One Battle After Another

Overview

Washed-up revolutionary Bob exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.

Rating

11 Reviews

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  Brent Marchant

  8 Nov 27, 2025

  No matter how much we like to think that life’s bigger concerns have the greatest influence in dictating our actions, it’s nevertheless curious to see how the issues that affect us most personally – those seemingly “smaller” considerations – ultimately hold the most sway over our behavior. That becomes apparent in this latest offering from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, based on the 1990 novel Vineland by author Thomas Pynchon. In a quasi-dystopian version of America, a battle for control of the nation’s cultural and sociopolitical direction simmers between leftist vigilante rebels known as the French 75 and conservative authoritarian figures supported by the military and quietly backed by a moneyed class of ultra-right wing White supremacists known as the Christmas Adventurers. But, despite the magnitude accorded to this struggle, in the end, events in the personal lives of the combatants’ individual operatives have more impact in steering their actions. Set over the course of nearly two decades, the story follows the interracial relationship of French 75 members Perfidia Beverly Hills (Tayana Taylor) and Pat “Rocketman” Calhoun (Leonardo DiCaprio) as they carry out various missions reminiscent of 1960s radicals. The duo is in love (sort of), but, in the wake of one of their raids on an immigration detention camp, Perfidia meets and unexpectedly takes a shine to her opponent, Colonel Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn), an encounter that leads to a tryst and unplanned pregnancy, all without Rocketman’s knowledge. Not long after Perfidia’s daughter is born, however, she leaves her partner to pursue her own rebel agenda, saddling Rocketman with the care of a daughter that he thinks is his. But, when Perfidia is captured by authorities, she rats out her colleagues (including Rocketman) in exchange for a spot in the witness protection program, forcing her former partner and his daughter into hiding. Skip ahead 16 years to a time when Lockjaw has an opportunity to move up in the Christmas Adventurers organization, provided he passes Caucasian purity scrutiny, a tricky proposition as the potential father of a mixed-race child. To cover his tracks on this possible “liability,” he must track down the missing child, now a teenager (Chase Infiniti), who has spent the ensuing years with her presumed dad, both of whom have assumed aliases while in hiding. And, when word of this gets back to them, they’re forced to go on the run to avoid capture (or worse). That’s easier said than done, though, given that Rocketman has developed substance abuse issues that have taken their toll on him. Fortunately, however, he’s aided by a cool, composed street smart sensei master (Benicio Del Toro) who confidently manages the affairs of the immigrant residents of a sanctuary city, having become adept at helping others stay ahead of officials. And so, despite the broader conflict going on around these characters, their priorities are almost exclusively personal as they seek to tend to their respective agendas. But can they? Thus begins a kickass thrill ride as all concerned seek to protect themselves at all costs, a story filled with great action sequences, riveting chase scenes, and mesmerizing twists and turns, with a good measure of comic relief thrown in to make it interesting. Admittedly, there are times (especially early on in the film) when the connections between the various story threads aren’t connected or made clear as well as they might have been, and Del Toro’s character and storyline feel somewhat underdeveloped. But those issues are more than compensated for by the picture’s other strengths, as well as an outstanding performance by Penn in a role in which he expertly plays against type. The film, which has a vibe somewhat reminiscent of the excellent contemporary thriller “Eddington” from earlier this year, is also surprisingly well paced for a movie with a 2:41:00 runtime, a noteworthy accomplishment, to be sure. And, like “Eddington,” this offering has drawn its share of mixed reactions from viewers and critics, probably for some of the same cultural and sociopolitical reasons as those associated with that earlier offering. However, “One Battle After Another” is truly worth the time, another fine release from a gifted filmmaker.

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  Henry | The Reel Verdict

  8 Dec 11, 2025

  Movie Review: One Battle After Another One Battle After Another is a masterful dark comedy-drama that skillfully balances humour with unsettling realism. The performances are compelling, and the cinematography strikingly captures both the intimacy and tension of each scene. Beneath its moments of humour lies a powerful narrative about love, resilience, and the human cost of political conflict. The film’s ability to be both enjoyable and unnerving makes it a provocative, thought-provoking experience, one that lingers long after the credits roll. Rating: 8/10

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  drewwash

  7 Dec 17, 2025

  I watched with low expectations. The marketing was so overwhelming that I anticiated a let down. It exceeded expectations and delivered an exciting experience. It is a watch once and forget it movie, but worthy of a watch.

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  badelf

  10 Dec 26, 2025

  Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another", from Thomas Pynchon's novel, is recognizably a PTA film, yet profoundly different in ways that set it apart from everything he's done before. This is Anderson evolving, and stepping into territory he's previously only circled. For the first time, PTA is blatantly political and urgently timely. He tackles immigration and racism with direct engagement, addressing issues currently tearing through the United States. The "Christmas Adventurers Club," a white supremacist secret society, is openly satirical, bordering on actual humor. This is a radical departure from the subtle, slow-burn treatments of American corruption in "There Will Be Blood" or "The Master." Here, Anderson isn't dancing around the subject; he's naming it, mocking it, dismantling it. This satire isn't just thematic window dressing; it drives the entire plot. The moral lines are far more pronounced than in Anderson's typical work, where ambiguity reigns and characters exist in ethical gray zones. In "One Battle After Another," we know who the villains are, and Anderson wants us to know. The second clear departure is the clean, optimistic, and almost conventional ending. While PTA is known for character-driven scripts that often don't resolve, or only loosely do so, this film offers resolution. Two bad guys die, one by the hand of Willa (Chase Infiniti), signaling her continuation of her mother's revolution. It's hopeful. It's clear. It's decidedly not the PTA we knew. Yet for all these departures, the film succeeds because of its performances. Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio deliver brilliant work, finding PTA's typical wounded, broken, ambiguous characters within otherwise clearly defined roles. DiCaprio especially discovers the satire and humor in the film without ever breaking character, threading a needle between comedy and tragedy that few actors could manage. "One Battle After Another" is Paul Thomas Anderson standing up, speaking out, and proving that evolution doesn't mean compromise.

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  mgaugy

  8 Jan 13, 2026

  I'm not one to write reviews, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The writing had a fresh feel to it, the acting was superb, and the twists and turns just kept going. All I could think is that this feels like a Sergio Leone production, in that it just kept going. While Leo DiCaprio was amazing as always (while slowly turning into Jack Nicholson), and newcomer Chase Infinity gave a solid performance, I would say that Sean Penn stole the show. Penn's over-the-top portrayal of a militant man dedicated to the cause while also being the proverbial unstoppable force was exemplary. All in all, it was a great ride and a good watch. While the Oscars haven't gone yet, I was surprised to see the 2026 Golden Globes winners. Teyana Taylor was very good, if the writing was a little one-dimensional for her role. She excelled at what she had to work with, though I did wonder if she'd make the expected comeback later in the film. I think Sean Penn was heavily inspired by Dustin Hoffman through his portrayal of Col Lockjaw. His character surprisingly had more depth than any of the others. I wonder if Paul Thomas Anderson intended to make him an anti-hero. PTA did surpass himself with this one, his directing and screenplay were in complete harmony to produce the evocative message of far-right militarism combined with modern day racism through a telling story. His awards were well-earned.

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  PeaceMeal

  6 Mar 29, 2026

  If you liked a wacky crazy movie like Pulp Fiction, you'd like this movie - but with some key differences. But instead of the hero being a rightous Bruce Willis, "One Battle" has the "hero" being Leonardo as the gang member who is a violent leftist Antifa leader from the 70s who went into retirement to care for his daughter. I can see why the actor's union voted for it as Best Motion Picture. Actors are a leftist open-border anti-corporate anti-conservative anti-religious anti-ICE group. SUMMARY: The "good guys" are Antifa members fighting police, the military and corporations. The "bad guys" are the police and corporate execs which are all painted as "white supremicists" by the writer & director. Again, a dream movie for wealthy woke Hollywood actors. RATING: 7/10 for some crazy unpredictable events, but disliking their messaging.