Plot: What’s it about?
I think it’s safe to say that, at this point in time, Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t have a lot to prove as an actor. He’s be in the business for nearly four decades, has an Academy Award for Best Actor on his resume (for 2016’s The Revenant) and with his nomination for One Battle After Another, it’ll mark his seventh nomination in the acting category. Not too shabby. But DiCaprio, his 50’s as of this writing, has regrets. We all do. I’d read in an interview where he says one of his biggest regrets as an actor is that he turned down the role of Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights – a role which went to, and established, Mark Wahlberg as a star. To DiCaprio’s credit, he’d already committed to starring in Titanic and, well, I think the rest goes without saying. DiCaprio would ultimately work with Wahlberg in the 2006 Best Picture winner The Departed and now, decades later, he gets a chance to work with the acclaimed director – Paul Thomas Anderson. What a twisted web we weave.
DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a former member of a far-left revolutionary group called the French 75. He meets and falls for another member, Perfidia (Teyana Taylor) who jettisons shortly after the birth of their daughter. A decade and a half pass and Bob has become an addict to drugs and alcohol and his daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti) is left knowing virtually nothing about her mother. Add to that, her life becomes endangered when a man from Bob’s past, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) comes looking for her. Bob, with assistance from a friend, Sergio (Benicio del Toro) attempts to reunite with Willa after she’s captured by the French 75. And on the surface, that’s it. But there’s more to this multi-faceted story than meets the eye and we’re even treated to a number of comedic scenes involving Bob and his inability to remember numbers…
I’ve gushed about the films of Paul Thomas Anderson (I guess he’s ditched the P.T. Anderson moniker nowadays) in the past. But I feel they spoke to me. Others did/do as well. I remember seeing his feature debut, Hard Eight, back in college and loved it. He’s probably best-known for Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love and one of the better films of the last twenty years with There Will Be Blood. And we can’t forget Magnolia. It took nearly three decades, but DiCaprio and P.T. Anderson finally got the chance to work together and I have to say that it was worth the wait. DiCaprio’s performance is good as ever, but the ensemble cast all play their parts to a tee. One Battle After Another works on a lot of levels, like most great films do. This one is must see, thout at 161 minutes – it’ll fill the better part of an afternoon (or evening).
Video: How’s it look?
Those who saw this theatrically might have an axe to grind with its presentation on 4K. The disc comes in a 1.78;1 HEVC 4K image which sparkles thanks to the VistaVision cameras used to shoot the film. Evidently there were multiple aspect ratios used in theaters, but those aren’t present here. I’m indifferent, as I was so engrossed in what was going on, the varying aspect ratios would have likely gone unnoticed. Nevertheless, we know what to expect with some washed out sequences, but by and large giving us some very rich, saturated images drippin in color. I’ve always been a fan of how Anderson shoots his films and this one is certainly no exception.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The Dolby Atmos presentation isn’t quite on the same level as the video presentation, but it’s not far behind. Anderson’s films, just like their look, seem to have some signature moments with sounds and nuances. The Atmos track makes the most use out of these moments, but coupled with nearly three and a half hours of dialogue, it’s a lot to take in. The front stage is active, but so are the surrounds – all of them. Vocals are pure and crisp, the LFE even have several moments to shine (in an amazing car chase sequence) adding up to a great-sounding track. This delivers.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In an odd move, Warner’s previously-released 4K disc was void of supplements. Amazing what a half a dozen Academy Awards (including Best Picture) will do. We’ve now got a handful of features, and though none are mind-blowing, it does warrant a purchase if you held out.
Disc One (4K)
There are no features on this disc.
Disc Two (Blu-ray)
- Camera, Lighting & Costume Tests – We get some explanation as to how the film was shot and lit (citing inspiration from The French Connection among others) and some of the various, naturalistic costumes used in the films.
- Chase Infiniti Screen Test – Pretty much that. The actress submitted her tape while filming Presumed Innocent and we see where it went from there.
- Learning, Studying… Always Perfecting: The Making of One Battle After Another – The most robust supplement on the disc is probably the only feature worth watching. We all know what to expect with plenty of insight from the cast and crew about the shoot and so forth.
- The Cutting Rooms – If features about editing are your thing – this one’s for you.
- Opening Night at The Vista – Some footage from the film’s opening at the Vista Theater where the film was screened in 8-perf VistaVision format.
- Illustrated Booklet – If you’re a fan of Criterion’s discs, this will be familiar as we get a 24-page booklet with behind-the-scenes photos.
The Bottom Line
Fans of this film were no doubt overjoyed with its Best Picture win over Sinners and after a few months of waiting, we finally get the version we should have had to begin with. If you can put aside the cover art for this one, the addition of the supplements are well worth it.
