Lately, two films have been the talk of the town:
Park Chan-wook’s I Can’t Help It and
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.

Although these two films differ greatly in narrative structure and visual style,
they share a common genre: black comedy.

Since I don’t usually watch black comedy, the genre has always felt a little unfamiliar to me.
And to be honest, I was disappointed by Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 7, which premiered last February,
so I hesitated for a while about whether I should watch One Battle After Another.

But—!
I recently watched PTA (Paul Thomas Anderson)’s Phantom Thread,
and it was so good that I suddenly wanted to explore more of his work.
Just in time, One Battle After Another was hitting theaters,
so I headed straight to the cinema_!

<Story & Cast>

To put it simply, the story follows a father trying to rescue his kidnapped daughter.
It may sound like a very typical premise, but the film is anything but ordinary.
The beautifully crafted character details, the fantastic performances,
the historical backdrop, the themes and satire,
and the tight story structure that makes 162 minutes fly by—
plus the unmistakable flavor of black comedy—

And then there’s the highlight sequence…
the one that’s packed with so much tension it’s genuinely breathtaking.
(It’s incredible, really.)

And of course…
The kidnapped, beautiful daughter…
— Chase Infinity — all the wayyyyyy.

If I had more time, I would honestly go for multiple viewings.
That’s how much I enjoyed this film.

For reference, the film is based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland.

The performances and the characters themselves are incredibly charming.
DiCaprio is, of course, in a league of his own.
Teyana Taylor and Regina Hall, who fight alongside him as members of the revolutionary group,
their opposing force played by Sean Penn,
and Benicio del Toro, who jumps in as the film’s wildcard and comic spice—
Every single character leaves a strong impression.

Review

The story moves between the past (roughly the 1960s–80s) and the early 2000s (present).
It also weaves in social themes such as Black civil rights and liberation movements.

Despite the complexity and sensitivity of these topics,
Paul Thomas Anderson translates them into cinema with remarkable finesse.

The film begins and ends with a mirrored structure—
a full-circle storytelling choice that delivers a powerful message.
(It’s hard to explain without spoilers, so I’ll leave it at that.)

And if you’ve ever wondered,
“So this is what Black comedy feels like?”
—this movie will give you exactly that experience.

Personally, the scenes with DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro together
were absolutely hilarious.

And following Tron: Ares, which I also enjoyed earlier this month,
I wanted to share a brief review of One Battle After Another as well.

If it’s still playing in your local theater,
make sure to catch it before it’s gone—highly recommended!