Leonardo DiCaprio’s “riveting” new action-thriller crowned a “masterpiece” in rave first reactions

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The brand-new movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, titled “One Battle After Another“, has been met with overwhelming praise following its initial showing.

In the film, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary who reconnects with his past comrades of rebellion to save his own daughter.

The thrilling movie, as helmed by Paul Thomas Anderson, draws its inspiration from the 1990 novel “Vineland” penned by Thomas Pynchon.

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On Monday, the 8th of September, the movie held its Los Angeles debut. Later that day, director Wes Anderson participated in a question-and-answer session at the Director’s Guild of America theatre, which was moderated by the renowned Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg himself led the praise for the film, calling it “an insane movie.”

According to the director (as stated on Film Stage), the initial hour of this movie contains more action than all the other films he’s ever directed combined. It’s truly remarkable, everything about it.

Initially, numerous reviewers expressed their thoughts on the movie, generally speaking, it was met with wide acclaim. Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting was particularly appreciated, and his performance alongside Sean Penn also received high praise.

Movie reviewer Brett Arnold on X expressed that he continuously chuckled, making it one of Anderson’s funniest films; by the end, he was emotionally stirred to tears. Sean Penn is expected to receive an Oscar for his remarkable performance. As for the action sequences, they’ve left a lasting impression on me, especially the car chase and the ingenious camera work.

According to Variety’s Jazz Tangcay, the film was described as “extraordinary” with an abundance of “outstanding performances”. This implies that the movie showed great promise as a strong candidate for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

In simpler terms, Kyle Buchanan from the New York Times suggested that the movie in question could potentially be a strong contender for multiple Oscars, possibly even earning director Wes Anderson a prestigious award he hasn’t won before.

Chris Evangelista from Slash Film posted: “One Battle After Another, directed by PTA, provides a bleakly humorous portrayal of contemporary America in turmoil. This film features exhilarating car chases, deafening gunfights, and absurd elements, all captured in the stunning VistaVision format. The visuals are striking yet disconcertingly familiar – making it one of the top films of the year!

In her writing for Variety, Jenelle Riley acknowledges that she may not be entirely impartial. However, she enthusiastically asserts that “One Battle After Another” is an exceptional masterpiece, so much so that it has earned the M-word (Masterpiece). She can’t recall a time when her most eagerly awaited film of the year turned out to be the finest.

Critic Courtney Howard praises: “An engrossing performance balancing absurdity, satire, and tension. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers powerfully. Teyana Taylor shines brightly. Chase Infiniti is a surprising gem, stealing the limelight. Jonny Greenwood’s score is truly unique.

David Ehrlich of IndieWire remarked, “One Battle After Another” could very well be the top movie from a major U.S. studio that I’ve reviewed as a critic, starting around 2010. It’s rather disheartening how few other films stand out in comparison!

One Battle After Another will be released in cinemas on 26 September.

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2025-09-09 22:50