Writer/Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Fathers are inspiring figures ensuring children’s success rather than failures. Shining light in darkness, patriarchs are powerful figures that contribute to kids’ pursuit of happiness. From a personal point-of-view, I value a father that made my dreams come true. Several years ago, I formed powerful bonds with a father that gave me dreams to commonly follow. A compassionate caregiver, my father fought one battle after another to secure my family’s future. My lifelong love for my father began when my family witnessed a traumatizing bomb disaster. I recall memories of a bombing causing my family to experience trauma in Saudi Arabia. I remember being woken up at midnight by my father to face an interstellar disaster. Frightening bombing left tears streaming down my face in a country that wasn’t a quiet place. As bombs exploded in the air, I became aware there will be blood in bombings causing despair. In an intense scenario where chances of survival were low, my father emerged an unlikely hero. My father’s drive to survive allowed me to make it out of the bombing without a single scratch alive. His strong desires to protect my family from becoming prisoners allowed us to survive terrorism dangers. My dad’s instinct for survival allowed my family to overcome the worst disaster in the world imaginable. If it had not been for my father’s courage, odds are unlikely my family would have survived damage. I felt gratitude to my father after he rescued my family from bombs of big magnitude. Ultimately, the inherent advice I learned is that being a father comes with a tremendous sacrifice. Years later, I treasure a father ensuring my family’s survival in disaster.
As someone treasuring a father that fought one battle after another, I adored “One Battle After Another”. Released in 2025, Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie honoured fathers. Packed with stunning sets, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a masterpiece. At the centre of it all is a fantastic performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, who embodies a father facing sorrow. Ultimately, what makes “One Battle After Another” a masterpiece is appeal. Unlike most movies about fathers, it tackles themes everyone relates to. A masterpiece about fatherhood, there are several reasons why “One Battle After Another” is a movie worth watching.
“One Battle After Another” follows a father facing one battle after another searching for his daughter. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Bob Ferguson, a drug-addicted revolutionary haunted by death of his wife. Ferguson has always kept a close watch over his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti), whom he loves dearly. However, Ferguson’s life forever changes when his daughter goes missing in an abduction causing danger. Under intense anxiety, Ferguson embarks on a treacherous journey to find his daughter in a war-torn country.
Paul Thomas Anderson is fascinated with the themes of fatherhood. His award-winning movie “There Will be Blood” captured lives of greedy oil prospectors struggling to raise children on a land of blood. With “One Battle After Another”, however, Anderson created his first political thriller. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture ex revolutionary fathers seeking to protect families but he succeeded tremendously. Evoking Florian Zeller’s “The Father”, Anderson uses close-ups to capture the bond between a father and daughter. For instance, close-ups elevate the argument scene. During this intense scene, Bob has an intimate talk with his daughter about her mother. It brought back fond memories of my bond with a father that protected my family. Closeups are tricky techniques. As Gabrielle Muccino’s “The Pursuit of Happiness” suggested, closeups elevate movies about poverty. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through stunning visuals, Anderson captures the tensions that revolutionary fathers seeking to protect children are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “One Battle After Another” that merits appreciation is the production. Evoking John Krasinki’s “A Quiet Place”, Anderson effectively uses sound-design to capture hardships that father seeking to protect endangered families face. For instance, sound-design elevates the car chase scene. During this unforgettable scene, Bob engages in tense car chases seeking to locate his daughter on ominous roads. Whether its sounds of engines roaring or gunshots exploding, Anderson effectively uses sounds capturing tensions fathers are facing. Through stunning sounds, Anderson creates a portrait of fatherhood that’s compelling. It reminded me of my father’s heroic efforts to rescue me from a terrorist attack that left my family emotionally devastated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Johnny Greenwood’s commemorated music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the painful burden that fathers bear. Through stunning production, Anderson captures fathers on a mission.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “One Battle After Another” is a crime thriller that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture revolutionary families that are torn apart by violence. Anderson’s screenwriting strength is his ability to capture broken relationships between fathers and daughters through silence. Evoking Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”, Anderson uses silence to capture the deteriorating relationships between fathers and daughters facing disaster. For instance, silence elevates the reunion scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Bob is relieved when he has reunions with his long lost daughter. Through silence, Anderson creates a portrait of fatherhood audiences can relate to. It reminded me of my father’s gratitude when my family survived a frightening bombing of massive magnitude. Silence is a complicated technique to use in movies. As “There Will be Blood” suggested, silence enhances commemorated films about greedy businessmen. Nevertheless, it works tremendously. Through a spectacular screenplay, Anderson captures fathers experiencing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of his greatest performances as Bob Ferguson. DiCaprio achieved appreciation for playing doomed lovers in historical epics. With “One Battle After Another”, however, he takes on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a revolutionary father seeking to protect his endangered family from catastrophe but DiCaprio succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. Evoking Hugh Jackman in Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners”, DiCaprio embodies a panic-stricken father seeking to rescue helpless daughters from dangers. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the greatest movie-stars that’s working in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for DiCaprio, the supporting cast is also spectacular and deserves recognition. Sean Penn is spectacular, capturing the psychotic nature of a military commander that abuses his power. Chase Infiniti is is incredible, capturing the bravery of a lost woman with hopes of reconnecting with her estranged family. Lastly, Benicio Del Toro merits recognition. As a karate instructor, he brings hilarious comical relief to the movie.
Finally, “One Battle After Another” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing fathers that are intense pressure. Evoking Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines”, the film tackles strong themes of fatherhood everyone would relate to. The film discusses strong themes including angst, dysfunctional family and trauma which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with American politics to appreciate it. Therefore, “One Battle After Another” is one of those rare movies everyone will treasure.
Fans of Leonardo DiCaprio will definitely enjoy “One Battle After Another” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A captivating crime thriller, it captures the roles fathers play in securing families’ future.
A fantastic portrait of fathers that go through one battle after another to protect children that are vulnerable, it’s a remarkable reminder that the powerful stories of parents that nurture children are worth telling in movies that are memorable.
As powerful as Bob’s desire to conquer one battle after another, it has inspired me to move on several years after my family experienced frightening bombing disasters by treasuring heartwarming memories of a father whose undying effort to protect my family from situations of grave danger I would forever treasure.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 