[Review] One Battle After Another: Revolution (IMAX 70mm Version)

The film One Battle After Another is directed by one of America's most respected contemporary filmmakers and features Hollywood's biggest stars. Its themes—centering on America's most volatile current issues of race, immigration, and the extreme political spectrum—undoubtedly make it a unique film that captures the essence of this era.

The film's plot is, quite literally, "one battle after another." The first part revolves around the actions of a group of far-left revolutionaries. Their missions involve infiltrating detention camps to free undocumented immigrants, and launching subsequent attacks on government buildings, banks, and other targets, leading to successive confrontations with law enforcement and the military. From the opening frame, Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) is solely focused on the revolution. She is a dedicated revolutionary whose life is the movement, unrestrained by law or traditional family values. Even after becoming pregnant and a mother, her mind remains fixed on the cause, throwing herself into one struggle after another until she can no longer fight.

Perfidia's partner, Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), is fundamentally different. He was once also devoted to the revolution, but his life as a revolutionary seemed to end when he became a father. His priority shifted to protecting his daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti). For over a decade, Bob went underground, raising Willa single-handedly and keeping her safe from capture. He spends his days at home smoking marijuana and rewatching old movies, seemingly nostalgic for his revolutionary past. However, his quiet life is shattered when his enemy, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), finally tracks them down, forcing Bob back into the fight. He used to fight for an ideal; now, he fights to protect his daughter.

Bob is a retired far-left operative, while his nemesis, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, is a far-right extremist. Over ten years ago, during the mission seen at the film's beginning, Perfidia met Lockjaw and was forced into a secret sexual relationship. For Lockjaw, this relationship was full of passion, taboo, and the subversion of traditional gender stereotypes, and it also helped advance his career. He was promoted to Colonel and invited to join the far-right white supremacist group, the Christmas Adventurers Club. To gain entry into the Club, Lockjaw not only concealed his past relationship with Perfidia but is now ruthlessly hunting down her daughter, Willa—who is also his own biological child. As he commands the military in city and campus pursuits, he clashes violently with left-wing activists and immigrants. The scenes of street demonstrations by the left, military and police chasing people through cities, blaring sirens, flashing police lights, and the firelight during conflicts are not only scenes from the film but mirror the reality frequently seen in major American cities over the past few months. The movie uses a fictional narrative to present the strikingly real social landscape of the United States.

The film explores the vastly different circumstances of the left and the right through the experiences of Bob and Lockjaw. While fleeing Lockjaw, Bob seeks help from Willa's Taekwondo teacher, Sergio St. Carlos (Benicio del Toro). Sergio is a leader in the immigrant community, and while helping Bob, he also assists other immigrants in evading military capture. In the film, immigrants lack independent dwellings, hiding in the back of shops and apartments with only meager blankets for warmth, forced to flee through narrow, dark tunnels. In stark contrast, the meeting rooms of the white supremacist "Christmas Adventurers Club" are buried beneath luxurious houses, featuring expansive tunnels and festive Christmas decorations. The film's soundtrack during these scenes plays traditional Christmas and religious songs, ironically echoing the Club's name while creating a sacred atmosphere—a sharp contrast to the terrible plans being discussed and plotted in secret. In the film, immigrant families are merely trying to survive in America, but what is the motive of the "Christmas Adventurers Club"? Bob fights the military and flees to save Willa, who is not even his biological daughter, embodying profound familial love and fatherhood. Lockjaw, knowing Willa is his daughter, pursues her relentlessly—what does this reflect?

The highway chase sequence in the film's final act is outstanding, skillfully using the undulating terrain of California roads to reflect Willa's emotional turmoil during her escape. Moments after narrowly escaping death, she finds herself pursued again, facing a perilous and uncertain future. For the audience, watching this scene offers a different perspective: Willa only knows she's being followed but doesn't know by whom, nor what awaits beyond the next hill—salvation or more enemies? But the audience knows the pursuer is a cold-blooded killer, while her father, Bob, is nearby, racing to the rescue. The suspense lies in whether he will crest that hill in time. This heart-stopping chase is both simple and full of surprises, making it one of the most memorable sequences of its kind in recent years. After this climactic moment, Bob’s fight concludes, and he has no intention of joining another. His daughter, Willa, has grown up, signaling that the next revolution belongs to the younger generation. Lockjaw’s eventual fate is equally surprising and ironic.

Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Bob successfully conveys the toll of time and his sense of confusion, all while maintaining a strong dose of dry humor. Even more striking are the supporting performances by Sean Penn and Chase Infiniti. Penn fully commits to the military role; every expression, gesture, and stride exudes the character's fierce presence, showcasing his strength and resolve. Infiniti, in her debut leading role, is just as compelling as the veteran actors, particularly in the later scenes where she conveys the trauma, vulnerability, and sensitivity of her character—a truly heartbreaking performance. Benicio del Toro's character has limited screen time, but even while navigating chaos and military pursuit, he exudes a sense of extreme calm, perfectly fitting his "Sensei" persona.

Jonny Greenwood's score is a crucial element of the film. From the very first scene, his piano compositions tug at the audience's emotions and reflect the characters' complex inner lives. The simple piano melody accompanying the shot of Perfidia walking near the detention center, coupled with Teyana Taylor’s determined gaze, gradually swells to an intense crescendo, announcing that a revolution is imminent. The soundtrack feels almost continuous in the background, particularly in the middle section where Bob searches for his daughter, brilliantly underscoring the turmoil in his mind and the chaos in the real world. The film’s songs are also used effectively, especially during scenes that span decades. The music of Dirty Work accompanying the grown-up Willa truly conveys the passage of time, the inevitability of life, and an optimistic anticipation for a new day and a new character.

Trailer:

Synopsis:

Washed-up revolutionary Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti).  When his evil nemesis (Sean Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.

Photo and Source: Warner Bros. Pictures