One Battle After Another (2025)
AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX
Rated 15
There is always going to be a lot of hype surrounding a movie when Leonardo DiCaprio is the Leading man - so I am absolutely not surprised that there has been a lot of hype about this movie. It’s a pretty big budget movie at a reported $130m.
I’m am potentially going to be somewhat controversial by saying that I think this will split the audience 50/50. In the eyes of some, this is proper, cinematic storytelling with a plot absolutely bursting at the seams with intertwining side stories - which some critics pick apart to complain at a lack of character backstories. The acting is top notch throughout and it is a fully immersive movie experience, that deserves for you to put your phone away and watch.
It’s dark and gritty, yet sometimes darkly comedic and relentless. Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio play their characters so well - and the rest of the cast do not let anyone down. It’s maniacal and fast moving but at the same time - the movie is over 2 hours long and sometimes feels slow…another thing that some critics pick at (the inconsistent pace).
It’s essentially a story of a group who see themselves as “The Resistance”. It feels like it set 20 or 30 years ago but also feels current - with a familiar feeling political theme with ongoing real-world events and they are fighting for what they feel is right and just. There are overlapping love stories to add to the dark and gritty theme and it’s essentially a cat and mouse movie.
I thoroughly enjoyed the cinematic experience and would score it higher than I’m going to - but I won’t because I don’t want my score to ill advise you to part with hard-earned cash to watch it... So for me - it was at least a 7.8/10 - but and its a big but - it’s not going to appeal to everyone.
If you did NOT like ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ or ‘Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood’ or maybe even ‘Django Unchained’ - I don’t think you’ll like this much and you’ll score it in the 5/10 or 6/10 range. Don’t go in expecting a Wolf of Wall Street, Inception, Blood Diamond, Catch Me If You Can type movie…..it’s a totally different experience. I’d be keen to know what you think of this one - please comment below if you’ve seen it and what you thought.
