One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2025)

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

It's more the general feeling that this has been a weak year (and a weak time in general) so there's an almost bored resignation in coronating PTA in an "Eh, sure why not? Not like there's much else out there right now."

Bored resignation is a weird way to phrase what seems like uniquely unanimous praise in a way I rarely see from Hollywood movies.

[Zot!]

I suppose a top 10 list must be filled with films one hates the least if everything indeed sucks that year. I can do one better because I think I can count on one hand the 2025 films I've actually seen...and OBAA is the only one I saw in a theater. But then again this is a home video forum, I can afford to be ignorant of current goings on.

[okcmaxk]

But I continue to feel that something is off.

Maybe that's a YP: Your Problem.

[aox]

But I continue to feel that something is off.

Maybe that's a YP: Your Problem.

Okay, now you're talking above my head. I don't know all of this industry jargon, YP, MP.

[TheTreeSong]

Bored resignation is a weird way to phrase what seems like uniquely unanimous praise in a way I rarely see from Hollywood movies.

But why is it receiving this uniquely unanimous praise? That's what I'm wondering/questioning. Is it the "hopeful" "the kids are alright/will do better than us" ending (which I'd argue is actually quite cynical)?

[Matt]

I think you've missed your calling as a podcaster.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

Bored resignation is a weird way to phrase what seems like uniquely unanimous praise in a way I rarely see from Hollywood movies.

But why is it receiving this uniquely unanimous praise? That's what I'm wondering/questioning. Is it the "hopeful" "the kids are alright/will do better than us" ending (which I'd argue is actually quite cynical)?

Completely ignoring my comment with another odd question that’s meaningless. You’re either a troll or have a narrow perception of how humanity can engage with media.

[TheTreeSong]

Completely ignoring my comment with another odd question that’s meaningless. You’re either a troll or have a narrow perception of how humanity can engage with media.

No need to be this hostile. I'd say you're the one ignoring my comment. I'm genuinely trying to understand. Like you said, this is a kind of reception you rarely see and it does, there tend to be ulterior motives. There's also more fear than ever of going against the consensus with social media. But I guess a lot of you all put full trust into critics. I wish I could do the same.

The reception, somewhat ironically, reminds me of his ex Fiona Apple's last album which, again, contained some ulterior motives behind its unanimous praise IMO.

[knives]

Or maybe people just like it. Occam’s Razor and all that.

[The Narrator Returns]

Hell, there's also the less generous but equally common-sense "critics are prone to hyperbole when they love a movie". But I guess it's easier to believe David Ehrlich is the head of a shadowy cabal than that he's being ridiculous as usual. I knew the Christmas Adventurers had their hands in Fiona Apple getting a Pitchfork 10/10.

[TheTreeSong]

Hell, there's also the less generous but equally common-sense "critics are prone to hyperbole when they love a movie". But I guess it's easier to believe David Ehrlich is the head of a shadowy cabal than that he's being ridiculous as usual. I knew the Christmas Adventurers had their hands in Fiona Apple getting a Pitchfork 10/10.

If only it were that scandalous! No, I think one of the reasons for both receptions is, like I've said before, the supposed "timeliness" and the kind of #resistlib-ness that makes a lot of critics pat themselves on the back for praising it. In Apple's case, a lot of the reviews (including the Pitchfork one if I recall) focused on and reviewed her overall as an artist moreso than the actual album at hand despite her having always been a critics' pet. WIth OBAA, maybe it's partially excitement/relief that PTA (who also has always been a critics' pet) finally stepped out of period pieces? Or, as cynical as it may sound, that he made something finally containing some POC (or in Apple's case, now making songs that are ostensibly about POC). Especially after the Licorice Pizza discourse.

[domino harvey]

This film is currently the most beloved film of the year, by almost twice as many votes as the next most liked film of the year, on the forum you are currently posting on. Think about that, and I mean actually think about that. A lot of people like this film. You don’t. There is not much more to it than that. You sound frankly internet poisoned. Maybe Reddit is a better home for you

[Brian C]

If only it were that scandalous! No, I think one of the reasons for both receptions is, like I've said before, the supposed "timeliness" and the kind of #resistlib-ness that makes a lot of critics pat themselves on the back for praising it. In Apple's case, a lot of the reviews (including the Pitchfork one if I recall) focused on and reviewed her overall as an artist moreso than the actual album at hand despite her having always been a critics' pet. WIth OBAA, maybe it's partially excitement/relief that PTA (who also has always been a critics' pet) finally stepped out of period pieces? Or, as cynical as it may sound, that he made something finally containing some POC (or in Apple's case, now making songs that are ostensibly about POC). Especially after the Licorice Pizza discourse.

I don't really have a dog in this hunt, so consider this friendly advice: take a minute to step outside yourself. Ask yourself some basic questions about the nature of your position here, such as:

1) What is the basis for your assumption of "ulterior motives?"
2) What makes the critical reception to OBAA "unique," meaning, what is different about it than other movies that have been widely acclaimed that makes it unique? After all, it doesn't happen every year that there's a critical juggernaut like this, but it's also not all THAT rare ... OBAA has a similar Metacritic rating to movies like The Social Network, The Hurt Locker, 12 Years a Slave, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Dunkirk, The Irishman, and so forth.
3) Can you give concrete examples of what you consider "bored resignation" to the OBAA's and others' acclaim from critics that ostensibly love the film? Meaning, what gives you the impression that this is happening, aside from your own dissatisfaction with these movies/Fiona Apple album and the feeling that if you didn't love it, other people must be faking their enthusiasm?
4) Does this phenomenon you describe of "ulterior motives" ever happen with movies or other artworks that you yourself passionately love, or does it coincidentally only happen with movies that you're not all that crazy about and/or are skeptical of what you see as the politics of those works?
5) When you say that you're "genuinely trying to understand," what is it exactly that you feel you're trying to understand?

I ask the last question because you give the impression of someone who is extremely quick to answer your own questions and have no interest in the answers someone else might offer. For example, you said: "I'm genuinely trying to understand. Like you said, this is a kind of reception you rarely see and it does [sic], there tend to be ulterior motives." Can you see how you said that you want to understand, and then in the very next sentence, immediately leapt to your own conclusion ("ulterior motives") in a way that closes off any further discussion and underlines your own lack of curiosity? Are you merely trying to understand why no one seems to see things your way?

[MichaelB]

I cried off this year’s Sight & Sound poll on the usual grounds of not having seen enough 2025 releases for me to be in any way authoritative, but I would definitely have included One Battle After Another, probably the most sheerly entertaining film I’ve seen all year (in particular, it made me laugh out loud—intentionally—more than any recent out-and-out comedy). And there wouldn’t have been even the merest scintilla of an “ulterior motive” at play.

Although in the event it didn’t need my help, as it topped their poll anyway.

Oh, and to echo therewillbeblus’ point, my wife, who’s nobody’s idea of a film buff and who duly hasn’t a clue who P.T. Anderson is, also loved it—it was one of our more successful film outings in recent memory.

[Mr Sausage]

I ask the last question because you give the impression of someone who is extremely quick to answer your own questions and have no interest in the answers someone else might offer.

I'm happy you called this out. There have been a couple other members who've done the same thing, retreat into wide-eyed 'I'm just really curious about this!' when pressed, yet their posts only pose rhetorical questions, and their minds otherwise seem made up. Reminds me of that crack about C. S. Lewis: he was a man far fonder of answers than questions.

[Zot!]

And guess what was in Film Comments top 10 for 2024 - Anora. That's right the American stripper movie that swept the Oscars. Critics are not immune to popular favorites.

[MichaelB]

I have very fond memories of the long-departed Nothing chiding me for "jumping on the Attack the Block bandwagon".

Actually, at the time I filed my rave review, I had no idea what others thought of it besides my viewing companion (it opened in its native UK before anywhere else, and I had a long lead time), and I was fully aware that there was every possibility that I'd be right out on a limb.

[Noiretirc]

What the FUCK is happening to this thread?

[Zot!]

What the FUCK is happening to this thread?

Just killing time till those UHD reviews roll in.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

What the FUCK is happening to this thread?

This is what I was wondering too. Film Comment had a podcast on it in late October with Clinton Krute. Devika Girish, Miriam Bale and Adam Piron who were all quite mixed with their reactions. But Taubin weighs in and suddenly it's a conspiracy. Sometimes you make a list and stuff be it films or music from months ago hits differently or gets re-assessed in a new light. A lot of new movies have come out since the summer too. Opinions will shift.

[TheTreeSong]

This is what I was wondering too. Film Comment had a podcast on it in late October with Clinton Krute. Devika Girish, Miriam Bale and Adam Piron who were all quite mixed with their reactions. But Taubin weighs in and suddenly it's a conspiracy. Sometimes you make a list and stuff be it films or music from months ago hits differently or gets re-assessed in a new light. A lot of new movies have come out since the summer too. Opinions will shift.

Have any of their opinions changed? From what I've seen, they haven't.

Apparently it's crazy to be surprised by and a little skeptical of a movie topping a best of the year list from a group where most of their members have been publicly negative on said film. One must never question critics or any sort of hive mind mentality.

[MichaelB]

Apparently it's crazy to be surprised by and a little skeptical of a movie topping a best of the year list from a group where most of their members have been publicly negative on said film. One must never question critics or any sort of hive mind mentality.

As a professional critic, I'm more than happy to be questioned, but I can assure you that my enthusiasm was entirely genuine. In fact, I'm sorry I was so busy over the autumn as I had every intention of popping up to London and paying through the nose for the full VistaVision experience.

Sorry if that doesn't fit your thesis, but inconvenient facts can be a bit pesky like that.

[okcmaxk]

A global initiative to champion something everyone actually hates to make one person's life miserable——can you be gangstalked by a movie?

[domino harvey]

What is the opposite of the Christmas Adventurers Club?

[aox]

The Weather Underground?