Our Review

              Movie: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER 

               Rating:  R, Pervasive Language, Drug Use,                                           Sexual Content, Violence`

                                          Length: 2:41 

                       Release Date: September 26, 2025 

Jeanne: Set in contemporary time, not typical for writer/ director/producer Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER tells the story of a one-time bomber/revolutionary Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is currently living off-grid with his 16-year-old daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti). Taking parts of Thomas Pynchon’s novel, Vineland (with the author’s approval), Anderson has been working on this screenplay off and on for the last 20 years.

In the beginning, Bob, who was initially known as Ghetto Pat, is crazy about Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), an out-of-control fellow revolutionary. After giving birth to their daughter, Perfidia is not interested in becoming a mother, nor is she willing to stop her participation in French 75, the group responsible for the rebellion. Once Perfidia “disappears”, Bob escapes with Willa, whom he raises on his own.

Sixteen years later, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), who was obsessed with Perfidia back in the day, has resurfaced. He’s as evil as ever --- a true villain --- and now he’s being invited to become a member of the nefarious group of politicians and military personnel called the Christmas Adventurers Club. His assignment is to find Bob and Willa and kill them.

The remaining members of French 75 are still active, and once Deandra (Regina Hall), a close friend of Bob’s and Perfidia’s, finds out Willa is in danger, she immediately springs into action to save her. She manages to rescue her from a high school dance and places her with a rogue group of nuns in the desert. Unfortunately, Lockjaw learns of Willa’s whereabouts and has her kidnapped.

Meanwhile, poor Bob, who’s spent the last 16 years smoking weed and drinking alcohol, must gather himself to find Willa. He enlists the help of Willa’s karate instructor, Sensei Sergio St. Carlos (Benicio Del Toro), and his cadre, to escape his captors. Sensei is extremely sensitive to Bob’s plight, providing him the protection he needs and transportation to get away.

Billed as a dark comedy, action thriller, for Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is a “film that is really two things: Can this father find his daughter and what does it mean to be a family?”. And yes, it is that --- but it is also a wild and crazy ride --- insane, actually. DiCaprio has never been better. He plays Bob with complete abandon, and he’s downright hilarious at times.

One particular sequence has Bob arguing with a compatriot over the phone about a verbal password from 16 years ago --- one which he has completely forgotten. He tries explaining that he has fried his brain smoking too much weed --- and he does remember the answers to the other questions --- he just can’t remember the final clue. It’s flat out bonkers --- and hysterical.

And surprisingly, he portrays a loving, whacked out father with aplomb. Bob has schooled Willa regarding the dangers they face, requiring her to remember life and death information. And when the situation arises, Willa is pretty much ready. Her ability to analyze a predicament is impressive, especially during one particularly stressful car chase. And Infiniti does an exemplary job considering this is her feature film debut and she’s in the mix with three of the most talented male actors working today.

Del Toro and DiCaprio together are a real treat. Sensei is exactly the right calming influence poor Bob needs as he struggles to elude the military and find Willa. In yet another car chase scenario, Sensei is trying everything to convince Bob he must jump from a speeding

car --- incredibly funny. Del Toro just has that cool guy vibe in spades.

The only fault I have with ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is Penn’s performance. Lockjaw is as cruel as they come, but Penn’s portrayal comes off as more of a caricature. He’s way over the top for me.

Director of photography Michael Baumann’s cinematography is astounding. Add to that the discordant soundtrack by Jonny Greenwood, much like his music for THE POWER OF THE DOG (2021), and it all comes together to make Anderson’s latest one of his greatest.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

David: Leonardo DiCaprio heads an all-star cast in ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER with yet another exceptional portrayal, proving once more that he is --- at the very least --- the finest actor of his generation. DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a former member of a vigilante justice group called French 75. Years later, Bob spends all his time smoking weed and raising his 16-year-old daughter named Willa (Chase Infiniti).

When Willa goes missing, Bob begins a desperate search, fearful she has been abducted by a previous adversary, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn). Lockjaw is a frightening guy --- both in appearance and speech --- who will stop at nothing to be a member of a radical racist group called the Christmas Adventurers Club. The irony here is that Lockjaw is obsessed with Black women. It is as powerful a performance as we have ever seen from Penn.

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER was in his sights 20 years ago. PTA typically doesn’t make thrillers, per se, but this particular film is all that and more, with exciting car chase scenes that rival any ever made. One in particular features Willa being pursued by a member of the aforementioned Christmas Adventurers, and her brilliant thinking is a piece of filmmaking so memorable it should be recalled many years from now when moviegoers talk about this story.

Chase Infiniti delivers a truly courageous performance. She may have initially been daunted by the star power of the cast, but that is not apparent in her portrayal. Other key players include Benicio Del Toro as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos who is instrumental in helping Bob with his mission to find Willa. Regina Hall as Deandra and Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills round out the fine cast. Oscar nominated composer Jonny Greenwood provides the outstanding soundtrack.

I cannot recall sitting through a nearly 3-hour-film that flew by so fast. I literally could not take my eyes off the screen --- and our large screening audience, mostly critics, was completely mute. There was no evidence of any of the attendees stirring or restless in their seats. If this sounds like an exaggeration, it isn’t.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!