Paul Thomas Anderson paints a stark portrait of America in this film released in late September. A spectacular film, with a touch of humor and a five-star cast: Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role, Sean Penn as the villain, the charismatic Benicio Del Toro, not to mention Teyana Taylor and the intrepid Chase Infiniti. The story follows Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a former activist with a revolutionary group called French 75. Without a clearly defined timeline, Paul Thomas Anderson emphasizes a humanist message rather than a straightforward depiction of reality. The script is only slightly repetitive, highlighting the situation of an America trapped in a certain dogmatism. The director creates sensational characters full of humor, trauma, imperfections, and doubts… These caricatures make the viewer acutely aware, in the most ruthless way, of the repercussions of political stifling.
The good news: Leonardo DiCaprio is back on our screens, much to our delight. In his latest film in 2023, Killers of the Flower Moon, He embodied an opportunistic man losing his footing in a world divided between predators and prey. True to form, he demonstrated his ability to portray a sensitive character, a victim of human vices. In One battle after another, He plays a new kind of character: a revolutionary, alcoholic, overprotective father—quite a volatile mix. Furthermore, Sean Penn's perfectly executed performance as a sadistic villain is noteworthy, as is the chemistry between DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor. Another interesting point is that the film was shot in VistaVision, a high-resolution horizontal format from the 1950s created by Paramount. This process offers superior quality and a wider field of view, making it ideal for special effects. While difficult to integrate into movie theaters, which require specialized equipment, this traditional format is currently experiencing a revival in Hollywood production, which began with... The Brutalist in 2024.
The downsides: Paul Thomas Anderson presents himself as a political film, yet he also blends genres: dark humor, passionate and familial love, drama, and thriller. This abundance of information can obscure the film's political message. Is it a big-budget production relying on spectacle to entice the audience, or does it actually convey a moral message? Furthermore, one of the female characters suddenly disappears from the film to give more screen time to the male characters played by DiCaprio and Sean Penn. The film thus loses a significant female dimension that counterbalanced the action-packed and violent elements.
One battle after another It evokes America's revolutionary history, from the Black Panthers to the Vietnam War, including the racial divisions of the 1960s and 1970s. A historical retrospective blending political assassination, hostage-taking, and protest movements… A gripping film, orchestrated with Hollywood-style action scenes and energized by subtly humorous acting. But behind this spectacular side and biting humor lies a true anthropology of revolt, highlighting human resistance in the face of oppression.
