After a break of four years, critics’ darling Paul Thomas Anderson returns, writing and directing this thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He plays revolutionary Pat Calhoun operating in America as part of a resistance group called French 75. He is in a relationship with fellow member, Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) and they are both pursued by military police officer, Colonel Stephen J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) who is sexually obsessed with Perfidia. When they have a daughter, Charlene, Perfidia disappears. Sixteen years later, Pat, who lives just with his daughter, is a washed up, permanently stoned, paranoiac and is unaware that Lockjaw is still after him.
One Battle After Another has been met with universal fawning reviews, the only contention being whether it is the best film of the year or the decade. However, I was not similarly blown away. It is true that DiCaprio has probably never been better and Chase Infiniti is great as the tough Charlene. Also Sean Penn embodies the unhinged military man in a scarily effective way, whilst also providing some of the funniest moments.
There are a couple of excellent action set pieces as father and daughter individually try to escape Lockjaw and his men, but, as a whole, I did not think the story held together. I found the opening a bit incoherent, the plot had too many elements that were not properly explored and the score was overly intrusive. There is meant to be an emotional mother-daughter moment towards the end, but as Perfidia abandoned her as a baby, I felt nothing at that moment.
Praise has been heaped on this film for being a satire of the current American regime, their use of the army and of the treatment of immigrants by the government. However, I found those barbs a bit diluted by having the resistance group to be so ruthless, being prepared to kill innocent civilians who stand in their way.
Anderson has made two truly outstanding films in Inherent Vice and Magnolia, and he always gets great performances from his actors, but I remain to be convinced about his genius.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10