‘One Battle After Another’ (dir. by Paul Thomas Anderson) | Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn (9/26)
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OJ Simpsom
Superstar
ShaDynasty
Chaos - The Album
Classic.
PTA is elite at making movies that are both intelligent and visceral. Most of his films are 5/5. The cast is phenomenal. Sean Penn is great, it made me remember him in Carlito's Way, Dead Man Walking etc. Hes not an actor who just plays himself in every film, he really tries to make each thing unique. Leo arguably is a guy that plays himself a lot, but hes great at it. Chase Infiniti was really impressive too.
It did make me think this is remarkable timing for a film where socialist revolutionaries are the heroes. Where are the revolutionaries in real life?
PTA is elite at making movies that are both intelligent and visceral. Most of his films are 5/5. The cast is phenomenal. Sean Penn is great, it made me remember him in Carlito's Way, Dead Man Walking etc. Hes not an actor who just plays himself in every film, he really tries to make each thing unique. Leo arguably is a guy that plays himself a lot, but hes great at it. Chase Infiniti was really impressive too.
It did make me think this is remarkable timing for a film where socialist revolutionaries are the heroes. Where are the revolutionaries in real life?
stellar writing
Great direction
EXCELLENT performances
Brisk pacing (runtime never slogs)
The issue with this film is the issue I have with many liberal white directors who tackle their films from the “black power” theme.
Even with my STRONG criticisms of the themes driving the story and how they minimize black characterization and autonomy, it was an enjoyable film. PTA proved he can do mainstream, streamlined, big-budgeted entertainment. Its an almost three hour film that doesn’t lag at any point (impressive) and everyone in the cast put on a MASTERCLASS in acting. I fully expect this film to garner Sean Penn his third academy award and Dicaprio his second. PTA will finally get his long awaited Best Director trophy and probably Best Adapted Screenplay.
This is NOT in my opinion the hands down best film of year. Thematically Ryan Coogler was able to do with Sinners what PTA tried to do with One Battle, in a more authentic manner. Sinners also felt more authentic as a statement of who the director is. PTA’s statement film will probably remain Boogie Nights.
Great direction
EXCELLENT performances
Brisk pacing (runtime never slogs)
The issue with this film is the issue I have with many liberal white directors who tackle their films from the “black power” theme.
the black characters are limited to caricatures in service to the white protagonist. Teyana Taylor is the object of lust/carnal desire. Regina Hall is the “mother”/protective figure. And thats all they are. I’m not even looking for a black man to come save the day because you don’t pay Leonardo Dicaprio $20 million to NOT be the protagonist and focal point. But at the same time you can’t have “black power” be window dressing for a white man’s hero’s journey. The principal black women in this movie FAILED in their endeavors. Teyana Taylor FAILED as a revolutionary figure,
a mother, and a pro-black figurehead. The chick named Jungle p*ssy FAILED and was killed. Regina King FAILED to protect Willa and ended up captured. The black nuns FAILED. There’s not one black character in this film who succeeded in their mission/objective, there’s no redemption. And no, that weak ass letter written to Willa at the end doesn’t count as redemption. The message of this movie still screams that a white male savior is necessary for any type of black progress/revolution. Notice how when the Latino/Mexican immigrants were doing their thing. They had a male of their own heritage/community leading the charge in Benicio Del Toro, successfully getting his people to save havens and spaces. This type of characterization is denied the black characters and their organization. Wood Harris did absolutely nothing of note, a wasted character either due to editing or because he was simply cast to have a face audiences would be familiar with when the shyt hit the fan so they could empathize in a sense with the downfall of the French 75.
a mother, and a pro-black figurehead. The chick named Jungle p*ssy FAILED and was killed. Regina King FAILED to protect Willa and ended up captured. The black nuns FAILED. There’s not one black character in this film who succeeded in their mission/objective, there’s no redemption. And no, that weak ass letter written to Willa at the end doesn’t count as redemption. The message of this movie still screams that a white male savior is necessary for any type of black progress/revolution. Notice how when the Latino/Mexican immigrants were doing their thing. They had a male of their own heritage/community leading the charge in Benicio Del Toro, successfully getting his people to save havens and spaces. This type of characterization is denied the black characters and their organization. Wood Harris did absolutely nothing of note, a wasted character either due to editing or because he was simply cast to have a face audiences would be familiar with when the shyt hit the fan so they could empathize in a sense with the downfall of the French 75.
Even with my STRONG criticisms of the themes driving the story and how they minimize black characterization and autonomy, it was an enjoyable film. PTA proved he can do mainstream, streamlined, big-budgeted entertainment. Its an almost three hour film that doesn’t lag at any point (impressive) and everyone in the cast put on a MASTERCLASS in acting. I fully expect this film to garner Sean Penn his third academy award and Dicaprio his second. PTA will finally get his long awaited Best Director trophy and probably Best Adapted Screenplay.
This is NOT in my opinion the hands down best film of year. Thematically Ryan Coogler was able to do with Sinners what PTA tried to do with One Battle, in a more authentic manner. Sinners also felt more authentic as a statement of who the director is. PTA’s statement film will probably remain Boogie Nights.
TheAnointedOne
Superstar
Just to get it out of the way,because they willl be constantly ranked and compared until the oscars
Sinners > One Battle After Another. Favorites this year are
Havent seen f1 or weapons fwiw
- Siiners
- OBAA
- Superman
F1 is better than Superman
Dr. Narcisse
Veteran
Its got an A cinemascore. Highest of PTA's career.
However, craft wise there is the dip in writing/action spectacle compared to the rest of the movie with the sawmill action scene. If he leveled up we could be looking at a No Country for Old Men vs There Will be Blood situation. Or maybe they split. OBAA makes you also wish Sinners was a longer film.
Ultimately, its going to be how well these films age. A+ craft > tends age better than A+ thematics.
I think its thematics and crafts argument though. As I outlined earlier Coogler wrote Sinnners in a couple months and began shooting a few months later. OBAA has been in PTA's head for years and he experly crafted that in shot selection, action beats, etc. What Coogler did with Sinners is wildly impressive. As you said thematically.
However, craft wise there is the dip in writing/action spectacle compared to the rest of the movie with the sawmill action scene. If he leveled up we could be looking at a No Country for Old Men vs There Will be Blood situation. Or maybe they split. OBAA makes you also wish Sinners was a longer film.
Ultimately, its going to be how well these films age. A+ craft > tends age better than A+ thematics.
perfectblack999
All Star
It’s a good movie. Honestly hard to summarize/recap. The only way to describe it to people really is to tell them to see it for themselves. Great acting. Great camera work. Last act kept me on the edge of my seat.
Felt like it was a ton of loose themes that ruin your experience if you try to over analyze them. Just enjoy it.
Felt like it was a ton of loose themes that ruin your experience if you try to over analyze them. Just enjoy it.
Wish Altman was alive to see this. PTA’s best overall film to me is TWBB and ultimate favorite still remains Punch-Drunk Love, but I wouldn’t be mad with anyone placing this as their #1. It’s in my top 3. shyt kinda has it all and doesn’t overdo it with the Pynchonisms. I’ve seen it twice now and did not feel the runtime.
Had caught Inherent Vice at the Alamo last week and came out of it wishing Benicio was in it more. There was no shortage of him here. Him and Leo >>> Him and Joaquin.
Had caught Inherent Vice at the Alamo last week and came out of it wishing Benicio was in it more. There was no shortage of him here. Him and Leo >>> Him and Joaquin.
That little shyt eating grin when he said he had a few small beers will live rent free in my head forever. Quoting that shyt the next time I’m at the sports bar. 
I don’t care how long the film was in his head, if you fail to stick the landing thematically, especially regarding the message as it pertains to the black experience regarding protest and revolution in this country, your shyt ultimately rings hollow no matter how well crafted it is. This film boils down to the same thing liberal white directors have been pushing for two decades if not longer, that any chance for black liberation will NOT come from black minds or hands, struggle or effort; rather, it must be guided by a white savior. Doesn’t matter if he’s a drunk near hobo, without him you will FAIL. My suspicion is that this film, despite its glowing reviews and expert craftsmanship, will not stand the test of time as a masterpiece. In a few years people will go back and see that at its core, its just another white savior film, and both Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood remain the superior PTA films.
Artificial Intelligence
Not Allen Iverson
Leo dont miss.
Technically, the savior of the film was Willa, not Bob so the whole white savior thing falls apart.
I think as black men, and I said it earlier, its certain obvious shyt we gotta turn our brains off for when it came to this movie lol.
This is a good movie but yeah, I rolled my eyes quite a few times on some "can we get past this troup and get back to business". And this film had nothing to do with Black Liberation, but more so Black Bodies = the Blood of Christ for everyone else to forgive them of their sins and save them lol.
