One Battle After Another (15)

Paul Thomas Anderson brilliant take on the American nightmare is packed with spectacle, laughter, and emotional depth.

Loosely adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, One Battle After Another follows Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), a washed-up revolutionary surviving off-grid with his fiercely independent teenage daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). When an old nemesis (Sean Penn) resurfaces and Willa disappears, Bob turns to former civil rights revolutionary Sensei Sergio (Benicio del Toro) and the two are thrust into a high-stakes scramble that blends absurdism, violence, and dark comedy.

It’s just great. Every encounter, from breathtaking car chases to remorseless shootouts, is infused with both danger and wit, creating a dizzying, unpredictable ride. Anderson teams once again with Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood, whose chaotic, thrilling score elevates every sequence with pounding piano riffs and swirling tension.

And performances. DiCaprio is captivating as conflicted antihero Bob, while Infiniti proves extraordinary in her ability to match his intensity. Right behind them is Sean Penn, who delivers one of his most audacious roles in years, injecting an unpredictably wild energy. It’s a gutsy, visually dazzling triumph, a film that reminds us why PTA remains one of American cinema’s most vital voices