When Leonardo DiCaprio appears on screen, it always seems like something special is in store. But this time, the stakes are even higher: in the film One Battle After Another, the actor teamed up with Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood (2007), Phantom Thread (2017)) - a director who is called one of the most daring auteurs of our time. Other stars joined this collaboration - Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro, and the result was a story where paranoia, revolutionary spirit and black humor merge into one whole.
| Name | One Battle After Another |
| Genre | thriller, black comedy |
| Director | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Cast | Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infinity and others |
| Studio | Ghoulardi Film Company |
| Timing | 2 hours 41 minutes |
| Year | 2025 |
| IMDb |
Anderson had long considered adapting Thomas Pynchon's novel The Grapes of Wrath (1990) for the screen. However, his excessive devotion to the book got in the way - the director feared that a too literal adaptation would rob the story of its novelty. As a result, he chose a different path: he took only certain motifs - the relationship between father and daughter, a few ideas from the novel - and intertwined them with his own plots, themes and contemporary problems.
The plot of One Battle After Another begins with the anarchist revolutionary group French 75 - a hotbed of chaos, protest and endless rebellion against the system. Among its members stands out Perfidia Beverly Hills, a charismatic and unpredictable heroine played by Teyana Taylor. For the singer, model and choreographer, this is the first major film work, and she impresses with her energy from the very first scene. Her Perfidia is the embodiment of radical justice, anarchy and wild freedom, the very spark from which the madness of this story flares up.
The film's plot unfolds after Perfidia goes too far during one of her raids, causing the entire group to disband. Her lover Bob, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is forced to flee for the safety of their child. Sixteen years have passed: the former desperate revolutionary has become a single father who drinks, smokes weed and tries to get along with his teenage daughter Willa, played by Chase Infinity in her debut role. The actress coped brilliantly, showing on screen a strong female character, rather than the classic image of a "damsel in distress".
The rest of the cast of One Battle After Another is also impressive. Benicio del Toro as Sensei becomes a kind of guide for the main character, helping him overcome problems and is ready to support him as much as he needs. And Regina Hall, known for the Scary Movie series, demonstrates that she can create deep images, adding a little more drama to the film.
The main antagonist, Stephen Lockjaw, played by Sean Penn, is impressively skilled. While watching, one feels a strange combination of disgust for this character and admiration for the actor's performance. Sean Penn creates the image of a hypocritical neurotic who is guided by his own desires and does not shy away from any means to achieve his own goals.
The film's musical accompaniment also deserves special attention. The soundtrack was chosen extremely well: it emphasizes the tension of the scenes, helps to convey the emotional state of the characters, and at the same time preserves the special rhythm of the story. The compositions successfully combine the atmosphere of chaos of the revolutionary past and the everyday drama of the heroes' modern lives, making each scene deeper and more emotionally saturated.
Paul Thomas Anderson admitted that when they started filming One Battle After Another, they only had a general picture of the finale in mind – a desert landscape, but the exact appearance of the scene remained open. The film was shot in various corners of Northern California and on deserted desert roads, creating a sense of real America: from noisy urban chaos to endless empty spaces and borders. Each scene was built on real locations, without excessive use of CGI: real cars, natural environments, living landscapes. This gives the picture a special tactility and a sense of presence.
One Battle After Another is one of the most anticipated releases of 2025, and it is truly worth watching. The film was liked by both critics and viewers, who appreciate the strong characters, the intense plot and the directorial style of Paul Thomas Anderson. Sean Penn was especially impressed: he is so convincing in the role of Stephen Lockjaw that I would not be surprised if he is nominated for a prestigious film award.
