Glasses atop a popcorn bucket. Photo Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels (Uploaded May 21st, 2021)
The year 2025 will be forever be marked by the release of “One Battle After Another.”
In this political thriller, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Pat Calhoun, an ex-revolutionary whose activities eventually lead to the need for a new identity and life. After his daughter is kidnapped by the movie’s central antagonist, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, he seeks not only vengeance, but the safety of the only person he has left.
“One Battle After Another” is a miracle of a movie. It is a rarity among Hollywood blockbusters that a film this artsy and bold is given the green light, much less with a budget of $150 million.
Given this staggering budget, no one expected the scope of a mature, yet witty satire about rebellion and the hints at fascism around us. The small teasers released prior to the film’s release painted a far more marketable product, which was clearly meant to attract thrill junkies.
That being said, the true context for the film provides more depth than anyone would have ever imagined. Describing the film as this decade’s defining picture would be a disservice to its craftsmanship.
The film’s opening sequence was laced is both adrenaline and an off-putting brand of satire that lies throughout much of its runtime. From the jump, it was made apparent that the brutality of America’s current immigration policies was to be thoroughly presented.
These modern issues were quickly presented as some of the main themes of the entire film. Militarized violence and the looming threat of social unrest were showcased in essentially every scene.
The film’s cinematography encourages close examinations, while also giving the viewer something nice to look at. Several thrilling scenes were single-handedly carried by complex camera techniques and framing that illuminated the danger hidden within every scene.
The film’s incredible music greatly assisted the camera. With a set expectation of artistic intent, Jonny Greenwood, the film’s composer, strayed away from the usual bombastic music that accompanies most action movies.
Instead, Greenwood opted for simple classical arrangements that progressively grew in intensity. The composer’s work effectively captured the feeling of existential anxiety at every corner.
Anderson’s direction in the film also contributed to what could be argued as cinema’s greatest car chase scene by establishing a riveting scene on a road in the middle of the desert.
The film “One Battle After Another” is a powerful call-to-action as much as it is a generational piece of media that reinvents film as a medium for artistic expression.
