Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) has delivered a film of staggering ambition and emotional depth with "Battle by Battle." Without hyperbole, this sprawling American saga is poised to be one of the most compelling cinematic achievements of the year.
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The film centers on Bob Ferguson, a retired revolutionary who has traded civil protest and the fight for freedom for a quiet life of alcohol and self-medication with his daughter. But when a ghost from his past—the infernal Colonel Steven Lockjaw - comes smashing through his door, Bob is forced to shake off his stupor, recall his revolutionary training, and fight to save his child.
A Masterpiece of Controlled Chaos
"Battle by Battle" manages to be many things at once:
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A political statement without being explicitly political;
- A timeless portrait of a defining American era;
- An action-comedy about a deadbeat father and his prematurely adult daughter;
- A chilling thriller about civil resistance and the creeping rise of a police state;
- And, fundamentally, a story about how, as the years pass, little in the world changes - it only gets worse.
Outwardly, it seems impossible to contain such a dense tapestry of genres and themes within a single feature film without turning it into an eight-hour miniseries. Yet, despite its rich content, all 162 minutes of "Battle by Battle" feel alive, profoundly emotional, and never overburdened.
The script never stumbles; its structure is so tight and expertly paced that this genuinely large-scale film feels like a crisp hour and a half - a testament to PTA’s powerful command over screenwriting.
The IMAX Imperative
Was this a film that needed to be seen in IMAX? The answer is an unequivocal YES. Only in IMAX can a simple car chase be rendered terrifying purely by the unevenness of the road; only in IMAX does the jaw of Sean Penn's character feel like it's jutting into your own forehead; and only in IMAX does Benicio del Toro's character have the right to declare, "Freedom is living without fear. Just like Tom, Motherf*cking, Cruise."
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Tour-de-Force Performances
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The film features some of the best performances of the year: Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of his finest turns, brilliantly portraying the hapless, slacker dad; Benicio del Toro is incredibly hilarious (and already legendary for his lines); and the equally funny and frightening Sean Penn rounds out the veterans.
The real standout, however, is Chase Infinity, who, in the role of the daughter, is instantly recognizable as a future superstar.
The film's emotional core, however, is the parental bond. If childless viewers are weeping by the finale, one can only imagine the impact this film will have on parents, especially fathers of daughters. Part of the film’s message is destined to remain elusive until one becomes a parent, but the weight of this aspect of PTA’s script is immediately clear.
There is perhaps nothing scarier than raising children today - and yet, nothing more important. The film leaves the viewer with a sense of duty: if we couldn't win the battle, it is our obligation to ensure they have the chance to win theirs.
Now playing in theaters.
