One Battle After Another
September 19th, 2025
MOVIE: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
STARRING: LEONARDO DICAPRIO, SEAN PENN, TEYANA TAYLOR, BENICIO DEL TORO, REGINA HALL, CHASE INFINITI
DIRECTED BY: PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 4 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 160 MINUTES
A common thought among film enthusiasts is that cinema today lacks the impact of the movies of yesteryear. There’s truth in that sentiment, where filmmakers such as Sidney Lumet, Robert Altman, and Hal Ashby created works that spoke directly to their cultural and political moment. Many of today’s mainstream directors seem more concerned with box office numbers than bold storytelling. But then there’s Paul Thomas Anderson, a director who continues to carve out his own path. He exists beyond the constraints of the Hollywood machine, making films that blend obscurity, sensitivity, nostalgia, and deep reflection on the human condition. With One Battle After Another, Anderson delivers his most urgent and politically resonant film to date. It’s raw, propulsive, and destined to endure. Quite simply, it’s one of the best films of 2025.
Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, the film is split into two distinctive movements: the first, a youthful revolution; the second, a more introspective return to purpose. The story opens without hesitation as a radical group known as the French 75 infiltrates an immigration detention center. At the helm is Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor, delivering a star-making performance), alongside her new partner, a skilled arsonist nicknamed Ghetto Pat (Leonardo DiCaprio). Their raid introduces us to Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn, in his best role since Milk), an overzealous, Bible-thumping fascist obsessed with restoring white Christian supremacy in America. Perfidia’s defiance leaves an indelible mark on him, triggering a spiraling obsession to destroy her and everything she represents.
The narrative then jumps ahead 16 years. Pat is now living under the alias Bob Ferguson in the quiet rural town of Bakatan Cross, raising his 16-year-old daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti, a revelation). Perfidia has been declared dead, but Lockjaw’s political star is on the rise. His history with a Black woman threatens his invitation into a secretive white supremacist society, and he becomes hell-bent on erasing every trace of that past—targeting Willa and any remaining French 75 members who stand in his way.
Clocking in at nearly three hours, One Battle After Another feels every bit as epic as its runtime suggests, but Anderson’s pacing ensures it never drags. From the explosive opening to a nerve-racking final car chase, the film is relentlessly engaging. PTA’s screenplay is sharp, layered, and generous to every character. No one feels like filler. Jonny Greenwood’s score, driven by a pulsing piano motif, heightens the tension with precision. Whether it’s a bank robbery, a rooftop escape from a government ambush, or a quiet moment between father and daughter, the music injects urgency and atmosphere.
The performances across the board are phenomenal. Sean Penn is magnetic and terrifying, portraying Lockjaw with a mix of absurdity and menace. DiCaprio plays Pat with raw vulnerability. He’s a man caught between past misdeeds and present responsibilities, numbing himself with weed and whiskey, while slowly waking up to the importance of fatherhood. Chase Infiniti holds her own with strength and heart as Willa, a young woman forced to navigate chaos and legacy. Benicio Del Toro adds both humor and gravitas as the owner of a karate dojo who helps Pat in his most desperate hour, while Regina Hall offers a quiet yet powerful presence as the maternal figure Willa never had. Every performance adds a layer to the film’s intricate emotional landscape.
Still, the film’s true force lies in Anderson’s direction. One Battle After Another isn’t just an impressive cinematic achievement. It’s a fearless act of artistic defiance. In an era defined by political cowardice and formulaic blockbusters, Anderson delivers a work that is provocative, timely, and unafraid to speak truth to power. It blends satire with sincerity, action with introspection, and leaves you both entertained and rattled. The humor cuts deep, the stakes feel real, and the emotional payoff is enormous.
One Battle After Another is the kind of film that doesn’t just ask for your attention- it demands it. Like a blast of adrenaline to the chest, it reminds us of the potential of cinema to challenge, to thrill, and to matter. Anderson hasn’t just made one of the best films of the year; he’s made a vital piece of art in a time that desperately needs it.
4 STARS
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER IS PLAYING IN THEATERS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
