One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2025)

[andyli]

The extras are saved for a later SteelBook release, so they say.

[domino harvey]

Where did that info come from?

[andyli]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 1236422424

[domino harvey]

Thanks. I doubt this double-dipping initiative comes from PTA, it’s probably part of WB’s plan to recoup as much as they can. Hopefully those extras aren’t 4K only when they materialize

[black&huge]

I watched this a second time on VOD and quick question about the voice over in the beginning:

Spoiler

When it time jumps to their daughter in her karate class Teyanna Taylor's voice over specifies it's 16 years later. Was that in the theatrical run? I don't recall the time specific being spoken in theaters but it's also possible I just completely forgot about it.

[therewillbeblus]

Yes, Taylor's voiceover stated that in theatres

[Zot!]

We discuss the implied timeline, including this narration back on page 7.

[hearthesilence]

More details about Benicio del Toro's contributions to the film, specifically how he changed the final act. His instincts were spot-on though I vaguely remember Bob taking a shot at someone from a distance. Regardless, making that change helps deepen the contrast between now and the setup to the film, specifically the disastrous action taken by Perfidia.

[hearthesilence]

Interesting to hear Amy Taubin's comments on the first act, which she absolutely "loathed."

[TheTreeSong]

I don't want to get conspiratorial (too late, I guess) but there's something off about this movie topping so many year end lists. Every actual comment on this film that I've heard from Film Comment has been mixed to negative yet it's #1 on their list? Admittedly I didn't go through all of them (just the bigger names) but most of the Screen Slate ballots I saw didn't even include this film but it easily placed at #1?

What's going on here? When you dig deeper the vibe around this movie feels less enthusiastic than it appears on the surface. Did everyone just throw their hands up and surrender to a weak year in film and defeatedly decide to let PTA have "his moment"? I don't know but it doesn't feel authentic but since this is pertaining to PTA that may actually be appropriate.

[bdsweeney]

Don’t overthink it. Even in the podcast they state that the film rarely topped anyone’s individual rankings. Just that it heavily appeared in multiple rankings and that was enough to push it into first place.

[hearthesilence]

Not an unusual phenomenon. Robert Christgau used to throw cantankerous rants about this whenever an album he didn't like topped the Pazz & Jop poll (which happened quite a bit). Inevitably he'd point out that the album in question won because it placed on the most ballots while accruing an unremarkable point average per ballot. The poll always published the numbers, so readers could see it for themselves.

I'm not a voter, it would never have made my #1, but I would've voted for it. The funny thing about that podcast was hearing them criticize almost everything, even films they still voted for (like Taubin did for The Shrouds).

(Off-topic, I've got to find a way to turn off autocorrect, I had to type that damn reply several times to correct errors it was introducing.)

[domino harvey]

What's going on here? When you dig deeper the vibe around this movie feels less enthusiastic than it appears on the surface. Did everyone just throw their hands up and surrender to a weak year in film and defeatedly decide to let PTA have "his moment"? I don't know but it doesn't feel authentic but since this is pertaining to PTA that may actually be appropriate.

This is projection based on you not liking the film. Many people do, as all available evidence so far indicates

[Lowry_Sam]

Robert Christgau used to throw cantankerous rants about this whenever an album he didn't like topped the Pazz & Jop poll

My favorite poll/chart while growing up. Someone should have just handed him the year end charts from Billboard or Rolling Stone & shown him what it could have looked like.

[TheTreeSong]

What's going on here? When you dig deeper the vibe around this movie feels less enthusiastic than it appears on the surface. Did everyone just throw their hands up and surrender to a weak year in film and defeatedly decide to let PTA have "his moment"? I don't know but it doesn't feel authentic but since this is pertaining to PTA that may actually be appropriate.

This is projection based on you not liking the film. Many people do, as all available evidence so far indicates

We've seen critics lazily go along with the consensus plenty of times.

Not an unusual phenomenon. Robert Christgau used to throw cantankerous rants about this whenever an album he didn't like topped the Pazz & Jop poll (which happened quite a bit). Inevitably he'd point out that the album in question won because it placed on the most ballots while accruing an unremarkable point average per ballot. The poll always published the numbers, so readers could see it for themselves.

I'm not a voter, it would never have made my #1, but I would've voted for it. The funny thing about that podcast was hearing them criticize almost everything, even films they still voted for (like Taubin did for The Shrouds).

(Off-topic, I've got to find a way to turn off autocorrect, I had to type that damn reply several times to correct errors it was introducing.)

Well, the "unenthusiastically by default" part of my theory still holds some water.

[domino harvey]

Based. On. What? You dug deep, so share what you uncovered

[TheTreeSong]

Based. On. What? You dug deep, so share what you uncovered

His previous film Licorice Pizza is a good example of the opposite occuring. The usual PTA bros like David Ehrlich raved about it at first but once the controversies/discourse/backlash kicked in, suddenly they dropped the film like a hot potato. Justin Chang loved the film but it was nowhere to be found on his top 10 list (which came out after the controversies erupted).

Now, many critics are peddling the "most timely and politcial film of the year" (Or so says the likes of Ehrlich. Maybe this is all just his fault?) line for this film despite it being utterly bloodless politically. Critics these days are more concerned with how they come across rather than having their own opinions and standing on principle. I'm not saying that there aren't people who genuinely like the film but let's not pretend that sheep mentality doesn't run rampant in current criticism of film,music, etc.

[domino harvey]

No, “many critics” does not cut it. Where are your specific examples with regards to this film having inflated or “sheep”-like responses? Assuming they exist, how are these instances discernible from authentic praise? Are you basing everything on your interpretation of Ehrlich’s support? Why are critics not allowed to view this film more favorably for its politics than you do?

[TheTreeSong]

No, “many critics” does not cut it. Where are your specific examples with regards to this film having inflated or “sheep”-like responses? Assuming they exist, how are these instances discernible from authentic praise? Are you basing everything on your interpretation of Ehrlich’s support? Why are critics not allowed to view this film more favorably for its politics than you do?

You don't have to subscribe to my theory. But I continue to feel that something is off.

[swo17]

So what movie do all the critics secretly like more than this one but they're all afraid to mention?

[The Narrator Returns]

Ella McCay, obviously. #TheHitWasOut #ToothTutors

[Mr Sausage]

No, “many critics” does not cut it. Where are your specific examples with regards to this film having inflated or “sheep”-like responses? Assuming they exist, how are these instances discernible from authentic praise? Are you basing everything on your interpretation of Ehrlich’s support? Why are critics not allowed to view this film more favorably for its politics than you do?

You don't have to subscribe to my theory. But I continue to feel that something is off.

I think domino, like many of us, prefers when people ground a theory in some kind of empirical evidence, and not just whatever emotion happens to’ve popped into their heads.

[Zot!]

I don't understand the argument either...OBAA is in the 90th percentile on the usual review aggregators, it was from the beginning almost inarguably critically popular, zeitgeisty (if politically toothless), and by one of the US's most notable current auteurs. Your concern is that Film Comment has some hanging chads? I'd be more interested to hear what your conspiracy points to rather than trying to justify it, which is pretty much a boring math equation, as others have already noted.

[TheTreeSong]

It's not about liking other films more. 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." manner rather than it coming from a genuinely passionate place. And it's a film that very vaugely has an anti-fascist message so they can pat themselves on the backs in the meantime.

[therewillbeblus]

This is anecdotal, but plenty of people I know who don't usually go to the movies, and especially not "long ones," have reported that they loved OBAA, and most of my friends think it's among his best work. It's received an immensely positive response from people, including critics - it's Metacritic score is off the charts. I'm not sure what the concern is.. I share your opinion to a degree. I think it's been a solid year for movies but one where most of my favorites were 'step-downs' from each director's respective last effort in previous years. Still, that doesn't reflect the attitudes of others and I think OBAA is an incredibly unique blockbuster art film that resonated deeply with many and is going to get it's (deserved) due