Written by Olivia Aiere
Paul Thomas Anderson’s highly-anticipated new film, One Battle After Another, delivers on its promise of a high-stakes adventure. Stellar performances and enthralling action sequences make this a must-see for movie fans.
When Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn) is offered a membership to the Christmas Adventurers Club–a group dedicated to racial purification–he sets out to find the daughter of Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), a revolutionary whom he had developed an attraction to years before. The daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti), lives with her paranoid father Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), who met Perfidia in the French 75, the anti-fascist group whose members were forced into hiding after a bank robbery turned deadly. At the start of Lockjaw’s chase for them, Willa is at a school dance and Bob is at home smoking pot. While Willa is whisked off to the rendezvous point by an ally, Bob has trouble remembering the French 75’s protocols while high and sets out to find his daughter with the help of any allies he can find.
The character of Perfidia acts as a strong overtone in the narrative, with her radical nature causing the rift between her and Bob after the birth of their daughter. Her prioritization of revolution demonstrates both a hunger for power and a willingness to take it. Willa’s rebelliousness and instincts then seem hereditary, and many characters in the movie call into question just how much Willa is like her mother.
Despite spending most of the movie apart, DiCaprio and Infiniti are quite the captivating daddy-daughter duo. Willa’s rebellious spirit and initiative contrast with her father’s drug-induced paranoia and frantic energy. It will be great to see whatever project Infiniti stars in next with the way her performance stands out here. She nails the naïvity of a teen who can’t comprehend her situation while still taking charge and fighting her way through.
Penn’s performance is chilling, with Lockjaw’s upper lip bites and stagger of a walk giving this villain questionable humanity. His walk is so purposeful and filled with tension, showing a mix of determination and perhaps excitement to capture Willa. The lip bite is more of an anxious tick, showing an uncertainty that directly contrasts the walk.
Another standout performance was Regina Hall as Deandra. Despite Hall’s history in comedy, Deandra is quite serious. Deandra is the one to rescue Willa from the dance, providing Willa and the audience with the stability of her presence. Hall gives the character a calm demeanor that balances Willa’s confusion throughout the movie. It’d be no surprise if Hall’s future contains supporting actress nominations for this role.
Though the Christmas Adventurers might seem ridiculous with their holiday tunes and praise of St. Nick, they are depicted with a seriousness that not only fits the sinister tone of the movie but reflects on real dangers of today. A war between revolutionaries and a racist military official seems to mirror real conflicts that the United States faces in an era of regressing societal standards.
With action that makes every scene feel fresh, it’s hard to be bored during this movie. This odyssey is as much the audience’s as it is Bob’s thanks to its cinematography that drops the viewer into the action. There’s one scene in particular where cars drive through hills in the desert, where the camera placement and movement gives the illusion of being right at the car’s bumper. This technique not only builds anticipation throughout the scene but also puts the viewer in the front row to the action. The change of pace in this scene maintains the intrigue of the rest of the film by subverting the previous tempo of the movie.
One Battle After Another takes on a familiar premise of revolting against evil. Paul Thomas Anderson utilizes a diverse set of characters and fresh, fast-paced action to give this old tale some new flair. This movie flies by because of its phenomenal pacing, but the unpredictability is the real hook. Knowing as little as possible beforehand elevates the already riveting cinematic experience.
