One Battle After Another (15) |Close-Up Film Review

One Battle After Another throws you into a world where the past refuses to stay buried.

Sixteen years after a brutal uprising, former revolutionary Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) is lying low under a new name, trying to give his teenage daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) a peaceful life without drama. Unfortunately when the vengeful Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn) resurfaces, Bob is forced to track down his old crew and his missing daughter, igniting a high-stakes mission packed with danger. The kind of explosive confrontations that will test loyalty, family, and the price of fighting for what you believe in.

From the opening right through to the final scene, this film had me hooked. I felt I was cemented to my seat and hypnotised. This movie has absolutely everything –  sharp humour, relentless action, and an intriguing storyline.

Leonardo DiCaprio delivers another fabulous performance, but it is Sean Penn who commands every moment he appears on screen. The rest of the cast are equally sensational in bringing their A-Game, especially Teyana Taylor in the first quarter of the film whose powerhouse presence really stands out. And how on earth can I forget the lovely Chase Infiniti?  She is absolutely a breakout star for the future.

Visually, the film is stunning, the score keeps the energy high and the emotions flowing throughout.  Everything pitch-perfect, especially during pulse-pounding tension scenes.

Unfortunately there is a downside –  it’s the length of the film.  There are certain long action scenes which are not really necessary, in that they feel slightly stretched, making the film feel a bit chaotic in parts. And although the ending is slightly unsatisfying,  the bold political statement in the film is something I can only admire and respect.

One Battle After Another feels like a major awards-season contender, and I’m already eager to watch it again when it is  officially released.   It absolutely lives up to the hype, it’s fierce, funny, and emotionally at the same time.

One Battle After Another is released on 26 September in the UK and US