Happy “One Battle After Another” week! A brand-new Paul Thomas Anderson film is finally hitting theaters, and I’ll have plenty more to say about it in the days ahead.
Already, ‘One Battle’ stands as the best-reviewed American film of the year—by a wide margin. Oscar buzz is sky-high, and some of the biggest names in cinema have lined up in support, from Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan to Rian Johnson, Benny Safdie, and now Martin Scorsese.
Just last night, Scorsese moderated a Q&A with Anderson at the DGA, where the film received a raucous standing ovation. He opened the conversation with high praise
A fascinating and extraordinarily made film [with] extraordinary performances everywhere.
Scorsese also addressed the film’s “thematic points,” calling them “on spot right now,” and, like many others, highlighted how urgently it addresses political and ideological polarization.
It’s nice to see Scorsese step out of his A24 comfort zone and champion a film not made by that studio. On a serious note, last night’s Q&A—along with his recent chat with Spielberg—clearly seems aimed at boosting PTA’s Oscar chances. Believe it or not, despite six nominations, he’s still never won.
Loosely adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, “One Battle After Another” follows Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary who must rescue his teenage daughter when a long-buried enemy resurfaces. The star-studded ensemble also features Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and breakout newcomer Chase Infiniti.
According to Deadline, Anderson’s $150M gamble is projected to open around $20M. The question is: will the tidal wave of glowing reactions out of early screenings give the film a boost? Here’s hoping. After all, it’s a rare moment when a filmmaker as daring as PTA gets this kind of backing from a major studio.