REVIEW: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

4/5

Battle Born

162 Mins. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor & Chase Infiniti. Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson. In: Theatres.

Rise and shine. Bat an eyelash. Good morning. There are no hands on the clock. Why? Because they're not needed. What time is it? Leonardo DiCaprio, decked out in a beanie and a bathrobe that would make Jeff Bridges' The Dude from 'The Big Lebowski' proud, rushes through a supermarket and takes some hangover sunglasses from the rack, similar to Danielle Haim in the music video for Haim's hit 'Now I'm In It' off their classic 'Women In Music Pt. III'. It might be a supermarket in The Valley. As a matter of fact, it could even be the same store. This is Paul Thomas Anderson ('Boogie Nights', 'Magnolia', 'Punch-Drunk Love'), after all. The 'There Will Be Blood', 'The Master' and 'Phantom Thread' director who directs most of his family friend Haim's music videos ('Summer Girl', 'Valentine', 'Lost Track'), to go along with shooting the band's last album cover, this year's summer smash, 'I Quit', like 'WIMPIII'. The breakout star of PTA's last movie, 'Licorice Pizza', Alana Haim, is also here in a cool Cher cameo alongside the valuable veteran likes of 'The Wire's' Wood Harris. But this new movie, 'One Battle After Another', is all about another newcomer making her mark.

Adapted from another Thomas Pynchon novel ('Vineland'), like 'Inherent Vice', the tenth film from Paul Thomas (his directorial debut was 1996's 'Hard Eight'), tells the story of an ex-revolutionary (DiCaprio) trying to rescue his daughter from a corrupt military man (played with Brad Pitt in 'War Machine' ridiculous walk and perfection by Sean Penn). That's why we're all speaking in code to voices on the phone (including the great Jena Malone) that sound like a halfway house between Henry Czerny in 'Mission: Impossible' and the voice in 'Blade Runner 2049' that told Ryan Gosling he was nowhere near his baseline. Leo, the 'Catch Me If You Can', 'The Aviator' and 'The Revenant' actor, who starred in Scorsese's 'Killers Of The Flower Moon' last, and will star in Marty's 'What Happens At Night' next, is at his best in years. Especially when his high off of drink, drugs and 'The Battle Of Algiers' reruns character angrily gets on the phone. Channelling two of my favourites ('Midnight Run' and 'Dog Day Afternoon'), a crazy coincidence, like the fact that he recently revealed that 'The Aviator' was one of his favourite performances, Leonardo has worked with all the greats. Martin Scorsese ('The Wolf Of Wall Street'), Christopher Nolan ('Inception'), Quentin Tarantino ('Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood). It was only a matter of time until he worked with PTA.

Yet this epic ensemble of a neo western, that shares strands of DNA with 'No Country For Old Men' features standout performances across the all-star board. Making it one of the best movies of the year, like Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan's (the new Scorsese and DiCaprio) 'Sinners', for its sins. Not to mention, Anderson's highest grossing film. If it's not one person, it's another. Penn is perfect, with an inhuman dog of a name, fresh off his inspired indie turn in the heartbreaking 'Asphalt City', and of course, his slice of 'Pizza', reuniting with Paul. His face, its own Nick Nolte character of epic expression, as he goes deeper into character. Yet it's Benicio del Toro's saviour sensei, with Christopher Reeve's 'Superman' on the wall of his dojo, that really ramps this movie up a notch as the carpet rolls out. Saving the day, with courage, like Tom "f###ing" Cruise, in a safe house and getaway car, as he dances to his traffic stop and gives us freedom quotes from the great Nina Simone. We've already said what a joy it is to have him in a Paul Thomas Anderson movie and a Wes Anderson one (taking the lead in 'The Phoenician Scheme') in the same summer, but this might be one of 'The Usual Suspects', 'Traffic' and 'Sicario' stars best. To the tune of Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood's super score.

That's merely the men, what about the women in this movie, like Alana Haim's part two with Paul? The x-factor of all of this may just be the cool and calm, calculated measures of Regina Hall. The 'Love & Basketball', 'Paid In Full' and 'The Hate U Give' actress has always been renowned, but this is where she takes the next level like contemporary, and fellow first namesake queen, Regina King. Yet it's a terrific Teyana Taylor who steals the show as a catalyst in the lightning first act, like Ryan Gosling in 'The Place Beyond The Pines'. All before the singer, dancer, model and 'Coming 2 America', 'White Men Can't Jump' and 'The Book Of Clarence' actress furthers her star in 'The Rip' on Netflix with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon next year. Unleashing shell casings like Scarface, she's absolute dynamite here, though. Even next to the likes of Leo. It's not just her that makes this movie, defined by DiCaprio, her own, mind you. Playing the 'Pines', Dane DeHaan role, Chase Infiniti ('Presumed Innocent') chases infinity with this cinematic canon. Especially in the final frames that picture her as the next leading light. From Tyler, The Creator videos ('Darling, I'), to leads in 'The Testaments', this actress, named after Nicole Kidman's 'Batman Forever' character and a Buzz Lightyear line, was always meant to go beyond. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'No Country For Old Men', 'Midnight Run', 'Licorice Pizza'.