One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2025)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Decadence

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

Learn more about my rating system

Thriller, Politics, Crime, Complex Relationships, Dark Comedy

Synopsis: When their enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

I went into this film with absolutely no expectations, even though I knew that it had one the Best Picture Academy Award. I’ve always liked Paul Thomas Anderson’s films. He has an uncanny ability to pick the right actors and cast to make an impression, and to leave viewers questioning systems and rules and human behavior. One Battle After Another is a thrilling adventure with politics and crime and intrigue. It’s also incredibly funny and, at times, goofy. It’s hard to blend so many different themes and genres together, but he does and it makes the story feel more real despite its incredible plot. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn performed their roles and newcomer, Chase Infiniti, is really fun to watch. Highly worth multiple viewings.

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord

Star Wars: Maul -Shadow Lord (Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz, 2026)

IMDB film information

Rating: DSQ=7, SP=4 / Comfy Combo

Scale O=4, Scale P=3, Scale Q=3, Scale R=3, Scale S=2

Learn more about my rating system

Star Wars, Animation, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Synopsis: after the Clone Wars, Maul plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire.

This new Star Wars animated series is fun, but doesn’t really do anything new or bold. The fantastic animation is undeniably the best feature. It is fun to see Maul again, though this chapter in his story is less interesting, to me. Each episode feels a bit like a detective/buddy-cop show, which is interesting, and it leans into the comic-book world/feel so that the show feels like Batman. Enjoyable.

Bugonia

Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2025)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can’t Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Thriller, Crime, Complex Relationships, Philosophical, Dark Comedy

Synopsis: Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.

I’m not sure there are words to describe the strangeness of this film. Despite feeling anxious the whole time, I enjoyed every minute of it. There’s a tone to the film that is extremely unnerving. We never know exactly what’s going on which creates an ever-building tension. There are moments of realization that are then turned around and confused even more. I wasn’t prepared for the twists, even though I knew there would be some. Fantastic acting, disturbing, creepy yet funny, full of mystery, and with a lot to say about the state of our world. I highly recommend this one.

--Learn more about my rating system