“One Battle After Another” Trailer
Check out the trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson’s action thriller “One Battle After Another,” featuring performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor, and released by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film has garnered positive reviews for being timely, and it seems to be tapping into the current news cycle effectively.
Since its debut in the fall, Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller “One Battle After Another” has been a strong contender for this year’s Best Picture Oscar. If you happen to catch my review, you’ll notice I think it’s a film best suited for viewers who can keep their personal politics separate—it’s pretty left-leaning.
The plot revolves around a group of self-identified revolutionaries fleeing from a faction of white supremacist authoritarian figures. Right from the start, we see them freeing undocumented immigrants from detention, which is a bold choice. They also engage in blowing up courthouses and targeting anti-abortion legislators. It really raises the question: one person’s revolutionary might feel like another’s domestic terrorist.
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Putting that aside, “OBAA” is a well-crafted film. Even though it runs close to three hours, the pacing is tight. The acting, music, and editing, especially from Leonardo DiCaprio, are impressive. Personally, while I can’t declare it Best Picture based on a lackluster year overall for films, I’d likely vote for “Hamnet” if given the choice. Still, it’s clearly a contender for the award.
With the ongoing political strife in Minnesota, it seems the Best Picture winner might already be apparent.
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“OBAA” won a Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical, which feels a bit off, considering it’s neither. The film has since received 13 Oscar nominations, standing out only behind Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller “Sinners,” which broke the record with 16 nominations.
Recent Events: The Golden Globes saw several stars accept awards for “One Battle After Another,” among them Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.
Given the political climate, “OBAA” seems to be positioned favorably in the Best Picture race. Hollywood has a history of expressing its views candidly; just note the “Be Good” pins at the Golden Globes, paying tribute to Lenny Good, and the anti-ICE sentiment at the Grammys. It feels like “OBAA” will serve as a loud statement against Donald Trump and his administration, even if honestly, the film could have released regardless of who was in power.
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Moreover, there’s a good chance that many Academy voters feel it’s about time for Paul Thomas Anderson to win an Oscar. With 14 nominations under his belt and previous films like “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia,” and “There Will Be Blood” not capturing the prize, he’s due for a win much like Christopher Nolan was with “Oppenheimer” two years ago.
Considering both national and Academy politics, the momentum is undoubtedly behind “OBAA.”
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Will there be any surprises? Certainly, as “Sinners” has gained significant acclaim and could snag trophies in technical categories. Yet, like last year’s “Emilia Perez,” just having the most nominations doesn’t guarantee a Best Picture win. Academy voters might see Coogler, who has much more ahead of him, waiting for a future Oscar while they give this one to Anderson.
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As for “Hamnet,” it might be the dark horse in this race. Although “Sinners” won Best Drama at the Golden Globes, it came from a different voting group, primarily foreign critics. The Academy has been welcoming more international voices, perhaps opening the door for those films over the notably American-centered “OBAA” and “Sinners.” But, the fact that director Chloé Zhao won two Oscars recently could work against “Hamnet.”
Paul Thomas Anderson at the Golden Globe Awards: Nominated 14 times, still seeking that first Oscar win.
The key indicators for “OBAA” as a frontrunner moving forward will likely be how it performs in future guild awards like the Producers Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards, Writers Guild Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Many guild members overlap with Academy voters. If “OBAA” excels in these categories, it stands a strong chance at winning Best Picture. Given everything we’ve seen, “OBAA” is likely to emerge victorious, especially as the controversy surrounding ICE isn’t fading anytime soon.
