter, it would be even better.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A- Recommendation: Check it out