'One Battle After Another' Review: DiCaprio Shines in PTA’s Best Film Since There Will Be Blood

Paul Thomas Anderson returns with his highly acclaimed One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as an ex-revolutionary trying to save his daughter from an old enemy, played by Sean Penn. While There Will Be Blood remains my favorite PTA film, One Battle After Another takes a close second.

For a 2.5-hour runtime, the pacing is excellent, I was never bored for a moment. What stood out most to me was seeing a PTA film set in the modern day. Since so much of his work explores the past, the contemporary setting felt refreshing. The plot itself is fairly simple, but the richness of the writing and character development gives it a distinct, original quality.

PTA’s direction is, as expected, outstanding. This might be his most visually stunning film in years, with Michael Bauman’s cinematography delivering breathtaking shots that give the story a truly epic scope. The editing is equally impressive, with seamless transitions and sharp cuts that keep the narrative flowing smoothly.

My favorite element, though, is the score from Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood. His music has always elevated PTA’s films, and this is no exception. The score perfectly sets the tone, carrying tension through the film and heightening its intensity. There are moments when you’re on the edge of your seat, and Greenwood’s work makes those sequences even more gripping.

Leonardo DiCaprio is brilliant as Bob Ferguson, the paranoid ex-revolutionary at the film’s center. It’s a layered, deeply human performance that feels unlike most of his past roles, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it earns him another Oscar nomination or even his second win.

The supporting cast is equally impressive. Benicio del Toro brings well-timed comic relief as Bob’s reluctant ally. Newcomer Chase Infinity shines in a remarkable debut as Bob’s daughter. Regina Hall is memorable as a past comrade, while Teyana Taylor delivers the film’s strongest female performance, playing the character whose actions set the story in motion.

Sean Penn, meanwhile, gives what might be the best performance of his career as antagonist Steven Lockjaw. I usually find him hit or miss as an actor, but here he’s pitch-perfect, magnetic, menacing, and impossible to look away from. He commands every scene he’s in, and when he’s absent, you find yourself wanting more of him.

It may be early, but I’m confident this film will be a major Oscar contender. PTA deserves long-overdue recognition for Best Director, and this feels like the project that could finally earn him the win. I also expect nominations for DiCaprio and Penn in Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, and it could be a strong lock for Best Adapted Screenplay (loosely based on Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland). A Best Picture nomination in January seems inevitable.

Overall, One Battle After Another is PTA’s best film since There Will Be Blood. Between the sharp writing, masterful direction, stunning visuals, powerful performances, and Jonny Greenwood’s unforgettable score, it stands as one of the year’s true highlights.

I’m giving One Battle After Another a rating of a 5 out of 5 stars and a perfect 10 out of 10

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