Jan 25
Oscar WinnerPaul Thomas Anderson’s latest screened on Thursday evening in Phoenix. Anderson was in attendance, and in good spirits. This is going to be one lengthy film — the film clocked in at 2 hours 50 minutes. The cut shown looked “close to finished.”
We finally have some concrete details about this one, which screened to enthusiastic reactions. Obviously, as with all such screenings, it’s very hard to really know just how good (or bad) a film is going to turn out, so I’m not even going to bother with in-depth reactions.
What I will say is that our initial hunch has proven to be correct. This is PTA’s take on “Vineland,” but in the most mainstream sense imaginable. The story is taken straight out of Pynchon’s novel, although the character’s names have been changed.
Sean Penn plays Col. Steven J. Lockjaw and he’s a “white supremacist” who somehow had affair with Regina Hall’s character. She ends up leaving him, taking up with with Leonardo Dicaprio’s character as Lockjaw tracks both of them down.
As far as the title goes, PTA’s latest is called “One Battle After Another.” Based on what I’m hearing, that’s a very apt description of the entire film which is filled with one big elaborate action set-piece after another. Despite the dark story, it’s described as a very “comedic” film, but one which hits the viewer hard with an unexpected emotional ending.
According to one source, the best way to describe “One Battle After Another” is as a “big action comedy,” and one can very much witness Jonathan Demme’s influence on this film, especially his great 1988 film “Something Wild,” which was a hybrid of action and incredibly dark humor.
https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/1/24/pta
Something Wild
imo easily Demme's masterpiece and I know how much PTA stans him, that's a perfect vibe for him to tap into. disappointed about title ngl lol but rly looking forward to this
Jan 25Sounds insane
Most anticipated movie of the year
Jan 25Still doesn’t feel like a real title
OBAA kinda slaps as an acronym tho
Jan 25·1 replyNeed to read Vineland after Gravity’s Rainbow, IN.
Jan 25·3 repliesanother reaction compared it to Repo Man
Jan 25·1 reply
- Jan 25sace
- Jan 25
While on-set reports revealed a small portion of the tentpole-level spectacle on display, an entirely new arena for PTA, the film itself has even more than expected, with “loads of action and car chase.” Our source says “it’s quite batshit crazy,” and don’t expect anything like PTA’s last Pynchon adaptation, Inherent Vice. “It could definitely appeal to a lot of people, starting with Leo and the scale that is present,” they note. Jonny Greenwood’s score also felt complete, one they call “chilling, but very big with techno elements.”
In terms of references, the film’s mix of thrills, humor, and “very moving” emotion recalls Jonathan Demme’s 1986 screwball comedy road movie gem Something Wild as well as Alex Cox’s 1984 sci-fi black comedy Repo Man. Our source confirmed the film does feature sci-fi elements and expertly handles weaving together its multiple tones with a feeling that “you just live in” the movie.
- Jan 25
Sci fi elements?
Jan 25·1 replyAugustanother reaction compared it to Repo Man
Plate of shrimp
Jan 25Augustanother reaction compared it to Repo Man
Jan 25in
Jan 25Oh yikes
NeonNigga23 ♻️Jan 25yep
- Jan 25
always in for Leo
- Jan 25Number
Plate of shrimp
stolen sushi
Jan 25Licorice Pizza was incredible
- Jan 25August
another reaction compared it to Repo Man
What the hell
- Jan 25·2 replies
Have to watch Magnolia finally
- Jan 25wolny
Have to watch Magnolia finally
Rip
Jan 25In again
- Jan 25wolny
Have to watch Magnolia finally
Hurry up
- Jan 25·1 reply
1. There will be Blood
2. Magnolia
3. Boogie Nights
4. Punch drunk love
5. Phantom thread
6. The master
7. Inherent Vice
8. Hard eight
9. Licorice Pizza - Jan 25·1 replyOscar Winner
1. There will be Blood
2. Magnolia
3. Boogie Nights
4. Punch drunk love
5. Phantom thread
6. The master
7. Inherent Vice
8. Hard eight
9. Licorice PizzaRight on the money with first and last placements