The Wasteland Reviewer

One Battle After Another (2025) Written Review

What does a talent like Paul Thomas Anderson have up his sleeve for his latest directorial effort? It has been a few years since Licorice Pizza divided audiences with its quality filmmaking and controversial central dynamic. But Anderson has consistently delivered impressive cinematic experiences that are totally engrossing and full of excellent storytelling. With One Battle After Another, Anderson delivers a film shot on one of film’s most classic formats (VistaVision) and tackles some uncomfortably relevant themes centered around immigration policy. 

How does Anderson approach this towering and sprawling tale? Anderson balances an amazing tightrope of tones to craft such an engaging and impactful experience. Not all of Anderson’s films have such outward humor but One Battle After Another is a surprisingly hilarious experience. The awkward and weird walk from Sean Penn. The manic energy, one-liners, and drug-fueled paranoia of Leonardo DiCaprio. The wild and unhinged secret society and their downright silly presentation. One Battle After Another is a killer experience with laughs yet there is something dark and visceral about the experience as well. There is plenty of violence along the way (which is not a surprise when the film is about domestic terrorism or revolution…depending on your perspective). There are shocking moments for sure and Anderson keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. There is a climactic car chase that is thrilling and unique with the way the camera moves along the road and is from the cars’ POV. There is an impressive level of craftsmanship from Anderson and his cinematographer Michael Bauman. The score is also one of the key highlights of the film. Jonny Greenwood crafts a score that is layered, varied, and full of energy and emotion. The soundscape in this film is fully engrossing and lifts every scene with its power and propulsive energy. One Battle After Another continues to show that Anderson is one of the best directors working today. 

Does Anderson’s script offer up anything as rich as his impressive filmmaking behind the camera? This film is rich and complex from both a thematic and narrative standpoint. At the heart of the film, this is about revolutionaries who are taking the fight to the government to save and protect undocumented individuals and families. We see the dynamic of those involved in such movements and how personal choices and actions can drastically change the whole trajectory of such an organization. We witness the power and impact of the government and those who will leverage that power to cause chaos and realize their own prejudices and world view. There are plenty of timely ideas injected in as well from sanctuary cities to protests to incendiary actions of governments to incite violence, and secret societies attempting to mold society in their image from the shadows. But there are deeply human elements as Anderson navigates romantic relationships as well as sexual ones. There are themes centered around parenthood (and specifically fatherhood). The narrative captures the rise and fall of a revolutionary group and the aftermath of such a lifestyle years later. This is an intense cat-and-mouse game full of secret codes, hired guns, drugs, and paranoia. The story will keep you on your toes and Anderson expertly weaves together the narrative in surprising and shocking ways. Then you have his sharp comedic writing that just elevates the whole experience as well. 

Is One Battle After Another just the Anderson show? Not at all as this cast really comes to play. Leonardo DiCaprio is great here as a man who is not the most queued into this revolutionary life as he is constantly out of his element. You can feel the emotional depth that he explores as Bob especially when it comes to his daughter. But the paranoia and drug-induced episodes he has are hilarious and intense with DiCaprio selling them with plenty of heart and energy. His on-screen daughter, Chase Infiniti, is excellent as well as selling the balance in her character between charming and intense. There is plenty of physicality in Infiniti’s performance that stands out as well. Sean Penn is one of the biggest standouts in the film with his fully realized character work. The bulky stances and stiff walks are both impressively expressive for his character as well as hilarious to watch for the audience. The manner that he carries himself is intimidating and brutal. There is a rage and insecurity that is constantly boiling up underneath the surface which Penn organically creates. Teyana Taylor is not in the film as most, but her fiery and alluring presence sells her physicality and sexuality so well. Taylor’s Perfidia is not seen a lot in the film, but her actions and presence are felt throughout. Taylor leaves quite the impression with her screen time and sells the complex dynamics that Perfidia finds herself in. Then you have Benicio Del Toro. His character of Sensei Sergio will be an instant audience favorite with his brilliant mixture of warmth, heart, confidence, and little quirks that will make it stand out. There are plenty of other memorable supporting turns as well that give the film layers. Regina Hall. Alana Haim. Wood Harris. Tony Goldwyn. Kevin Tighe. They all have varying degrees of screen time but deliver performances and craft characters who all make some type of impact. 

Where does One Battle After Another fall in the 2025 cinematic landscape? This just might be the present frontrunner for the Oscars at this point. Anderson is a talented and admired filmmaker who is ready to have his big awards moments like Christopher Nolan recently got. This is also a timely film that feels uncomfortably relevant in 2025’s geo-political landscape. The craft behind the film is second to none with impressive cinematography, stunt work, composition, and sound design coming together to create a fully engrossing experience. This cast is stacked with plenty of impactful and memorable performances as well. Anderson delivers another masterful film and One Battle After Another is ready for its moment.