One Battle After Another (2025)
Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Another PTA means another typographically phenomenal film.
I think an easy companion to this movie is Eddington (2025). stepping back from character, both have broader political themes that strongly coincide with one another. at some points you can't tell which of the two you're watching. I think it's important to acknowledge that it's not a coincidence these two major films that both came out this year share unbelievably similar themes and backdrops. sign of the times. and although this, compared to Eddington (2025), is much less subversive and much less radical, it is much more commercial and therefore much more wide reaching—sometimes a necessary tradeoff, and I think a worthwhile one here.
I think they would make a great double feature. The cynicism that Eddington (2025) exudes from start to finish would transition well into the eventual hopeful arc of One Battle After Another.
The acting was incredible, especially from Sean Penn and Chase Infiniti. the score oscillates between sweeping, melodic, and chaotic in a way that imbues a consistent, welcome tension. Cinematography was fucking incredible, I almost smacked wyatt and joe in the face a couple times from physical reactions to certain shots. this shit was just incredible all around. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough of Teyana Taylor and there wasn't enough of Regina Hall. Grossly underused.
Aside from all that, this also had some of the greatest character names in cinema. I'm glad Junglepussy's character was named Junglepussy; you don't come up with that name and not use it in everything you do.
Overall another great PTA, he never seems to disappoint (I am choosing to ignore Licorice Pizza (2021) from now on). Great time at the picturehouse. thank you everyone for a fantastic film!
Everybody go watch The Battle of Algiers (1966). Viva la revolution. And fuck ice.