One Battle After Another

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dajo9
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5:20a, 10/4/25
Non Spoiler Post

A new movie came out recently with exceptionally high reviews called One Battle After Another. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.

After reading some reviews I decided to go see it in the theater as I try to reward what I think of as exceptional efforts by paying a little more. I go to the theater once every couple of years and this movie was completely worth it. After seeing the movie I had to go to wikipedia to read about it's production because it does some portrayals of 2025 imagery that is shocking for something that was completely filmed in 2024. It's like they were able to see the future even if for only 1 year of big change.

DiCaprio and Penn (and the other actors I don't know probably because I'm a middle aged white guy and they aren't) are phenomenal. Especially DiCaprio who I have to imagine is looking at another Academy Award. A comical character in a movie of high stakes drama - Like a Gen X Big Lebowski (yes, he says in the movie that he was born in the 1980's but we all knew who he is and who he represents).

The portrayal of politics is on-point in terms of the feel, even if completely fictional. The far left is imagined to have an organized, violent resistance movement from 16 years ago that remains somewhat organized, even if driven underground. It is essentially what the right imagines the left to be. And this resistance movement of white and black leftists is completely dysfunctional and misguided - modeled more after the real violent leftist movements from circa 1970. Their dysfunction is a point of comedy in the movie. The left audience laughing at itself.

The powerful right of the government / billionaire class / law enforcement is portrayed as the moral bad guys and Sean Penn gradually shifts his villain character from scary to comical. Just amazingly well done. It is essentially what the left imagines the right to be. The only group that appears functional AND likeable are the Hispanics. The movie shows how the left is divided between different groups that barely know each other just as in real life. A core part of the reason why it is hard for us to get united.

A great movie that is a great ride and I highly recommend it.
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bearister
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In reply to dajo9 • 7:12a, 10/4/25
Great review. Definitely checking it out.

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Anarchistbear
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8:06a, 10/4/25
Based on the 1990 Pynchon novel Vineland.
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okaydo
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In reply to dajo9 • 9:28a, 10/4/25
dajo9 said:
Non Spoiler Post

A new movie came out recently with exceptionally high reviews called One Battle After Another. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.

After reading some reviews I decided to go see it in the theater as I try to reward what I think of as exceptional efforts by paying a little more. I go to the theater once every couple of years and this movie was completely worth it. After seeing the movie I had to go to wikipedia to read about it's production because it does some portrayals of 2025 imagery that is shocking for something that was completely filmed in 2024. It's like they were able to see the future even if for only 1 year of big change.

DiCaprio and Penn (and the other actors I don't know probably because I'm a middle aged white guy and they aren't) are phenomenal. Especially DiCaprio who I have to imagine is looking at another Academy Award. A comical character in a movie of high stakes drama - Like a Gen X Big Lebowski (yes, he says in the movie that he was born in the 1980's but we all knew who he is and who he represents).

The portrayal of politics is on-point in terms of the feel, even if completely fictional. The far left is imagined to have an organized, violent resistance movement from 16 years ago that remains somewhat organized, even if driven underground. It is essentially what the right imagines the left to be. And this resistance movement of white and black leftists is completely dysfunctional and misguided - modeled more after the real violent leftist movements from circa 1970. Their dysfunction is a point of comedy in the movie. The left audience laughing at itself.

The powerful right of the government / billionaire class / law enforcement is portrayed as the moral bad guys and Sean Penn gradually shifts his villain character from scary to comical. Just amazingly well done. It is essentially what the left imagines the right to be. The only group that appears functional AND likeable are the Hispanics. The movie shows how the left is divided between different groups that barely know each other just as in real life. A core part of the reason why it is hard for us to get united.

A great movie that is a great ride and I highly recommend it.


Let's see how familiar I am with these names as a person who knows pop culture for a living:

--Benicio Del Toro has been famous since the 90s as a movie star.

--Regina Hall is from the Scary Movie franchise.

--Tony Goldwyn played the president of the United States on the hit show Scandal. He had an affair with Kerry. Washington's character.

--Alana Haim is in the band Haim. She starred in PTA's previous movie Licorice Pizza.

--Wood Harris was the big boss drug dealer on The Wire.

--Jim Downey is an iconic comedy writer. He was head writer for Late Night with David Letterman in the 80s and he was the writer for SNL for many years, primarily for its political stuff, primarily for Norm Macdonald.







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bearister
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In reply to okaydo • 11:05a, 10/4/25
Tony Goldwyn
The villain in Ghost when young:


…..and nailed Jean Smart in Hacks when old:


Alana Haim (she is banging on the single drum) and her sisters kill it on this Fleetwood Mac cover:

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dajo9
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11:09a, 10/4/25
Only name I know is Benicio del Toro and though he did a great job, his role was rather small.
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wifeisafurd
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12:00p, 10/4/25
It is not going to be a hit, which is a shame, because it is well done, action packed movie, and despite violence, is a fun watch. And very funny at times, and Sean Penn sorta steals the movie (can see an Oscar), and very good music. I recommend it.

This is not the perfect movie. Some of it is a little to much stereotypes. The ubiquitous underground cabal of powerful white men who marvel at racial purity and turn truth into mythology feels very tired. I expected a motorcycle gang somewhere and some more cinematic cliches. Then there is the movie's perceived cluelessness of the left and trying to excuse their use of violence and becomes propagandist and preachy, with a liberal wet dream of situations and stereotypes one expects from Hollywood. I'm sure it will win lot's of awards that nobody cares about any more.

The movie might have attracted a larger audience and been more influential had it not worn its political biases on its sleeve. For many viewers it comes down to whether you can appreciate or even are willing to see a movie that goes against your own politics. As noted in the article below, the major audience is not coming, and the movie is losing major coin, thus making future political movies less likely not to be green lighted.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1982009/one-battle-after-another-box-office-flop-reasons/%23:~:text%3D%2522One%2520Battle%2520After%2520Another%2522%2520added,uphill%2520battle%2520to%2520become%2520profitable.&ved=2ahUKEwiI6ZDMiouQAxUHPEQIHZWCILUQjPcPegQICBAC&opi=89978449&cd&psig=AOvVaw2OmgmpGNd58-x1L59CfFJI&ust=1759685805577000in
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Eastern Oregon Bear
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6:08p, 10/4/25
Wow, I hadn't seen Kevin Tighe listed in an acting role since Emergency! was cancelled in the 1970s.
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smh
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6:32p, 10/4/25
thanks for the OBAA recommend, one of several hundred worthy features on my decades old (arguably out of control) imdb "wait for it on cable / library" list. so, might happen, just might, or else the other thing.
# gob-ears
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bearister
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In reply to wifeisafurd • 6:39p, 10/4/25
"The movie might have attracted a larger audience and been more influential had it .."…….been a Super Hero movie.

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okaydo
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9:25a, 10/5/25
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wifeisafurd
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In reply to okaydo • 9:40a, 10/5/25
okaydo said:

Nice spin attempt.

From Apple AI:

Despite strong critical reviews and an Oscar contender status, Paul Thomas Anderson's film One Battle After Another is considered a box office flop due to its massive production and marketing budget, which far outweighed its modest opening and projected final gross. The film's financial performance, while the top-grossing film for the opening weekend, was disappointing for its high costs and was unable to become profitable, making it a significant financial disappointment

Anderson has IMO done some good stuff, but really has never been commeraliy successful. That may be a good thing. Most of my favorite movies were not great at the box office; for example, the Big Lebowski was a big flop, that turned into a cult classic. I could see this film going town that path. It really is worth a watch.
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okaydo
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10:32a, 10/5/25
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okaydo
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In reply to okaydo • 12:45p
okaydo said:
dajo9 said:
Non Spoiler Post

A new movie came out recently with exceptionally high reviews called One Battle After Another. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.

After reading some reviews I decided to go see it in the theater as I try to reward what I think of as exceptional efforts by paying a little more. I go to the theater once every couple of years and this movie was completely worth it. After seeing the movie I had to go to wikipedia to read about it's production because it does some portrayals of 2025 imagery that is shocking for something that was completely filmed in 2024. It's like they were able to see the future even if for only 1 year of big change.

DiCaprio and Penn (and the other actors I don't know probably because I'm a middle aged white guy and they aren't) are phenomenal. Especially DiCaprio who I have to imagine is looking at another Academy Award. A comical character in a movie of high stakes drama - Like a Gen X Big Lebowski (yes, he says in the movie that he was born in the 1980's but we all knew who he is and who he represents).

The portrayal of politics is on-point in terms of the feel, even if completely fictional. The far left is imagined to have an organized, violent resistance movement from 16 years ago that remains somewhat organized, even if driven underground. It is essentially what the right imagines the left to be. And this resistance movement of white and black leftists is completely dysfunctional and misguided - modeled more after the real violent leftist movements from circa 1970. Their dysfunction is a point of comedy in the movie. The left audience laughing at itself.

The powerful right of the government / billionaire class / law enforcement is portrayed as the moral bad guys and Sean Penn gradually shifts his villain character from scary to comical. Just amazingly well done. It is essentially what the left imagines the right to be. The only group that appears functional AND likeable are the Hispanics. The movie shows how the left is divided between different groups that barely know each other just as in real life. A core part of the reason why it is hard for us to get united.

A great movie that is a great ride and I highly recommend it.


Let's see how familiar I am with these names as a person who knows pop culture for a living:

--Benicio Del Toro has been famous since the 90s as a movie star.

--Regina Hall is from the Scary Movie franchise.

--Tony Goldwyn played the president of the United States on the hit show Scandal. He had an affair with Kerry. Washington's character.

--Alana Haim is in the band Haim. She starred in PTA's previous movie Licorice Pizza.

--Wood Harris was the big boss drug dealer on The Wire.

--Jim Downey is an iconic comedy writer. He was head writer for Late Night with David Letterman in the 80s and he was the writer for SNL for many years, primarily for its political stuff, primarily for Norm Macdonald.








I just learned they made a documentary about Jim Downey.


They just released a trailer.


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bearister
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In reply to dajo9 • 12:57p
dajo9 said:
Only name I know is Benicio del Toro and though he did a great job, his role was rather small.





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