I entered with sky-high expectations given Anderson’s pedigree and this A-list cast. Instead, a half-decent one-time watch squanders potential through excess.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambition overwhelms execution here. At 161 minutes, One Battle After Another desperately needed ruthless editing… like the password argument and mountain chase sequences cry out for cuts. This isn’t deliberate pacing; it’s self-indulgent bloat testing patience.
Uneven pacing stems from poor editing choices. The first half drags through political lecturing and aimless tangents before finding momentum too late.
Acting is thoroughly average – DiCaprio commits without transcending material, Penn chews scenery, supporting cast delivers professional work without distinction.
Most frustratingly, what’s the genre? Action thriller? Political satire? Family drama? Dark comedy? It’s all over the place, sacrificing cohesion for ambition. What’s the purpose beyond vague “fascism bad” messaging everyone already agrees with? Who’s the target audience?
Just about watchable until the end, nothing more.
