Take 36: One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another is the story of Bob (Leonard DiCaprio), a former revolutionary raising his daughter, Willa (off-the- grid, as far removed from his former life as possible. He is dragged back into a lifestyle he’d just as soon forget when, after 16 years, an old nemesis, Lockjaw (Sean Penn) resurfaces to dole out the justice Bob and the surviving members of his group have managed to elude. This turns into the ultimate game of cat and mouse between Bob and Willa and the relentless Lockjaw where secrets are revealed, loyalties are tested, and action ensues.

Whoa boy, there is a A LOT going on here. This film is about good and evil, father/daugher relationships, violence and power, obsession, inalienable rights and the the fight against justice. Oh, and it’s a love story too. The tone also flucatuates over the span of the one hundred and sixty-two minute runtime. Fortunately, the pacing is such that it doesn’t really feel quite like the 2 hours and 40+ minutes it take to get from start to finish. Where we start is definitely not the same place we end and for the most part, the journey is a fun one.

The peformances are pretty dang good. The movie opens up a lot of Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills, the leader of the resistance . To be honest, I have not seen her in a few things here and there but never felt like I had a really strong impression of her talent and what she’s capable of. The best way to sum it up is to say the woman has swag! She hasn’t done much action, but that’ll probably change after this. She has a commanding presence for sure. When she is on-screen, she IS the event.

There are plenty of great performances but my other standoutnt was definitely Sean Penn. I probably sat there a good 20-25 minutes before I even realized it was him! My first thought was “Man, he's OLD.” Of course part of that is the character- there is a 16 year tome jump. But he also became this guy, down to this distinct walk. He was dastardly and frighteningly convincing. Soooo good!

There was a lot to like here. The story was good. The material is frighteningly timely. The first half-hour or so is Hella intense. My issue is comes a little later as we find Bob 16 years later. He’s a bit of a goof. We are reminded that he wasn't really about this life. However to illustrate just how out of place he is, it verges on slightly silly, especially in light of how it starts. It’s almost Tarrintino-esq but at times, but not quiet as nuanced. The story is compelling enough as to never completely lose me, but there are are moments of almost.

But overall, good stuff. Could have used more Regina Hall. Love Tony Goldwyn but Fitz he absolutely is not on this movie so was interesting to see him play a different take on what could have been a similar character. Chase Infiniti- really liked her as Willa. And how can I forget Benicio Del Toro as Sensai Sergio St. Carlos. I could easily watch an entire movie of his character. I guess that is my main gripe with the movie. There is a lot of good and there are multiple voices here. I just wish some of those could have been fleshed out a little more and that they could have communicated a little better with each other because is WAS a little all over the place.

My score: 8.2

Agree or disagree? Let’s take that battle to the comments. And until next time…