"One battle after another" spoiler-free review

 The newest Paul Thomas Anderson movie. Everyone says it's a masterpiece but is it true? I wasn't originally going to write this review but I just had to since everyone was talking about it.

"One battle after another" is pretty good. I think the best part of this movie is its craft. The camera work is done so confidently that shows that PTA is now a master of directing. There are multiple long scenes that just carry on with such energy. The camera does a lot. The fact that it was shot on VISTAVISION does help too. The cinematography in the desert definitely gives a lot of neo-western vibes similar to that of "No country for old men." Extremely well shot film.

The film does feel like we are moving from following different characters. Maybe this is a bit too messy for me. The film has too many characters and can't juggle them that well. They come and go and sometimes you wish they lasted a little longer. If I had to choose a main character, I would say this is the story of Sean Penn's character Colonel Steven Lockjaw. Lockjaw is so weird and crazy and everytime he come out on screen, I get super excited. Even his crazy hair style works for this insane character. Sean Penn is so brilliant in this crazy role, I hope he gets an Oscar: I mean just take a look at how he walks!

The score by Jonny Greenwood is full of frenetic piano staccatos. Which is something he explored on "The power of the dog" but it's getting fully realized here. It's awesome but maybe not his best. I still remember his score for "Phantom thread" as one of the most beautiful piece of work.

The acting overall is ok. I just wish there were more scenes with Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, and Benicio Del Toro. They were good but there weren't enough scenes. I can't believe I'm asking for more scenes to a almost 3 hour long film! Maybe that just goes to show how well-written the characters are.

The "message" of the film is kind of lost but I guess it's just simple? But then again, this is PTA we're talking about so maybe not. I gotta watch it again to fully understand what is going on.

The comedy in this film usually didn't work for me. I think the scenes that were trying to be funny got a grin on my face but maybe not so "laugh out loud." Sometimes I felt the comedy was just awkward. Similar to how I feel about most of PTA's humor in his movies.

I kind of feel like there should be a breathing moment somewhere in the middle of the film. But then again, maybe the whole point of this movie is that something happens and then something happens and then something happens. And it never stops. The film is called "One battle after another" for a reason. The battle just never seems to end.

I really wish the father daughter dynamic between DiCaprio's character and Chase Infiniti's character was explored more. Probably one of the most disappointing part of the film. 

Almost forgot to mention one more thing. The Sound. Wow. Who did the sound for this film? The car sounds, the footsteps, the gunshots. It works. It is probably one of the most vital parts of the film that allows the movie to pass by. It works very well with the editing and even provides some jump scares too. Glad I saw it in a theater.

Overall, I'm just not sure about the idea the film is exploring. Kind of feels shallow to me. But the craft of the film at a technical point and thinking about how much FUN I had, makes me realize that this film is a movie I cannot wait to recommend to everyone. Usually, PTA's movies are not easy to recommend as they can be alienating at times. However, this is a movie that I can absolutely see other people enjoying just as much.

One battle after another: 4.5/5